MS Dhoni’s likely final IPL appearance in Delhi drives CSK vs RR ticket rush

Chennai Super Kings have officially commenced ticket sales for their rescheduled IPL 2025 fixture against Rajasthan Royals, now set to be played on May 20 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.

The match was originally slated for May 15 but was postponed after the IPL temporarily suspended operations due to escalating tensions between India and Pakistan following a terrorist attack in Pahalgam of Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives, mostly tourists.

Despite both CSK and RR being mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, the demand for tickets has surged significantly. The primary driver behind this spike is likely the possibility of this being MS Dhoni’s only appearance in the capital this season, a rare opportunity for fans in Delhi to witness the iconic cricketer in action.

Notably, CSK were not scheduled to play any matches in New Delhi under the initial IPL 2025 calendar. Their only game against Delhi Capitals took place in Chennai on April 5. However, the revised itinerary now features this neutral contest at the national capital’s historic venue.

Ticket prices for this seemingly inconsequential clash are on the higher side, with the most basic seats starting at Rs 1,700, while premium categories go as high as Rs 10,000. Interestingly, these rates are steeper than those for Delhi Capitals` home games held at the same stadium.

Fans can purchase tickets through the official Chennai Super Kings website.

CSK v RR TICKETS LIVE NOW! 🎟️
Book yours on the CSK website and district app NOW! 🥳#CSKvRR #WhistlePodu 🦁💛

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) May 15, 2025

The Arun Jaitley Stadium is set to host three fixtures in the final leg of the league phase: Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Titans on May 18, CSK vs RR on May 20, and a neutral encounter between Kolkata Knight Riders and SunRisers Hyderabad on May 25.

Following high-level discussions between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the Indian government, and security agencies, the IPL 2025 season is set to resume from May 17, after a ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan was reached on May 10.

As per the updated IPL 2025 schedule, the league stage will now conclude on May 27. The playoffs are slated to begin on May 29, with the grand finale scheduled for June 3. However, the venues for the knockout matches and the final are yet to be officially announced by the BCCI.

CSK will wrap up their campaign with an away fixture against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad on May 25.

This article first appeared on Mid Day