Chasing 183, CSK’s batting lineup crumbled under pressure from RR’s bowlers. Jofra Archer set the tone with a maiden over, dismissing Rachin Ravindra for a duck in the first over – the season’s first maiden. Rahul Tripathi (23) followed soon after, edging Wanindu Hasaranga to Shimron Hetmyer, leaving CSK at 46/2.
Ruturaj Gaikwad fought valiantly, scoring 63 off 44 balls with a mix of elegance and aggression, including a stunning slog-sweep six off Hasaranga. He found an ally in Vijay Shankar (9), but the introduction of Wanindu Hasaranga turned the game decisively in RR’s favor. The Sri Lankan spinner ran riot, claiming 4/35 – dismissing Shankar, Rahul Tripathi (23), Shivam Dube (18), and Gaikwad in quick succession. His flighted delivery to Gaikwad, caught by Jaiswal at long-on, ended CSK’s hopes.
MS Dhoni (16 off 11) and Ravindra Jadeja (32* off 22) provided late fireworks, but with 49 needed off the final 22 balls, the task proved insurmountable. Sandeep Sharma sealed the deal, dismissing Dhoni’s faint hope with a catch by Hetmyer in the deep. CSK finished at 176/6 in 20 overs, falling short by 6 runs.
Nitish Rana’s 81 earned him the Player of the Match award, a knock that showcased his ability to dominate on a big stage. Hasaranga’s four-wicket haul was equally pivotal, dismantling CSK’s middle order with guile and precision. For CSK, Gaikwad’s 63 was a lone bright spot in an otherwise lackluster batting display, while Pathirana and Noor Ahmad impressed with the ball.
This win propelled RR to their first victory of IPL 2025, lifting them from the bottom of the points table and boosting their net run rate to -1.112. With two losses in three games, they now sit eighth, showing signs of resurgence. CSK, with one win and two losses, slipped to Seventh with a net run rate of -0.771, raising questions about their batting depth and middle-over strategy.
RR will look to build on this momentum when they face Punjab Kings in Mullanpur on April 2, while CSK have a quick turnaround, hosting Delhi Capitals in Chennai on April 5. For now, Rajasthan Royals celebrate a well-earned triumph, while Chennai Super Kings head back to the drawing board after a night to forget in Guwahati.