Why is Nathan Ellis not playing CSK vs RCB IPL 2025 match? Check CSK playing XI

The crucial news development coming in is that the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are not playing their overseas fast bowler Nathan Ellis in their second game of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) season against the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) being hosted at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Five-time champions Chennai Super Kings will definitely be very much high on confidence as they are coming into this match on the back of registering a pretty convincing 4-wicket victory over arch-rivals Mumbai Indians in their season opening encounter. The Ruturaj Gaikwad-led CSK team will now be aiming to extend this winning momentum further in the IPL 2025 season as well. 

Why is Nathan Ellis not playing today's CSK vs RCB IPL 2025 match?

After winning yet another toss and opting to field first, Chennai Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad revealed that Aussie speedster Nathan Ellis is not part of the CSK playing XI for this match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Friday. Interestingly, Ellis made his debut for the Chennai Super Kings in the previous encounter against the Mumbai Indians played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. He ended up picking a single wicket and conceded as many as 38 runs in his quota of four overs. The Aussie pacer was bought by CSK in the IPL 2025 mega auction at a price of INR 2 Crore. 

This seems to be a pure tactical change as the Chennai Super Kings have brought back their premier overseas speedster Matheesha Pathirana. The Lankan fast bowler missed the opening game against Mumbai Indians due to injury. CSK are playing the likes of Pathirana, Rachin Ravindra, Sam Curran and Noor Ahmad as their four overseas players. 

"We are going to bowl first. I think it will play slightly better than the last game. So far there hasn't been any dew, we don't know when the dew will arrive and it is not in our control. There are areas; we were sitting behind in the field and would like to be more aggressive, batting wise we can be more clinical. We have just got one change - Pathirana comes back for Ellis," stated Chennai Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad during the toss. 

CSK Playing XI

Rachin Ravindra, Rahul Tripathi, Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Deepak Hooda, Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, MS Dhoni (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Matheesha Pathirana, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed.

Lions Arrived! 🦁
Anbuden Erupts! 🔥
Whistle Parakkatum! 🥳#CSKvRCB #WhistlePodu #Yellove🦁💛 pic.twitter.com/J3t4Rj9MKp

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) March 28, 2025

CSK IPL 2025 Squad

Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja, Matheesa Pathirana, Shivam Dube, MS Dhoni, Devon Conway, Rahul Tripathi, Rachin Ravindra, Ravichandran Ashwin, Khaleel Ahmed, Noor Ahmad, Vijay Shankar, Sam Curran, Shaik Rasheed, Anshul Kamboj, Mukesh Choudhary, Deepak Hooda, Gurjapneet Singh, Nathan Ellis, Jamie Overton, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Shreyas Gopal, Vansh Bedi, Andre Siddharth