Fantasy Power Ranking: CSK vs SRH In A Do-Or-Die Battle

Probuddha Bhattacharjee

Noor Ahmad and Abhishek Sharma [Source: AP Photos]Noor Ahmad and Abhishek Sharma [Source: AP Photos]

When Chennai Super Kings (CSK) face Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the 43rd match of IPL 2025 at MA Chidambaram Stadium, fantasy managers will need to navigate Chepauk's spin-friendly conditions with precision. Our analysis of player performances and venue data reveals several key insights for building a winning fantasy team.

Chepauk Pitch Analysis

Chepauk's pitch has historically favored spin bowling, with spinners enjoying an economy rate of 7.47 compared to 7.82 for pacers. The average first innings score of 159 drops to 142 in the second innings, highlighting how the surface typically deteriorates as the match progresses.

Bowling Type
Economy Rate
Wicket-Taking Rate
Spin7.4717.20%
Pace7.8215.80%

Must Have Fantasy Picks For CSK vs SRH

Leading the fantasy power rankings is CSK's Noor Ahmad, whose left-arm chinaman bowling has yielded 12 wickets at an impressive economy. As a spinner with home advantage, Ahmad represents an excellent captain choice at a venue where the ball grips and turns. His 4/18 against Mumbai Indians at this ground earlier in the tournament showcases his Chepauk mastery.

SRH's Heinrich Klaasen tops the batting power index with his remarkable ability to tackle spin bowling. His tournament-leading 281 runs at a brilliant strike rate makes him an ideal vice-captain, particularly valuable on a surface that challenges most visiting batsmen.

Strategic Team Selection

The all-rounder category is led by CSK's Ravindra Jadeja, offering dual value as a left-arm spinner and middle-order bat. With 145 runs and 5 wickets this season, his familiarity with home conditions elevates his fantasy ceiling.

Multi dimensional strength analysis [Source: OneCricket]Multi dimensional strength analysis [Source: OneCricket]

CSK batsmen enjoy a slight advantage, with Shivam Dube (230 runs) and MS Dhoni (134 runs) both demonstrating strong performances at Chepauk. For SRH, explosive openers Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head remain must-have selections despite the challenging venue, having scored 240 and 242 runs respectively at strike rates exceeding 150.

Differential Picks and Match Dynamics

Smart fantasy users should target differential picks like Rachin Ravindra (CSK), whose technique against spin often goes under appreciated, and Eshan Malinga (SRH), who can extract surprising bounce on slower surfaces.

The toss could prove crucial, with teams batting first winning 50% of matches at Chepauk this season. However, the performance drop in second innings suggests a slight advantage when setting a target rather than chasing.

As this spin battle unfolds, fantasy success will hinge on balancing spinners from both teams while selecting batsmen with proven spin-handling capabilities. With CSK's home advantage and specialty in spin conditions facing off against SRH's explosive batting lineup, this promises to be both a fascinating cricket contest and a challenging fantasy puzzle.