CSK host the Kings as their fight for a play-off spot continues while all eyes will be on Vaibhav Suryavanshi when the Royals square off against the Indians. Jonhenry previews games 49 & 50 of the IPL.
CSK v PBKS – IPL Game 49
Wednesday 30 April 2025 – 16:00
MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Chennai Super Kings are in woeful form, coming into Wednesday’s encounter at the bottom of the table with just two wins from nine games. Their last time out was a bottom-of-the-table clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad where they came out on the wrong side
Punjab Kings have won four of the last five games they have played against Chennai Super Kings, including the encounter earlier this season which saw them run out winners by 18 runs.
While CSK’s hopes of making the play-offs are tenuous at best – if they lose on Wednesday night their chances of making the knockout stages are officially over.
Marcus Stoinis missed out for PBKS last time out, but he may well be brought back for the encounter against CSK against whom he has a good record. Last time he played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium Stoinis smashed a brilliant hundred.
While most teams have settled line-ups at this stage of the tournament, CSK are a little all over the place – ahead of Wednesday’s fixture they have already made use of as many as 21 players.
To Win Match
Super Kings 27/20 | Tie 25/1 | Kings 61/100
Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai
As much as playing at home is meant to count for something positive, CSK have now lost their last four games at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
By IPL standards the MA Chidambaram Stadium is not particularly high-scoring venue. Last season the highest recorded score was 213 for four, while historically the highest ever total at the venue was the 246 for three set by CSK against RR in 2010.
This is a venue where teams like to bat first. Of the 88 games played here in IPL cricket, 48 have ended as wins for the team that batted first – that’s a total of 54.54% wins for the team that sets a score.
Weather:
The temperature will be in the low thirties when this game gets going, but the excessive heat warning for Chennai on Wednesday comes as a result of the humidity which will be in the region of 80%. That is a tough combination to play cricket in. There will be a wind of just over 20kph but expect it to be stifling on Wednesday.
Form (most recent game first):
- Chennai Super Kings: L, L, W, L, L.
- Punjab Kings: NR, L, W, W, L.
Key player:
Chennai Super Kings, Dewald Brevis:
Drafted into the team midway through the tournament as they sought a solution to their batting frailties, Brevis duly top-scored for CSK against SRH last time out. If ever a player was ideally suited to being a tonic it is Brevis. He doesn’t just offer excellent batting skills, he is a bubbly personality, a positive influence and an excellent fielder. He is a good bet to top score once again for CSK.
Punjab Kings, Marco Jansen:
The big South African’s stock is rising as his team slowly tap into the fact that he is more than just a handy bowler. Last time out he was promoted up the order to number five as they looked for a solution to their repeatedly misfiring middle-order. The experiment didn’t work, but it is not a bad ploy – Jansen has the T20 skills to make it work. All the while he is taking wickets and doing the business in the lower-middle order, expect him to enjoy himself against a low-on-confidence CSK.
Verdict: Punjab Kings 61/100
It is hard to see CSK winning this one – they are a proper mess right now. While PBKS have issues of their own – most notably a middle order that is struggling to fire, they still have too much clout up front and in their bowling attack. they should cruise to a win here.
RR v MI – IPL Game 50
Thursday 1 May 2025 – 16:00
Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur
Thursday’s match up sees the form team of the tournament, the Mumbai Indians, face up to the player of the moment – the Royals teen sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi.
The Indians come into the game on the back of an excellent streak of five wins in a row, making them the form side of the moment. Another win on Thursday will see MI go to the top of the table.
The Royals have endured a poor IPL in 2025 with just three wins from ten games – but they come into Thursday’s encounter on the back of a win against the Titans that was inspired by a whirlwind century from Suryavanshi – at barely 14-years-old he is the talk of the cricketing world.
Last season the Rajasthan Royals won both their encounters against the Mumbai Indians.
This is the first time the two sides are facing each other in IPL 2025.
To Win Match
Royals 29/20 | Tie 25/1 | Indians 57/100
Venue: Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur
The Sawai Mansingh Stadium is the Royals primary home ground and Thursday’s game against the Mumbai Indians will be their fourth at the venue in IPL 2025. Last season they won four of their five games at the ground, but they have won just once here this season.
Traditionally the Sawai Mansingh Stadium has favoured teams that chase. But despite that RR have an excellent record defending totals here, managing to win 50 percent of the 26 games where they have batted first.
The highest score in IPL at the venue is 217 for six made by Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2023. Last time out the Royals came close to beating that score as they posted a total of 212 for two in chasing down the Gujarat Titans’ score.
Weather:
It will be hot and dry in Jaipur on Thursday with the temperature peaking in the middle of the day at a tad over 40 degrees. It will be around 36 degrees when the game starts. Fortunately, the humidity is low and there is a light breeze to take the edge off things. No rain is predicted.
Form (most recent game first):
- Rajasthan Royals: W, L, L, L, L
- Mumbai Indians: W, W, W, W, W.
Key player:
Rajasthan Royals, Vaibhav Suryavanshi:
While Yashasvi Jaiswal has consistently been the star for RR this season, teenager Suryavanshi will be the player that everyone is watching on Thursday. Can he repeat his sensational knock from Monday? While his 101 against the Titans was undoubtedly the first of many centuries, it seems unlikely that he will reach the three-figure mark again on Thursday. But that is not to say that he won’t continue looking to dominate the bowlers. He is brim-full of confidence, and he isn’t going to die wondering – expect him play more shots again Thursday.
Mumbai Indians, Suryakumar Yadav:
Yadav is currently the third highest scorer in the tournament, and he is looking good. His last five knocks have seen him record scores of 54, 40*, 68*, 26 and 40. He is currently averaging 61 and he’s hitting at a strike-rate of 169.44. Batting at number four Yadav gets plenty of opportunity to work his magic – right now he is full of confidence and hitting the ball beautifully. With Ryan Rickelton and Rohit Sharma now firing at the top of the order, Yadav is being gifted with a solid platform to launch from when he comes to the crease. Expect more runs from him on Thursday.
Verdict: Mumbai Indians 57/100
The Royals’ win over GT last time out will have given them a major boost, and they will undoubtedly be a more confident outfit heading into Thursday’s encounter than they were before Suryavanshi announced himself to the world, but despite that, the MI have too much to offer. With Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult making it difficult for opposition batsmen and a top order that features Rickelton, Rohit Sharma, Will Jacks and Yadav, this is a MI side that has it all.
