Rajasthan Royals Edge Out Chennai Super Kings in Guwahati Thriller
Rajasthan Royals (RR) finally opened their account in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 with a nail-biting 6-run victory over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the 11th match of the season at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium. In a contest that went down to the wire, RR’s resilience with the ball and a standout batting performance from Nitish Rana trumped CSK’s spirited chase, leaving the Guwahati crowd on the edge of their seats.
Opting to bat first after losing the toss, Rajasthan Royals were desperate to turn their fortunes around following two consecutive defeats. The innings got off to a shaky start with Yashasvi Jaiswal falling for a duck in the first over to Khaleel Ahmed. However, Nitish Rana, promoted to No. 3, seized the moment with a breathtaking display of strokeplay.
Rana’s 81 off just 36 balls, laced with seven fours and five sixes, powered RR to a commanding 79/1 at the end of the powerplay alongside Sanju Samson (23). The duo’s 82-run stand injected momentum, but CSK clawed back with wickets in the middle overs. Ravichandran Ashwin dismissed Rana, triggering a mini-collapse as RR slipped from 124/2 to 140/5. Captain Riyan Parag (37 off 28) and Dhruv Jurel (15) steadied the ship, but late strikes from Matheesha Pathirana (3/32) and Noor Ahmad (2/25) restricted RR to 182/9 in 20 overs.
Despite the late stumble, Rana’s blistering knock ensured RR had a competitive total to defend on a pitch that offered assistance to both batters and bowlers.
Chasing 183, Chennai Super Kings began cautiously, losing Rachin Ravindra for a duck to Jofra Archer’s fiery pace in the first over. Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad (63 off 43) anchored the innings, stitching together a 46-run stand with Rahul Tripathi (23). However, the introduction of RR’s spinners turned the game.
Wanindu Hasaranga proved to be the difference-maker, finishing with figures of 4/35. He dismissed Tripathi with a diving catch from Shimron Hetmyer, followed by Shivam Dube (18) and Vijay Shankar (9) with his deceptive wrong’uns. Gaikwad reached his half-century, but his departure in the 16th over, bowled by Maheesh Theekshana (1/28), shifted the momentum decisively.
With 39 needed off the final two overs, MS Dhoni (16 off 11) and Ravindra Jadeja (32* off 22) ignited hopes of a classic CSK finish. Dhoni smashed a six off Tushar Deshpande, but Sandeep Sharma held his nerve in the final over. Defending 20, Sharma dismissed Dhoni, caught by Hetmyer at deep midwicket off the first ball. Jamie Overton (11* off 4) kept CSK alive with a six, but Sharma’s composure ensured RR sealed the game, restricting CSK to 176/6.
Key Moments and Performances
Nitish Rana’s Explosive 81: His rapid fifty (off 21 balls) laid the foundation for RR’s total.
Wanindu Hasaranga’s: The Lankan spinner’s spell dismantled CSK’s middle order at a crucial juncture.
Sandeep Sharma’s Final Over: Keeping calm under pressure, he denied CSK a late miracle.
Nitish Rana, named Player of the Match, said, “I focused on utilizing the powerplay. The new ball was key, and I’m glad I could set a platform for the team.” RR coach Rahul Dravid praised the team’s fighting spirit, particularly highlighting Hasaranga’s impact and Sharma’s death bowling.
CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad rued missed opportunities: “We were one hit away. Nitish batted brilliantly, but we pulled it back well. The misfields cost us 8-10 runs, and that hurt. Still, 180 was chaseable on this wicket.”
This victory marked RR’s first points of IPL 2025, lifting them off the bottom of the table and boosting their confidence ahead of their next fixtures. For CSK, it was a second straight loss after an opening win, exposing vulnerabilities in their batting order despite Gaikwad’s consistency.
As the tournament progresses, RR will look to build on this momentum, while CSK will aim to regroup and refine their chase strategy. The Guwahati thriller reaffirmed IPL’s reputation for delivering edge-of-the-seat entertainment, with RR emerging as the deserving victors in a contest of fine margins.
