Clinical Royals hand CSK another blow in dismal IPL season

Rajasthan Royals on Tuesday secured a commanding six-wicket victory over Chennai Super Kings in their IPL 2025 encounter, driven by a brilliant half-century from 14-year-old prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi. Chasing 188, RR reached the target comfortably, thanks to a match-defining 98-run partnership between Suryavanshi and skipper Sanju Samson.

Opting to bat first, CSK endured a shaky start, losing early wickets and slumping to 78 for five within the first eight overs. However, crucial contributions from young opener Ayush Mhatre, who scored a brisk 43 off 20 balls, and Dewald Brevis, with a fluent 42 off 25, helped them recover and post a competitive 187/8 at the end of 20 overs.

Despite an encouraging start from Yashasvi Jaiswal during the chase, it was the composed and confident knock from Suryavanshi, coupled with Samson’s experienced hand, that anchored RR’s innings. The duo steadied the ship and neutralized CSK’s bowling threat with ease.

Dhruv Jurel applied the finishing touches to the chase, ensuring RR crossed the finish line with wickets in hand and time to spare. The defeat marks a historic low for Chennai Super Kings, who now face the prospect of finishing at the bottom of the IPL standings for the first time in the tournament’s history.

Earlier in the match, despite the early setbacks, CSK showed resilience in the middle overs to post a fighting total. However, their bowlers were unable to contain Rajasthan’s composed batting display, which proved to be the difference on the day.

After being asked to bat first, CSK got off to a dismal start, losing both openers with just 12 runs on the scoreboard. The early damage left the team reeling, and by the eighth over, they were tottering at 78 for 5, with Rajasthan’s bowlers tightening the screws.

However, young opener Mhatre offered a quick-fire counterattack, scoring an aggressive 43 off just 20 deliveries. His stroke-filled innings helped stabilize the innings momentarily before he was dismissed against the run of play.

The real rescue act came from Dewald Brevis and Shivam Dube, who stitched together a vital 59-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Brevis, playing with intent and control, scored 42 from 25 balls, while Dube anchored the innings with a composed 39 off 32 deliveries. Their stand helped CSK recover from a precarious position and push the total towards respectability.

Lower-order cameos further boosted CSK’s effort as the team clawed its way to a challenging 187-run total, providing their bowlers with something to defend on a lively surface.

Among the bowlers, Yudhvir Singh Charak, playing in place of Fazalhaq Farooqi, made a strong impact by picking up 3 wickets for 47 runs in his four-over spell. While he proved to be slightly expensive, he delivered crucial breakthroughs at important junctures.

Akash Madhwal, on the other hand, was the pick of the bowlers in terms of economy and consistency. He returned with impressive figures of 3 for 29 from his quota of four overs, effectively keeping the CSK middle order in check.

With a target of 188 now set for the Rajasthan Royals, the second innings promises to be a thrilling chase, especially considering the batting firepower in both line-ups. Despite the shaky start, CSK’s middle-order resilience and smart finishing have kept them in contention for what could be a crucial win in the league stage.

This article first appeared on Mid Day