IPL match preview: Rajasthan Royals v Chennai Super Kings

The Super Kings will go into this match on the back of a convincing victory over the Kolkata Knight Riders, while Rajasthan will attempt to bounce back from a tight defeat to the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

This will be the first of five matches in the 2023 IPL to be played in Jaipur, which is effectively Rajasthan's home ground. It'll be interesting to see what conditions serve up during a tournament that has produced plenty of high-scoring affairs.

Chennai's motivation continues to centre around a fifth IPL title. If they make it five, they'll join the Mumbai Indians as the joint-most successful team in the history of the tournament. Rajasthan lost last year's final and obviously want to go one better this time.

This fixture will showcase some of the finest international and local talent in the Indian Premier League. Chennai have a masterful tactician in the veteran MS Dhoni, while Royals skipper Sanju Samson is the face of the future.

The Royals have beaten the Super Kings in four of their last five meetings, including three consecutive wins from 2021 to earlier in 2023.

Ajinkya Rahane has been in fine form for CSK this season and was recently included in India's squad for the World Test Championship final. He isn't a big-hitter by most means, but his superb timing and shot selection make him a major asset with the bat.

There are several excellent leg-spinners on display in this season's IPL, including Adam Zampa, Ravi Bishnoi and Rahul Chahar, but the Royals' Yuzvendra Chahal is among the very best. He was the leading wicket-taker in the 2022 IPL and could claim that status again this season.

The Royals have lost their last two matches, while Chennai have collected three wins in a row. They are primed to make it four in four here.