RCB had defeated CSK at Chepauk earlier in the season.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are slated to square off in Match 52 of the IPL 2025 season at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday (May 3).
Despite CSK getting knocked out of the tournament, there is a lot of excitement for the clash. RCB secured a convincing win over CSK at Chepauk earlier in the season, and they will look to double it at their home ground.
Ahead of the fixture, star batter Virat Kohli commented on the intense rivalry between RCB and CSK and shared his experience of playing this fixture at the Chinnaswamy stadium.
Speaking on ‘18 Calling 18’ on JioHotstar, Kohli said that a lot of CSK fans make the trip to Bengaluru for the game and take over a section of the stadium.
“I would say one team that, historically, I’ve felt we’ve had the most intense games with is Chennai Super Kings in Bengaluru. Because in Chennai, of course, there are Chennai fans—it’s just yellow and CSK fans everywhere. But to play against CSK in Bengaluru is something else, because a lot of Chennai fans come to Bengaluru. CSK fans travel in huge numbers, so they buy tickets very early and take over a section of the stadium," Kohli stated.
"So, there’s an intense atmosphere inside the stadium in Bengaluru when playing against CSK. And then, obviously, the game also gets very intense and competitive. That environment is the most exciting I’ve been a part of,” he added.
It will be an important match for RCB as they look to reclaim the pole position on the 10-team points table. They are currently holding the third spot, with seven victories from 10 outings.
On the other hand, CSK are languishing at the bottom of the table with only two wins from 10 matches. The five-time champions have exited in the league stage in consecutive seasons.