Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings are two teams that played in the first Indian Premier League final back in 2008.
It was RR under the leadership of Shane Warne, who won the final by three wickets, chasing the target of 164 runs.
This ought to be the core reason behind the Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings Timeline being one of the most followed games.
From MS Dhoni to Sanju Samson, RR vs CSK has everything that an instance battle needs.
Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings: Overview
It was the 2008 Indian Premier Legaue final when Rajasthan Royals beat Chennai Super Kings by three wickets to win the first edition of the cash-rich tournament.
In terms of head-to-head, both sides have won more so equal games. But Chennai Super Kings hold the edge with winning five IPL titles, which is a joint-record with Mumbai Indians (5 titles).
In 2013, RR and CSK were the only two IPL teams who were involved in the match-fixing scandal. As a result, both sides faced a two-year ban from 2016 to 2017.
Gujarat Lions and Rising Pune Supergiant filled the gap for both the teams in between. After gaining the IPL 2008 glory, RR have never won the IPL title. But CSK have won it five times. It gives them a better edge overall.
In 2010s, it was CSK having an edge over RR. But in 2020s, RR have filled the gap with winning seven of the last nine matches.
Head to Head
Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings have met each other 31 times. CSK hold a minor edge with winning 16 games and RR gaining victory 15 times.
However, the most crucial game between both the teams happened in the IPL 2008 final where RR won the title with a young squad.
| Matches Played | 31 |
| Chennai Super Kings Won | 16 |
| Rajasthan Royals Won | 15 |
However, in the last nine games (until 2205 season), RR have won seven matches and lost only twice.
| Last Nine Games (Until 2025) | 9 |
| Chennai Super Kings Won | 2 |
| Rajasthan Royals Won | 7 |
From 2020 to 2025, Rajasthan Royals have overall dominated against Chennai Super Kings. It was totally opposite in 2010s, where CSK played well against RR in most of the games.
Key Players: CSK vs RR
Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings Timeline would not be complete without pointing out key players against each other from both the sides.
CSK
- MS Dhoni: The five-time IPL winner as a captain for CSK has performed well against RR, scoring 450 plus runs and winning games by a close margain many times.
- Suresh Raina: 630 plus runs in 21 games against RR shows the impact the Indian left-hand batsman played.
- Ravindra Jadeja: The Indian all-arounder is known for contributing well against Rajasthan with batting, bowling and fielding. He has been seen as one of the long-term winners for CSK while facing RR.
RR
- Shane Watson: The former Australian star played or both CSK and RR. But he started off with RR and even capinted them. In 2008, he became the MVP of the opening IPL edition. Watson contributed well against CSK with both bat and bowl.
- Sanju Samson: Having scored 600 runs against CSK, Samson has been very good against CSK overall. In the last 10 years, he has been one of their key players.
- Jos Buttler: The England wicketkeeper-batsman has scored scored multiple half-centuries and a century against CSK while wearing RR jersey.
Key Battles over the years
Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings have had fantastic T20 players overall. Some of the battles since 2008 and worth knowing.
Dhoni vs Chahal: It is a battle where MS Dhoni’s job was always to finish the innings or game, with Yuzvendra Chahal being a consistent T20 spinner. It is a contest between T20’s one of the best finishers and a specialist spinner.
Jadeja vs Samson: It has been a long term battle with Ravindra Jadeja making an effort with the bowl and Sanju Samson with the bat for RR.
Boult vs Gaikwad: In the recent times, it was a battle where in the first overs one could have seen the game of chess.
Warne Vs Hayden: During the early IPL seasons, Shane Warne vs Matthew Hayden was a great battle. Warne always looked to take the wicket of Hayden. While Hayden had an aim to charge as an opener against Warne’s RR.
RR and CSK Ban Timeline
Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings are only two IPL teams who have faced a two-year ban due to match-fixing issues.
- In 2013, co-owners Gurunath Meiyappan (CSK) and Raj Kundra (RR) found guilty in spot fixing. As a result, Delhi Police did arrest the high-profile indviduls and hence, the BCCI suspended them both.
- In 2015, India’s Suprime Court appointed RM Lodha Committee for prodiving them all the detailed related to the fixing issue with RR and CSK. As a result, they got the punishment of a two-year ban.
- In 2016 and 2017, CSK and RR faced a two-seaosn IPL ban.
- In 2018, both CSK and RR returned to the normal IPL action.
For RR, things went even worse with their players S. Sreesanth, Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila facing the ban due to spot and match fixing charges.
Overall Battles
Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings Timeline is indeed worth talking. But one looks overall, CSK have won the IPL five times. RR, on the other hand, have won the title just once in 2008.
After 2008, they have never faced each other in the final of the IPL. It is because RR have rached the IPL final only twice, one in 2008 and the second time they lost to Gujarat Titans in 2022.
Despite RR getting better against CSK in the IPL encounters, CSK still won the latest IPL title in 2023. They beat the GT in the final, who defeated RR in the 2022 final.
- RR in IPL
| Games Played | 222 |
| Won | 110 |
| Lost | 106 |
| Tie | 1 |
| No Results | 2 |
| Win % | 50.9 |
- CSK in IPL
| Games Played | 239 |
| Wins | 138 |
| Losses | 98 |
| Ties | 1 |
| No Results | 2 |
| Win % | 57.7 |
When it comes overall stats, CSK’s winning percentage is higher than RR overall. CSK have reached overall finals 10 times, with winning five and losing five. This gives their legacy a better edge.
Recent Battles: RR vs CSK
- IPL 2020: RR defeated CSK by 16 runs in Sharjah.
- IPL 2021: RR outdid CSK by 7 wickets in Abu Dhabi.
- IPL 2022: RR defeated CSK by 5 wickets in Mumbai.
- IPL 2023: RR beat CSK by 3 runs in Chennai | RR beat CSK by 32 runs in Jaipur.
- IPL 2024: RR beat CSK by 32 runs in Jaipur | CSK won by 5 wickets in Chennai.
- IPL 2025: RR beat CSK by 6 runs in Guwahati | RR beat CSK by 6 wickets in Delhi.
In the last five to six seasons of the IPL, RR have done very well against CSK. But in 2010s, it was completely opposite.
Conclusion
Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings Timeline is not one-sided like late 2010s. Since 2020, RR have shown great performances against CSK.
Hence, they have managed to win 15 games to overall 16 defeats. The was huge by the end of the last decade. One thing that makes this rivalry better for RR, which is winning the IPL 2008 final against CSK. But since then, CSK have won the IPL five times to RR’s one.
FAQ
In 2008, Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings by three wickets in the IPL final.
CSK have won 16 of 31 matches against RR in the IPL, losing 15 times.
RR have played the IPL final twice.
2008: Won Vs CSK
2022: Lost to GT
CSK have won five IPLs and lost five finals too.
Late Shane Warne led RR in the 2008 IPL, winning the opening edition of the mega T20 event.
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