The clash between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Match 25 of IPL 2025 is expected to be full of drama and excitement. Both teams have strong line-ups, and fans will be keeping an eye on several mini battles within the match. These one-on-one contests could play a big role in deciding who comes out on top. Let’s look at the five player matchups to watch out for in this game. Sno Players 1 Khaleel Ahmed vs Quinton de Kock 2 Shivam Dube vs Sunil Narine 3 Ravichandran Ashwin vs Ajinkya Rahane 4 Matheesha Pathirana vs Andre Russell 5 Ruturaj Gaikwad vs Varun Chakravarthy Khaleel Ahmed vs Quinton de Kock Year Runs Balls Outs Dots 4s 6s SR Avg 2019 12 6 0 0 0 1 200.0 - 2021 5 3 0 1 1 0 166.7 - 2024 15 11 1 6 3 0 136.4 15.0 Total 32 20 1 7 4 1 160.0 32.0 Despite Khaleel Ahmed playing now for CSK, this record of his from his earlier confrontations with Quinton de Kock still holds good when we look at their one-on-one face-offs. Khaleel bowled 20 balls to de Kock and conceded 32 runs, getting him out once. Quinton has scored 4 fours and a six in this one-on-one. His best was in 2019 when he thrashed 12 runs off 6 balls. In 2024, though, Khaleel finally overcame him, getting him out after 15 runs. This report indicates that de Kock has dominated for the most part, but Khaleel has succeeded more recently. Also Read | IPL 2025: RCB vs DC Clash Sparks Frenzy on Twitter Shivam Dube vs Sunil Narine Year Runs Balls Outs Dots 4s 6s SR Avg 2021 19 15 0 6 0 2 126.7 - 2022 0 1 0 1 0 0 0.0 - 2023 4 6 0 3 0 0 66.7 - 2024 5 6 0 2 0 0 83.3 - Total 28 28 0 12 0 2 100.0 - Shivam Dube has faced quite a number of games against Sunil Narine and has struggled to take off. Altogether, Dube has managed 28 runs from 28 Narine bowls and has not been dismissed off Narine at all. However, Narine has bowled 12 dot balls to him, which suggests that Dube has struggled at times to rotate strike or launch attack. He hasn't hit a single four and has just two sixes from four seasons. Narine's close bowling can again silence Dube in the middle overs, if they tussle for each other's teams during the game. Ravichandran Ashwin vs Ajinkya Rahane Year Runs Balls Outs Dots 4s 6s SR Avg 2011 12 11 0 5 2 0 109.1 - 2012 1 3 1 2 0 0 33.3 1.0 2013 1 3 1 2 0 0 33.3 1.0 2014 0 2 1 2 0 0 0.0 0.0 2015 11 7 0 0 1 0 157.1 - 2019 6 7 1 1 0 0 85.7 6.0 2023 18 12 2 3 0 1 150.0 9.0 Total 49 45 6 15 3 1 108.9 8.2 Ajinkya Rahane, now with KKR, has had a history with Ravichandran Ashwin, CSK's player, against him. Their contest was highly one-sided. Ashwin has sent Rahane back six times in 45 balls. Rahane has managed only 49 runs against him at an average of 8.2. In the initial years, particularly between 2012 and 2014, Ashwin had Rahane in his pocket, sending him back cheaply on several occasions. Even in recent years such as 2023, Ashwin sent him back twice in a season. If they face each other again, Rahane will have to treat Ashwin with extra caution. Also Read | KL-assic Rahul steals win for Delhi Capitals after batting falters, defeats Royal Challengers Bengaluru by Matheesha Pathirana vs Andre Russell Year Runs Balls Outs Dots 4s 6s SR Avg 2023 1 3 1 2 0 0 33.3 1.0 Total 1 3 1 2 0 0 33.3 1.0 One of the most thrilling matchups to witness would be between CSK's death-over bowler Matheesha Pathirana and KKR's big-hitter Andre Russell. They have met only once in 2023, and Pathirana bowled out Russell for just 3 balls. He bowled two dots and sent him back for a mere 1 run. It is a tiny sample size, but Pathirana demonstrated that he possesses the weapons to frustrate big hitters such as Russell with his accuracy and pace. If Russell happens to be playing in the latter overs, this match can turn out to be decisive for both teams. Ruturaj Gaikwad vs Varun Chakravarthy Year Runs Balls Outs Dots 4s 6s SR Avg 2020 16 11 0 3 1 1 145.5 - 2021 13 22 1 9 0 0 59.1 13.0 2023 6 3 1 1 1 0 200.0 6.0 2024 10 14 0 6 0 0 71.4 - Total 45 50 2 19 2 1 90.0 22.5 Ruturaj Gaikwad, one of CSK's most reliable batters, has experienced a mix bag of success against KKR's mystery bowler Varun Chakravarthy. He has been confronted with 50 balls by Varun and has made 45 runs getting out twice. In 2020, Ruturaj was in control, making 16 off 11 balls with a six and a boundary. But in 2021 and 2023, he got out cheaply. Varun has been able to bowl 19 dot balls to him and has maintained his strike rate near 90. Ruturaj will try to break that record, but Varun will again try to settle him down.