Even MS Dhoni couldn’t. We had seen the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) icon pull off heists in the back end of a run-chases, but even the chase master faltered, this time around against the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Guwahati. Meanwhile, Riyan Parag gets his maiden IPL 2025 win after a wait of three games.
Nitish Rana’s show in the first innings pushed CSK way back in the game. On a different Guwahati track that aided batters equally, CSK orchestrated a mediocre run chase of 183. No one really pressed the acceleration button. While skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad hit a well-made 63. But that was pretty much it. They lost wickets in the middle overs, especially against Wanindu Hasaranga (4 wickets), and the situation was set for Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja to take over. However, Dhoni got holed out, obviously after he got a massive cheer from the Guwahati crowd. Who knows if they saw the legend bat for the last time!
CSK bowlers > CSK batters
Rajasthan Royals seemed poised for a 200-plus total at one stage, but CSK pulled things back brilliantly to restrict them to 182/9 in 20 overs. Nitish Rana was the star of the show, smashing a blistering 81 off just 36 balls to give RR a solid foundation. However, just when they looked set for a big finish, CSK’s bowlers turned the tide, triggering a sudden collapse that saw wickets tumble in quick succession. In the end, it was the Men in Yellow who had the upper hand heading into the chase.
‘Nitish Rana show’ for RR
It was a mixed bag for the Royals, who started well despite losing Yashasvi Jaiswal early. Sanju Samson and Rana built a steady partnership, with Rana taking on CSK’s spinners, particularly Ravichandran Ashwin. But Ashwin had the last laugh, stumping the left-hander and triggering a collapse. Riyan Parag chipped in with a 37-run contribution, but RR lost wickets in clusters towards the death, failing to accelerate in the final overs. Samson, meanwhile, had a start of 20 but failed for the 2nd game running.
The RR batting lineup imploded spectacularly, losing 7 wickets in a mere 11 overs, to stumble from 125/2 to 182/9. Noor Ahmad was the chief architect of their downfall, producing a masterful bowling display to finish with 2/28.
Poor chase by CSK
Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad led the charge with a well-crafted 63 off 44 balls, but the visitors couldn’t cross the finish line, thanks to a disciplined bowling effort from the Royals.
CSK needed a flying start but lost Rachin Ravindra early. Rahul Tripathi and Gaikwad were cautious in the powerplay, failing to put the pressure back on the Royals. Tripathi departed soon after, but Gaikwad shifted gears, taking the attack to the bowlers. Shivam Dube chipped in with crucial runs in the middle, keeping CSK in the hunt. However, wickets at regular intervals derailed their momentum, and despite a few lusty blows from MS Dhoni, the chase slipped away in the final over.
MS Dhoni’s arrival at number seven fueled hopes of a classic finish, and he didn’t disappoint with a couple of well-timed strikes. But Sandeep Sharma held his nerve in a tense final over, dismissing Dhoni and ensuring RR walked away with the win.
Rajasthan’s bowlers played a pivotal role in defending their total. Jofra Archer was outstanding with a wicket maiden, conceding just 13 runs in his three overs. Sandeep Sharma, despite being expensive, delivered when it mattered most. However, the night belonged to Wanindu Hasaranga, whose brilliant 4/35 spell included the prized scalp of Gaikwad at a crucial juncture, turning the tide in RR’s favor.
