CSK vs RR: Simrajeet & Ruturaj keep CSK in playoff race, RR take a hit

Daryl Mitchell speaks

Really nice to get over the line on a slower wicket. To restrict them to that total was awesome. We go again (now). The way we bowled in the powerplay, we built pressure and asked them to take risks. The spinners did a great job in the middle. Not sure what would have been a par score, but nice to restrict them (to that score). (On his plan to attack) I think it is working in partnerships. When I came in, I thought the new ball was the best time (to play our strokes). Rutu was there at the end and did an amazing job. Working with our partner, communicating with him, working out your match-ups – it is about constantly adapting. The noise at this ground makes it very special (to play here) and we are lucky.

Sanju Samson speaks

I think after the powerplay the message was slow and two paced. Hence after the powerplay the score we were expecting was 170, we were short 20-25 runs. Simarjeet bowled really well. We are not really sure what to expect from away games. We thought batting first was the better option. They had a better idea of what to chase being used to playing here, we thought it would have been slower in the second innings, but the wicket was instead better. When you play at night chasing is a no-brainer due to the dew. The pitch gets heated up during summers so I expected the wicket to slow down in the second innings. It’s normal to keep on thinking about qualification, need to focus on what is under our control. I would like to tell my teammates need to focus on things that are in our hand. Need to focus on the process and hope to win the next game.

CSK win!

Chennai Super Kings win by 5 wickets to keep their playoff hopes alive. And that means, it’s another hiccup for Rajasthan Royals who were favourites to seal the top spot.

CSK 145/5 in 18.2
RR 141/5 in 20

5 needed

No MS Dhoni as it stands. CSK need just 5 off the last two overs.

CSK are 137/5 in 18, need 5 off 12

No Thala yet

CSK have sent in Sameer Rizvi as the Impact Sub with MS Dhoni still staying put. He is padded up.

CSK are 121/5 in 16, need 22 off 24

Obstruction of field?

Ravindra Jadeja is dismissed for obstructing the field. The third umpire took a look at the replay and determined that Jadeja changed direction when Sanju Samson was throwing the ball. And with that, CSK lose their 5th wicket. Jadeja departs for 5.

CSK are 121/5 in 15.5, need 22 off 25

Chennai inching closer

As Chepauk awaits Thala’s entry, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ravindra Jadeja are taking CSK closer to victory. CSK need 26 off 30.

CSK are 116/4 in 15

Out

Dube comes, hits a few boundaries and then he is finally caught at the boundary. Ashwin removes him for 18.

CSK are 107/4 in 14 overs and need 35 runs in 36 balls

Moeen Ali departs

Moeen Ali attempts a big hit but gets caught out on the boundary.

CSK are 86/3 in 11.5 overs and need 56 runs in 49 balls

Dhanashree Verma cheers for Chahal, RR

Mrs. Dhoni watches on from the stands

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CSK fans flood Chepauk in Yellow!

Chahal gets his first wicket

Yuzvendra Chahal traps Daryll Mitchell for a LBW, makes a long appeal after which umpire raises his finger. The Kiwi decided to take a review. Ball tracking indicates that the ball went on to hit the stumps and the decision made by the on-field umpire stays.

CSK are 67/2 in 7.5 overs and need 75 runs in 73 balls.

CSK dominate powerplay

Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad and Daryll Mitchell steady the innings for CSK after losing Rachin Ravindra. The duo have dominated the powerplay, dealing mainly in boundaries.

CSK are 56/1 in 6 overs and need 86 runs in 84 balls

Ashwin strikes!

Ravichandran Ashwin puts the breaks on Rachin Ravindra’s innings as RR get the first breakthrough.

CSK are 32/1 in 3.4 overs.

Opening blues

One area where CSK have struggled is the opening. Devon Conway has been the biggest absentee this season. Last time, Conway and Gaikwad were on fire. But this season, Gaikwad-Ravindra and Rahane combined have scored only 284 runs.

Gaikwad-Ravindra-Rahane: 284 in IPL 2024
Gaikwad-Conway: 849 in IPL 2023

Solid start

Rachin and Ruturaj are off to a solid start in the first two overs. Both have shown intent on going against the new ball. As the ball gets older, it will be difficult to hit.

CSK 16/0 after 2.

No Maharaj

With the slowness of the surface, Rajasthan were expected to have Keshav Maharaj as an Impact Player. But it’s Nandre Burger who comes in as the Impact sub.

Ruturaj-Rachin begin

Both Ruturaj and Rachin have misfired this season but to keep playoff hopes alive, both will need to provide a strong start with a target only 142.

RR finish with 141 runs on board

Rajasthan Royals set a target of 142 runs for CSK to chase. The action will resume shortly after the innings break. Stay tuned.

Back-to-back wickets for Deshpande!

Deshpande strikes again in the very next delivery as Shivam Dube completes an easy catch to get rid of Shubam Dubey.

RR are 131/5 in 19.2 overs.

Another batter bites the dust

Tushar Deshpande strikes in the last over to get rid of Dhruv Jurel.

RR are 131/4 in 19.1 overs.

Simarjeet shines in Chepauk!

MSD at it, again!

Fanboy Gavaskar’s request for MS Dhoni

“I’d love to see him come and smash a couple of sixes. Obviously that running between the wickets with that leg won’t be there. But it’s going to be emotional, I mean as the match progresses they will know where the match is standing whether CSK is going to win or RR is going to win. I think it is going to be emotional just like when Sachin Tendulkar played his last match at the Wankhede Stadium. I just hope that MSD also goes out on a real high,” said Gavaskar

RR manage to get past 100 runs

Hundred runs are finally up on the board for RR.

RR are 103/3 in 16 overs.

Third wicket for Simarjeet!

Simarjeet gets his third wicket of the match as he gets rid of Sanju Samson.

RR are 91/3 in 14.2 overs.

Spinners keep RR in check

CSK spinners continue to frustrate Samson and Parag as they put the break on RR’s innings.

RR are 90/2 in 14 overs.

Costly drop for CSK?

Theekshana drops Riyan Parag near the boundary. The Sri Lankan attempted to take a catch at the boundary line and fails in his third attempt.

RR are 74/2 in 12 overs.

RR need to step on the accelerator

Time for RR to accelerate. Ten overs are left in the game and the Royals are yet to reach the 100-run mark.

RR are 61/2 in 10 overs.

Out

Another wicket goes down for Rajasthan, this time it is Jos Buttler. He is out for 21 from 25.

RR 49/2 in 8.1 overs.

Out

Simarjeet has a wicket here. He gets the priced wicket of Yashasvi Jaiswal. A good catch by Ruturaj Gaikwad as he is out for 24 off 21.

RR 43/1.

No power in play!

Just five boundaries and a six in the powerplay. Not much power in the powerplay by the two big hitters. Rajasthan post 42/0 in first 6 overs.

Fans enjoy!

Slow or not, fans have created a fantastic atmosphere at Chepauk even at 37 degrees Celsius.

16 deliveries

It has taken Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler 16 deliveries to hit the firs boundary. It comes off Buttler’s willow as he pulls a short delivery by Tushar Deshpande for a 4.

RR 14/0 after 3 overs

Slow start

Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler are off to a cautious start. Maheesh Theekshana bowled the second over and troubled Jaiswal. And despite the fied retsrictions, no big shot yet by either batter.

RR 7/0 after 2 overs

Buttler-Jaiswal under scanner

Despite Rajasthan Royals’s good run of form in IPL 2024, both Jaiswal and Buttler have misfired. Their inconsistencies will be put to the test in hot and humid Chennai.

Chennai Super Kings Playing XI

Rachin Ravindra, Ruturaj Gaikwad(c), Daryl Mitchell, Moeen Ali, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni(w), Shardul Thakur, Tushar Deshpande, Simarjeet Singh, Maheesh Theekshana

Rajasthan Royals Playing XI

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson(w/c), Riyan Parag, Shubham Dubey, Dhruv Jurel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Avesh Khan, Sandeep Sharma, Yuzvendra Chahal

Ajinkya Rahane axed

Chennai Super Kings have dropped Ajinkya Rahane after a string of poor performances. And that could be the end of Rahane in IPL.

Toss update

Rajasthan Royals skipper Sanju Samson has won the toss and opted to bat first against Chennai Super Kings. Dhruv Jurel returns for RR. For CSK, Theekshana is back.

Something special?

Easy equation for RR

Do-or-die for CSK

The defeat of Gujarat Titans on Friday severely damaged Chennai Super Kings‘ chances of making the playoffs. To advance to the IPL 2024 playoffs, hosts CSK must win their final games. They can move up to third place in the IPL 2024 points standings, above Sunrisers Hyderabad, with a convincing victory over RR. With 12 games played, the team led by MS Dhoni has 12 points. In the IPL 2024 standings, CSK is tied for fifth place with the Delhi Capitals and with KL Rahul’s Lucknow Super Giants.

RR seek next playoff spot

The Rajasthan Royals, who won the 2008 edition of the lucrative league, need just one victory to guarantee their spot in the playoffs. Samson and his group are aiming for the second spot in the IPL 2024 table following a strong performance during the league stage of the competition. This season, RR has gained 16 points from 11 games. On the IPL 2024 points table, Rajasthan Royals are only two points behind Shreyas Iyer’s KKR team, who have already qualified.