CSK vs RR, Match Prediction – Predicting Winner of IPL 2023 Match 17

Four-time champions Chennai Super Kings will host inaugural winners and last season's runners up Rajasthan Royals in match 17 of IPL 2023 on Wednesday (April 12) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

It will be a battle between two of the in-form teams of the season as MS Dhoni-led CSK, who have won 2 of their 3 matches so far, will lock horns with Sanju Samson's RR, who also possess a similar record, winning 2 and losing 1 so far.

The two teams collide at the den of CSK and it's expected that both teams will aim for 2 points. As they look to finish in the top four spots on IPL 2023 points table. Now, we take a look at the form, head-to-head, match prediction and win probability of CSK vs RR:

CSK and RR Form Guide

CSK opened their season with a 5-wicket loss to defending champions Gujarat Titans in the curtain-raiser at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. But the four-time winners turned things around with a 12-run win over Lucknow Super Giants at home in their second fixture.

In their most recent outing in IPL 2023, CSK beat their arch-rivals and record champions Mumbai Indians at their own backyard by 7 wickets and 11 balls to spare to take their record in the ongoing season to 2-1, which also places them in fifth position.

RR, on the other hand, opened their campaign with a convincing 72-run win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in Hyderabad before they suffered a 5-run loss to Punjab Kings at their adopted second home for the season in Guwahati.

The Royals, however, bounced back quickly in their final home match in Guwahati, beating Delhi Capitals by 52 runs at Barsapara Stadium, taking them to second position in the points table with a record of 2-1 in the season.

CSK vs RR Head-to-Head Record

CSK and RR, the first-ever finalists of IPL, have so far met 26 times in the cash-rich league, with Chennai winning 15 times and Rajasthan winning the remaining 11 games. But since 2020, RR have had the upper hand in this fixture with four wins in recent five meetings.

Also, in the seven meetings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium between the two teams, CSK has a clear advantage, having won 6 times as opposed to RR's solitary win which came in the inaugural season when the Royals beat Chennai three of three times, including the final.

CSK vs RR IPL 2023: Match Prediction

Both teams possess a similar record heading into the encounter. But both teams will have contrasting team news ahead of the match that could decide the table-topper at the end of the day.

Hosts CSK, however, will miss key pacer Deepak Chahar and possibly all-rounder Ben Stokes for the match, but will be boosted by the availability of Sri Lanka spinner Maheesh Theekshana. So, CSK may go spin-heavy in Chepauk to trouble the free-scoring RR batters.

RR, on the other hand, will have almost all their key players available for selection. But the batting of RR may struggle against the spin or slow bowlers of CSK. However, the Royals will hope to win the toss and use their spin twins of R Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal to trouble CSK batters.

The wickets in Chepauk have favoured the teams batting first, but the last match saw the team chase almost pull off a big run chase. However, the true nature of the MA Chidambaram Stadium will be on show on Wednesday (April 12), assisting spinners as the game progresses.

If that's the case, then Dhoni's CSK will come out as winners in the match against RR, who also stand a chance of winning if they win the toss and opt to bat first.

CSK vs RR Win Probability

CSK will be the favourites to win as hosts, and with the spin bowling options available, we reckon they have around 75 percent chance to win if they bat first, while RR have 25 percent chance to get two points when chasing. The percentage varies depending on the team that bats first.