Why is Sam Curran not playing RR vs CSK IPL 2025 match? Check CSK playing 11

In a massive breaking news development, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are not playing their premier overseas pacer Sam Curran in their third match of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) season scheduled against the Rajasthan Royals (RR) being hosted at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. The Chennai Super Kings will be aiming to make a strong winning comeback after having suffered a humiliating 50-run defeat during their most recent IPL 2025 encounter at home against the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). CSK did have a brilliant start to their campaign with an impressive 4-wicket win over arch-rivals Mumbai Indians (MI). 

Why is Sam Curran not playing today's RR vs CSK IPL 2025 match?

After winning his third toss in a row and once again opting to field first, Chennai Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad revealed that Sam Curran is not part of the CSK playing 11 for the match against Rajasthan Royals on Sunday. The left-arm speedster was bought by the Chennai Super Kings at a price of INR 2.40 Crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction as it is a happy homecoming for the Englishmen having represented CSK in 2020 and 2021. However, Curran has failed contribute both with the bat and ball so far in the ongoing tournament with zero wickets and just 12 runs in the two matches this year for the Chennai Super Kings. 

Things have not turned out really for 26-year-old Sam Curran in the recent few months as he went out of contention from the England team across the three formats of the game and was also not retained by the Punjab Kings (PBKS). While talking about his performance in the Indian Premier League 2024 season, he ended up taking as many as 16 wickets from 13 games at an economy of 10.14 and also smashed 270 runs with the bat. Sam Curran IPL stats includes 58 scalps in 59 matches at an economy of 9.65 and he has notched up a total of 883 runs at a strike-rate of 136.48.

The Chennai Super Kings team management have finally taken the hard call and dropped Sam Curran from the CSK playing XI. But there is good news for his England teammate, Jamie Overton, who will be making his IPL debut for the Chennai Super Kings. Although Curran is part of the five Impact Subs announced by CSK, but they cannot bring in an overseas cricketer as the Impact Player as they have already included the likes of Rachin Ravindra, Noor Ahmad, Matheesha Pathirana and Overton as their four foreign players. 

"We will bowl first. Looks a good wicket, better than the last game that was played here so we'll look to chase. So far so good, it was a quick turnaround, very little time for us but that's how the IPL is. We have to be ready. We have come here for the first time as a franchise, good to see all the love we've got. Two changes, Jamie Overton comes in for Sam Curran and Vijay Shankar for Deepak Hooda," stated Chennai Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad during the toss. 

LIONED UP FOR THE ROYAL CLASH! 🦁🔥#RRvCSK #WhistlePodu 🦁💛 pic.twitter.com/NKGyzFgaR1

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) March 30, 2025

Swinging into pride at full pace! 🔥 #RRvCSK #WhistlePodu #Yellove🦁💛 pic.twitter.com/gDnvwV15vk

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) March 30, 2025

CSK Playing 11

Rachin Ravindra, Rahul Tripathi, Ruturaj Gaikwad(c), Vijay Shankar, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni(w), Jamie Overton, Ravichandran Ashwin, Noor Ahmad, Matheesha Pathirana, Khaleel Ahmed.

Chennai Super Kings Impact Subs: Shivam Dube, Mukesh Choudhary, Devon Conway, Shaik Rasheed, Sam Curran.

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.