Chennai Super Kings lead the CSK vs RR head to head record 16-15 across 31 IPL matches That single-match gap makes this one of the tightest rivalries in IPL history. And it started with the biggest match of all. These two teams contested the very first IPL final in 2008, when Shane Warne’s Rajasthan Royals beat CSK by 3 wickets off the last ball.
Since then, CSK built a comfortable lead through the 2010s. But RR flipped the script dramatically. They have won 8 of the last 9 meetings since 2020. Both teams had terrible 2025 campaigns. CSK finished 10th (last) and RR 9th with just 4 wins each.
Now, heading into IPL 2026, the two teams open their seasons against each other on March 30 in Guwahati. And the subtext is enormous: Sanju Samson faces his old franchise for the first time in CSK yellow, while Ravindra Jadeja returns to RR where his IPL career began.
CSK vs RR Head to Head: Overall Record
| Category | CSK | RR |
|---|---|---|
| Matches Played | 31 | 31 |
| Wins | 16 | 15 |
| Losses | 15 | 16 |
| No Result | 0 | 0 |
| Highest Score | 246/5 | 223/5 |
| Lowest Score | 109 | 110 |
Every single CSK vs RR match has produced a result. No washouts, no ties, no Super Overs across 31 meetings. CSK’s highest of 246/5 came in IPL 2010 at Chennai, powered by Murali Vijay’s 127 off 56 balls. RR replied with 223/5 in that same match but still fell 23 runs short. It remains the highest combined total in this rivalry’s history.
CSK were suspended in 2016 and 2017, so no matches were played between these sides during those years. RR were also suspended in the same period.
League Stage vs Playoff Record
| Format | Matches | CSK Wins | RR Wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| League Stage | 30 | 16 | 14 |
| IPL Finals | 1 | 0 | 1 |
CSK and RR have met once in an IPL final, and it was the most iconic one. The 2008 IPL final at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai saw RR chase down 164 off the very last ball, with Yusuf Pathan starring with both bat (56 off 39) and ball (3/22). RR won by 3 wickets to become the first-ever IPL champions
They have never met again in a playoff or knockout match. All other 30 encounters have been league-stage fixtures.
Venue-Wise Head to Head Breakdown
Here is Venue wise Performances:
MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Chepauk has been CSK’s fortress in this rivalry. They have won 7 out of 9 matches against RR at this venue The spin-friendly conditions and slow outfield suit CSK’s approach perfectly, and RR have rarely found answers here.
RR’s most notable Chepauk victory came in IPL 2023, a nail-biting 3-run win that remains the smallest margin of victory by runs in this rivalry’s history. CSK also snapped RR’s winning streak with a 5-wicket win at home in May 2024, the lone CSK victory in the last 9 meetings.
Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur
Jaipur has been more balanced. In 7 matches at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, RR lead 4-3. The most recent encounter here was in IPL 2023, where RR won by 32 runs. The batting-friendly conditions at Jaipur neutralise CSK’s spin advantage and bring RR’s power-hitters into the game.
Neutral Venues
At neutral grounds like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Pune, and Delhi, RR hold a clear edge with 9 wins to CSK’s 6 from 15 matches .The UAE seasons in 2020 and 2021 heavily favoured RR, who won 3 out of 3 against CSK at neutral venues during that stretch. The most recent meeting on neutral ground was Match 62 of IPL 2025 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, which RR won by 6 wickets.
| Venue | Matches | CSK Wins | RR Wins | NR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chepauk, Chennai | 9 | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| Sawai Mansingh, Jaipur | 7 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| Neutral/Other Venues | 15 | 6 | 9 | 0 |
CSK vs RR: Complete Match Timeline (2008–2026)
Both franchises were suspended during 2016 and 2017. RR played as a Pune-based franchise during those years and CSK did not compete.
| Year | Match 1 | Match 2 / Match 3 |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | RR won by 6 runs (Guwahati) | RR won by 6 wkts (Delhi) |
| 2024 | CSK won by 5 wkts (Chennai) | (Only 1 match) |
| 2023 | RR won by 3 runs (Chennai) | RR won by 32 runs (Jaipur) |
| 2022 | RR won by 5 wkts (Brabourne) | (Only 1 match) |
| 2021 | CSK won by 45 runs (Mumbai) | RR won by 7 wkts (Abu Dhabi) |
| 2020 | RR won by 16 runs (Sharjah) | RR won by 7 wkts (Abu Dhabi) |
| 2019 | CSK won by 8 runs (Chennai) | CSK won by 4 wkts (Jaipur) |
| 2018 | CSK won by 64 runs (Pune) | RR won by 4 wkts (Jaipur) |
| 2015 | RR won by 8 wkts (Ahmedabad) | CSK won by 12 runs (Chennai) |
| 2014 | CSK won by 7 runs (Dubai) | CSK won by 5 wkts (Ranchi) |
| 2013 | CSK won by 5 wkts (Chennai) | RR won by 5 wkts (Jaipur) |
| 2012 | CSK won by 7 wkts (Chennai) | CSK won by 4 wkts (Jaipur) |
| 2011 | CSK won by 8 wkts (Chennai) | CSK won by 63 runs (Jaipur) |
| 2010 | RR won by 17 runs (Ahmedabad) | CSK won by 23 runs (Chennai) |
| 2009 | CSK won by 38 runs (East London) | CSK won by 7 wkts (Kimberley) |
| 2008 | RR won by 8 wkts (Jaipur) / RR won by 10 runs (Chennai) | RR won by 3 wkts (Mumbai, Final) |
Two distinct eras stand out. From 2009 to 2019, CSK dominated this rivalry with 14 wins from 18 matches. That stretch included a 6-match winning streak from 2011 to 2014 that broke RR’s confidence in this fixture. Then came the complete reversal. Since 2020, RR have won 8 of the last 9 meetings, including four straight from 2022 to 2023. CSK’s lone recent win came in Chennai in May 2024.
Top 3 Most Memorable CSK vs RR Encounters
Here are the top 3 most Iconic Battles from Rivalry:
1. The 2008 IPL Final: Where It All Started
June 1, 2008. DY Patil Stadium, Mumbai. The very first IPL final. Nobody gave Shane Warne’s Rajasthan Royals a chance. CSK batted first and posted 163/5. Yusuf Pathan had already bowled superbly, finishing with 3/22 off 4 overs. In the chase, Pathan smashed 56 off 39 balls to shift the momentum. But it went down to the wire. RR needed 7 off the last over, and Sohail Tanvir and Warne held their nerve to get RR home with a scrambled single off the final delivery.
That win made Rajasthan Royals the first IPL champions. It remains the only CSK vs RR final in IPL history. For CSK, the sting of that loss fuelled a dynasty. They won the title in 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, and 2023.
2. IPL 2010: The Highest-Scoring Encounter
At Chepauk in 2010, CSK posted a monstrous 246/5, the highest team total in this rivalry. Murali Vijay smashed 127 off 56 balls, a record individual score in CSK vs RR matches that still stands.
RR fought back through Shane Watson (60 off 25) and Naman Ojha (94 off 55), reaching 223/5 in reply. But 246 was too many. CSK won by 23 runs in a match that produced 469 runs combined
3. IPL 2025: RR Complete the Sweep as Both Teams Hit Rock Bottom
Both 2025 encounters were played at neutral venues because of scheduling changes during a disrupted season. In Match 11 at Guwahati (March 30), Nitish Rana’s 81 off 36 and Wanindu Hasaranga’s 4/35 powered RR to 182/9. CSK fell 6 runs short at 176/6 despite Rachin Ravindra’s 63).
In Match 62 at Delhi (May 20)), CSK posted 187/8 with Ayush Mhatre (43 off 20) and Dewald Brevis (42 off 25) providing fireworks. But 15-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi stole the show with 57 off 33 balls as RR chased down the target with 17 balls to spare. Akash Madhwal’s 3/29 earned him the Player of the Match.
That result confirmed CSK would finish last on the points table for the first time ever. Both teams ended with just 4 wins from 14 matches, but RR’s superior net run rate kept them in 9th.
Key Players In The CSK vs RR Rivalry
Top Run-Scorers
| Player | Team | Runs | Key Stats | 2026 Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shane Watson | RR / CSK | 711 | Century for both sides | Retired |
| Suresh Raina | CSK | 659 | CSK’s top scorer | Retired |
| MS Dhoni | CSK | 556 | Finisher across 30+ matches | CSK (uncapped) |
Shane Watson sits at the top with 711 runs, the only player to score a century for both sides in this rivalry.His 101 off 61 for RR in 2013 and his CSK contributions from 2018-2020 give him a unique perspective on this matchup. Watson played for RR from 2008-2015 and CSK from 2018-2020.
Suresh Raina’s 659 runs represent the best tally by a player who only represented one side. His aggressive middle-order batting was central to CSK’s dominance during the 2009-2015 stretch. MS Dhoni’s 556 runs carry the usual Dhoni premium. A significant chunk came in crunch situations at the back end of innings.
Murali Vijay holds the highest individual score with 127 off 56 balls in 2010, while Ruturaj Gaikwad’s unbeaten 101 against RR in 2021 makes him the third centurion in this fixture
Top Wicket-Takers
| Player | Team (then) | Wickets | Best Figures | 2026 Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ravindra Jadeja | RR / CSK | 20+ | 4/11 (2015) | Now at RR (traded) |
| Dwayne Bravo | CSK | 16 | Death-overs master | Retired |
| R. Ashwin | CSK / RR | 16 | Played for both sides | Retired (Aug 2025) |
Ravindra Jadeja leads with 20+ wickets in this fixture, a remarkable stat considering he played for both RR (2008-2009) and CSK (2012-2025). His best figures of 4/11 in 2015 dismantled RR’s batting. Here’s the kicker: Jadeja has now been traded back to Rajasthan Royals for IPL 2026 The highest wicket-taker in this rivalry will now be bowling against CSK, the team he spent 13 years with.
The greatest bowling performance belongs to Sohail Tanvir, whose 6/14 in the very first CSK vs RR match in 2008 at Jaipur remains the best figures. It was the best bowling in IPL history until 2019
Biggest Wins In The CSK vs RR Rivalry
| Winner | Margin | Year | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| CSK | 64 runs | 2018 | MCA Stadium, Pune |
| CSK | 63 runs | 2011 | Sawai Mansingh, Jaipur |
| CSK | 45 runs | 2021 | Wankhede, Mumbai |
| RR | 8 wickets | 2008 | Sawai Mansingh, Jaipur |
| RR | 8 wickets | 2015 | NM Stadium, Ahmedabad |
| RR | 32 runs | 2023 | Sawai Mansingh, Jaipur |
Recent Form: RR’s Stunning Dominance Since 2020
| Year | Venue | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Arun Jaitley, Delhi | Rajasthan Royals | 6 wickets |
| 2025 | Barsapara, Guwahati | Rajasthan Royals | 6 runs |
| 2024 | Chepauk, Chennai | Chennai Super Kings | 5 wickets |
| 2023 | Sawai Mansingh, Jaipur | Rajasthan Royals | 32 runs |
| 2023 | Chepauk, Chennai | Rajasthan Royals | 3 runs |
RR have won 4 of the last 5 meetings and 8 of the last 9 since IPL 2020. That’s a staggering turnaround for a rivalry CSK once controlled 14-4. The 2024 CSK win at Chepauk, where Gaikwad’s unbeaten 42 led the chase, is the only bright spot for CSK in this stretch.
What IPL 2026 Brings: The Samson-Jadeja Subplot
This is where the rivalry gets its most dramatic new chapter. The blockbuster trade ahead of IPL 2026 sent Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran from CSK to RR in exchange for Sanju Samson.That means:
For RR: Jadeja returns to the franchise where he started in 2008. He is the highest wicket-taker in this rivalry. Riyan Parag has been named RR’s new captain replacing Samson after the trade. Kumar Sangakkara continues as head coach following Rahul Dravid’s exit. The squad also includes Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jofra Archer, Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, and Wanindu Hasaranga.
For CSK: Samson arrives in scorching form after winning the Player of the Tournament at the 2026 T20 World Cup with 321 runs. He is expected to open the batting and keep wicket. Ruturaj Gaikwad continues as captain, with Dhoni retained as an uncapped player. CSK also retained Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed, and Matheesha Pathirana in their bowling core.
The timing is perfect for drama. CSK’s very first match of IPL 2026 is against Rajasthan Royals on March 30 in Guwahati. Samson vs his old franchise. Jadeja vs his old franchise. In the same match. It doesn’t get more box-office than this.
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Verdict: CSK Holds Slight Edge Over RR With 16 Wins
CSK leads 16-15 in the all-time record, and that matters. Their 7-2 dominance at Chepauk gives them a structural home advantage. Five IPL titles to RR’s one reflects the gulf in overall pedigree.
But the momentum is overwhelmingly with RR. They have won 8 of the last 9 meetings, own the recent form, and have added Jadeja and Curran to an already talented squad. Both teams had miserable 2025 campaigns (9th and 10th), so IPL 2026 is a rebuilding year for both. The question is which rebuild produces results first.
CSK holds the history. RR holds the recent record. And when they meet on March 30 in Guwahati, the Samson-Jadeja trade adds a layer of personal stakes that no head-to-head stat can capture.
