The season of IPL 2025 has already provided us with some nail-biting games, and now Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are all ready to face each other in Match 11. Both the teams have a good team and a combination of experienced and young players, which makes this match even more thrilling. Although the overall team performance is important, some individual player duels can play a major role in determining the outcome. Here, we examine five must-watch matchups in this high-energy clash. Top 5 Key Player Battles to Watch in RR vs CSK Sno Players 1 Dhruv Jurel vs Noor Ahmad 2 Sanju Samson vs Sam Curran 3 Ruturaj Gaikwad vs Sandeep Sharma 4 Shimron Hetmyer vs Ravindra Jadeja 5 Shivam Dube vs Jofra Archer Dhruv Jurel vs Noor Ahmad Year Runs Balls Outs Dots 4s 6s SR Avg 2023 10 8 1 4 2 0 125.0 10.0 Total 10 8 1 4 2 0 125.0 10.0 RR young batter Dhruv Jurel will face a fascinating test against CSK's Afghan spinner Noor Ahmad. Jurel, who has faced Noor in just one innings, made 10 runs off 8 balls, scoring two fours and getting dismissed once. His 125.0 strike rate in this fight indicates that he is comfortable against the left-arm spinner, but he must be watchful, as Noor is infamous for his variations and quick turn. Noor's potential to mislead batters with his googlies and flighted balls can get on Jurel's nerves, as Jurel likes to play attacking shots. It will be important for Jurel to read the ball well and play safe shots at the beginning of his innings. Also Read | Priyansh Arya: Family, Career, Records, IPL - All Details Sanju Samson vs Sam Curran Year Runs Balls Outs Dots 4s 6s SR Avg 2019 6 5 1 1 0 0 120.0 6.0 2020 13 5 0 1 1 1 260.0 - 2021 1 5 1 4 0 0 20.0 1.0 2024 1 1 0 0 0 0 100.0 - Total 21 16 2 6 1 1 131.2 10.5 RR captain Sanju Samson is one of the most feared hitters in the IPL, but he has had patchy returns against CSK left-arm pacer Sam Curran. Samson has faced Curran in several seasons, making a total of 21 runs from 16 deliveries and getting out twice. His strike rate of 131.2 in this match indicates that he is a player who likes to play his shots, but he will have to be wary of Curran's swing and short-pitched balls. CSK's all-rounder is famous for his astute changes of pace, which could prove to be Samson's nemesis if he is not careful. If the RR captain gets started, he can overwhelm any bowler, but Curran will want to get rid of him early and apply pressure on the Rajasthan batting order. Ruturaj Gaikwad vs Sandeep Sharma Year Runs Balls Outs Dots 4s 6s SR Avg 2021 18 21 0 12 2 0 85.7 - 2022 1 5 0 4 0 0 20.0 - 2023 11 12 1 6 1 0 91.7 11.0 2024 4 5 0 1 0 0 80.0 - Total 34 43 1 23 3 0 79.1 34.0 CSK opener Ruturaj Gaikwad has had encounters with RR pacer Sandeep Sharma earlier, and it has been a test of patience. Gaikwad has scored 34 runs from 43 balls against Sandeep, getting dismissed just once. His 79.1 strike rate in this rivalry indicates that Sandeep has been successful in keeping him under wraps. The Rajasthan pacer is a swing and accuracy bowler who is tough to score against, particularly during the powerplay. Gaikwad, however, is a master of elegant stroke play and timing. If he is able to shake off Sandeep's shackles, he can give CSK a solid beginning. But if Sandeep hits early, RR will gain a big boost. Shimron Hetmyer vs Ravindra Jadeja Year Runs Balls Outs Dots 4s 6s SR Avg 2021 1 1 0 0 0 0 100.0 - Total 1 1 0 0 0 0 100.0 - Rajasthan's aggressive batter Shimron Hetmyer will face CSK's ace all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja in the middle overs. Hetmyer has faced Jadeja in just one ball in the IPL, scoring a run without losing his wicket. Though this is a small sample size, the match will be intriguing since Hetmyer has a reputation for playing aggressively, and Jadeja's fast left-arm spin is difficult to counter. Jadeja's capability to bowl at high speed and produce sharp turn makes him lethal against left-handers, and Hetmyer will need to be clever in selecting the right balls to play. If Hetmyer is able to counter Jadeja well, he can give RR the firepower they require in the middle overs. Also Read | Top 3 Major Controversies from IPL Auctions Shivam Dube vs Jofra Archer Year Runs Balls Outs Dots 4s 6s SR Avg 2023 2 4 0 2 0 0 50.0 - Total 2 4 0 2 0 0 50.0 - One of the most exciting confrontations in this match will be between CSK's big-hitter Shivam Dube and RR's pacer Jofra Archer. Dube has already played against Archer, and he managed to score only 2 runs off 4 balls at a strike rate of 50.0. Archer's express speed and bounce make him one of the most challenging bowlers to play against, and Dube will need to be very wary against him. Although Dube can hit massive shots, Archer's capability to deliver fatal bouncers and yorkers can complicate things for him to play with freedom. If Archer is able to get his line and length right, he can trouble Dube and limit CSK's scoring rate. But if Dube is able to counter him, he can turn the game around with his big-hitting potential.