Starring with the bat for the Royals was Nitish Rana who hit a powerful 81 before Wanindu Hasaranga helped defend the total with crucial strikes right through. While Nitish Rana‘s onslaught in the powerplay set RR up to get a total that was above-par, CSK had managed to pull things back at the back-end. In the chase, however, RR managed to keep things in control with regular strikes right through. The chief architect of that was Wanindu Hasaranga who struck at important junctures not allowing CSK to get away.
Nitish Rana ended his below-par run in IPL and slammed his first half-century in the T20 league since 2023. Coming out to bat at number 3 for Rajasthan Royals (RR), Nitish Rana powered his team to a big total of 182/9 with a knock of 81 off just 36 balls. The left-handed batsman Nitish Rana was on a mission to punish the bowlers and he started playing big shots right from the word go.
Batting with a strike-rate of more than 200, Nitish Rana completed his half-century off just 21 balls. After breaching the 50-run mark with a boundary, Nitish Rana hit a six. Nitish Rana , who joined RR for a huge sum of Rs 4.2 crore, came up with a cradle celebration after completing his half-century. For the unversed, Nitish Rana is set to become a father for the first time. Nitish tied the knot with Saachi Marwah in 2019. The couple is expecting twins.
Pitch Report and Toss
Pitch Report : Â “63m and 66m side boundaries and 78m down the ground. It is similar to the other night. It is compact and there is a sheen, but it is dry and the middle overs are going to be crucial for the bating team against the quality spin bowlers. It is not going to be a 200 wicket but still going to provide a great game of cricket,” reckon Daren Ganga and Shane Watson
Toss : Chennai Super Kings skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad won the toss for third time in the row and chose to bowl with 2 changes in the Playing XI with Deepak Hooda and Sam Curran making way for Vijay Shankar and Jamie Overton. Rajasthan Royals skipper Riyan Parag batting first made no change in the Playing XI.
Nitish Rana’s blitzkrieg innings of 81 runs powers RR to 182 for 9 in 20 overs
Nitish Rana found himself coming in just the first over of the innings after Yashasvi Jaiswal chipped a simple catch to mid off. What had started off well for Khaleel Ahmed and CSK, who had opted to bowl, soon took a turn for the worse. Nitish Rana hit the second ball he faced for a boundary to get going. Jamie Overton, making his IPL debut, was carted for 14 runs in his first over and 16 in his next as CSK struggled to get their lengths right.
In a bid to shake up things, R Ashwin was brought in but Nitish Rana employed the sweep behind square to good effect as RR picked up 19 in that over. Khaleel erred in lengths once again in his third over of the powerplay and allowed Nitish Rana to cash in further on a surface that was not offering much for the bowlers. Out of RR’s 79 inside the powerplay, Nitish Rana alone accounted for 58.
Riyan Parag had batted at No. 3 in RR’s first two matches this season. On the eve of this game, coach Rahul Dravid had also backed Parag at that position, but they ended up bumping Nitish Rana to No. 3, at Parag’s expense, to take advantage of a match-up with R Ashwin.
Before Sunday’s fixture, Nitish Rana had hit 108 off 58 balls from Ashwin without being dismissed in the IPL. By the time, Ashwin was introduced into the attack, Nitish Rana had already run away to a swift start – 27 off 13 balls. He greeted the spinner with a sequence of 6, 6, 4 and continued to attack him. By the time Ashwin dismissed Nitish Rana for the first time in the IPL, off his 71st ball to him, Nitish Rana had extended his tally to 171. Ashwin had to dip into his old trick – pause and deliver – to have an advancing Rana stumped off an off side wide.
Nitish Rana made 58 of RR’s 81 runs came in the powerplay, which offset low scores for Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson. Nitish Rana remained CSK’s biggest threat from one end but Noor Ahmed managed to strike straightaway at the other bagging a well-set Sanju Samson caught at long off. It helped apply the brakes on the scoring-rate although RR had a good base already. Nitish Rana though was taking one of CSK’s main weapon in R Ashwin out sweeping him for another four and a six when the offspinner returned.
But Ashwin had the last laugh throwing one wide when Nitish Rana danced down the track early to be stumped for a 36-ball 81. This helped further CSK’s cause as they applied the squeeze through their spinners. Both Ahmed and Ravindra Jadeja chipped in getting Dhruv Jurel and Wanindu Hasaranga caught off mishits as CSK bounced back successfully.
Noor Ahmad, the left-arm wrist spinner, struck in his first over when he had Samson caught at long-off for 20 off 16 balls. He proceeded to remove Dhruv Jurel for 3 off 7 balls and moved to the top of the purple cap leaderboard. Ravindra Jadeja bowled only two overs, but he did a good job himself by not conceding a single boundary.
Matheesha Pathirana and Khaleel Ahmed, who had dismissed Jaiswal in the powerplay, then slowed RR down even further in the end overs. Shimron Hetmyer, who batted behind Hasaranga at No. 7, could’ve been out for 3 had IPL debutant Jamie Overton not dropped a skier. Overton’s evening only got worse after he had leaked 30 runs from his first two overs in the powerplay.
His bowling stint ended right there. Hetmyer got to 19 off 16 balls before Pathirana drew another mis-hit, Ashwin hanging onto the skier this time. Pathirana and Khaleel gave away only 17 runs off the last three overs to keep RR below 190. They had looked good for a much bigger total, especially when Nitish Rana was on song.
Riyan Parag and Shimron Hetmyer, who was dropped first ball, were the only other batters from RR who found the boundaries apart from the top-order. But neither could get them at the frequency that RR would have liked. Parag was yorked by Pathirana in the 18th over while Hetmyer was caught in the final over. Through it all, CSK stitched together overs without boundaries that helped keep them in the game. RR still managed to get past 180 thanks to the initial onslaught from Nitish Rana.
Wanindu Hasaranga’s 4-fer and Sandeep Sharma’s accurate last over secures 6 run win for RR despite Ruturaj Gaikwad’s 63 runs
The Guwahati pitch began to assist the pacers more as the game progressed and both Jofra Archer and Tushar Deshpande extracted appreciable bounce from it straight away. The former got one of the balls to kick up and angled across Rachin Ravindra to have him caught behind. Shot-making was not easy through the line in this phase with Ruturaj Gaikwad also being struck on the elbow once. After Archer’s maiden over to start, CSK had put on only 5 on the board after the first three overs.
But gradually both Gaikwad and Rahul Tripathi found other ways to get the boundaries. They began to use the pace behind square on the onside and put the bowlers off their lengths. As a result, CSK got some useful boundaries in the latter half of the powerplay which helped get the chase back on track.
Archer and former Super King Tushar Deshpande, however, snatched the momentum away from CSK in the powerplay. Archer kicked off RR’s defence with a wicket-maiden in which he had Rachin Ravindra nicking off a 145kph delivery that reared up off the deck for a duck. At the other end, Deshpande hit Gaikwad on his unprotected elbow.
Rahul Tripathi was going nowhere. He gave up his stumps only to swish and miss. When Archer bowled a slower leg cutter, though, Tripathi got going with a six over short fine. Gaikwad then picked Sandeep off for three fours in the last over of the powerplay as CSK ended the phase with a more respectable 42 for 1, having been on 5 for 1 in three overs.
This was a phase of play that CSK were threatening to break free with wickets in hand. But Rajasthan were almost single-handedly kept in the game by Wanindu Hasaranga’s three strikes through the middle overs. He struck with his first ball having Tripathi caught at deep midwicket. But CSK had their best spin-hitter in Shivam Dube walk in and he took the attack straight back to Hasaranga hitting him for a six down the ground.
Hasaranga struck with his very first ball, having Tripathi holing out for 23 off 19 balls. With Hasaranga bowling in tandem with Maheesh Theekshana, CSK unleashed their Impact Player, Shivam Dube, on the spinners. Dube cracked two sixes off Hasaranga before the wrist spinner had him chipping a wrong’un to cover, where Guwahati’s very own Parag pulled off a spectacular, one-handed grab to cut Dube’s innings short at 18 off 10 balls.
Vijay Shankar, who had replaced Deepak Hooda, failed to pick his first ball, a wrong’un from Hasaranga, which almost shaved the off stump. In his next over, though, he knocked Vijay over with a loopier wrong’un for 9 off 6 balls.
He continued the onslaught in Hasaranga’s next over hitting him for a four and a six, readying to get that one big over that could tilt the equation. But Dube fell immediately after thanks to a magical catch at cover by a diving Riyan Parag. But CSK hit back through their skipper Gaikwad who picked up three boundaries off Kumar Kartikeya to keep the run-rate up.
When he needed more support at the other end, Vijay Shankar briefly promised to do so hitting Hasaranga for a six but only to be fooled by a googly off the very next ball. Gaikwad brought up his fifty soon after but heading into the final five overs, CSK needed 61 with a set Gaikwad being their biggest bet.
Hasaranga once again played his part in the final overs with Gaikwad trying to take charge. CSK’s captain managed to tonk Hasaranga down the ground for a crucial six but became the leg spinner’s fourth victim of the night when he holed out to long on next ball to fall for 63. Hasaranga finished with figures of 4-35 and ensured that he played a major part in RR’s defence of a middling total. For CSK, the onus lied on Ravindra Jadeja and MS Dhoni to make a match out of this in the final stages of the game.
He left CSK needing 54 off 25 balls. It became 39 off 12 balls after Theekshana bowled a boundary-less 18th over to Dhoni and Jadeja. Dhoni then started the penultimate over, bowled by Deshpande, with a ramped four and then flat-batted the seamer over his head for six in a 19-run over, but they were left with too much to do in the end.
RR got back Matheesha Theekshana for the 18th over and the spinner conceding only six with no boundaries, leaving CSK needing 39 off 12. Both the experienced campaigners picked up a six a piece from Tushar Deshpande’s penultimate over and got 19 in all leaving Sandeep Sharma to defend 20 in the final over.
Archer, who had bowled three excellent overs in the powerplay, including a wicket-maiden, wasn’t called to bowl at the death. Sandeep stepped up to have Dhoni holing out for 16 off 11 balls with a low full-toss, which sealed the deal.
Interestingly, RR had turned to him even though Jofra Archer [3-1-13-1] had an over left. But to their relief, Sharma saw Dhoni drag a low full toss wide of deep midwicket where Hetmyer took a sharp running catch under pressure. Sharma saw off the threat from debutant Overton, who lofted him for one six, to eventually take RR home as CSK fell 6 runs short.
Presentations and Road Ahead
Ruturaj Gaikwad the losing CSK skipper said : Obvious in the Power Play (the key moment in the game). Nitish batted well and we were not proactive knowing he was going behind square and we should have made him play in front of the wicket. 8-10 runs through misfields as well. We are trying to improve there. 180 was chasable. Still a good wicket if you hit the pockets. I was really happy at the innings break.
They were looking good for 210, but 180 was chasable. (About him batting at No. 3) Over the years Ajinkya batted at 3 and Rayudu was taking care of middle-overs. We thought it would be better if I came a bit late to take care of the middle overs and Tripathi can bat aggressively at the top. Anyway it doesn’t matter because I am getting to bat early in the three games (smiles).
It was decided during the auction time and I don’t have any problem with that. I can take risks when needed and rotate strike. Unfortunately we have not been getting the good starts but once we get that things will be different. (Positives) Noor as usual bowling well, Khaleel bowling well and Jaddu bhai bowled well as well. You need some momentum in the bowling department. I think once everything comes together and we have the momentum we will be a really good side.
Riyan Parag the winning RR skipper said : Feels good. Took some time, it was two games but felt long. Felt we were 20 short. We were going well in the middle overs but lost a couple of quick wickets. But we bowled very well. The bowlers stepped up and executed our collective plans.
We have had two tough games, going for 280 and then not being able to defend around 180 in the second game. Luckily had a few options in this game, me and Nitish were also there. Just did what felt instinctive as a captain today. Fielding makes up for the 20 runs that we were short. We have been working with Dishant Yagnik, our fielding coach. So it shows.
Nitish Rana Player of the Match for his entertaining 81 runs said : Â I was just trying to utilise the new ball. The powerplay was important as the older ball turns and stops. I wanted to play the field, rather than the wicket or the bowler. Whenever fine leg or third-man was up, I just had to use the bowlers pace.
I felt I was hitting the ball too hard in the previous two games, that is something I analysed and changed today. (On him batting at 3) It was a tactical move today from the coaches. It was suggested by them, I am okay to bat at any position. We had a conversation in the dressing room between Rahul Dravid and Vikram Rathour, and it was decided that I will bat at three today.
A blistering assault from Nitish Rana and Wanindu Hasaranga’s clever wrist spin bowling handed Rajasthan Royals (RR) their first win and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) their second successive defeat in IPL 2025.
After Rana crashed 81 off 36 balls, joining RR’s fastest half-centurions, Ruturaj Gaikwad anchored CSK’s chase of 183 with a fifty of his own. But Hasaranga’s variations, especially the wrong’un, exposed CSK’s soft underbelly and put the target beyond their reach. Though Ravindra Jadeja mounted a late charge against the seamers – he remained unbeaten on 32 off 22 balls – and the margin of victory was only six runs, RR were always ahead in the game.
Sandeep Sharma, picked ahead of Jofra Archer to defend 19 off the final over, had MS Dhoni holing out for 16 off 11 balls with his first legal ball of the over and finished the job for RR.
A thrilling contest in Barsapara that goes in the favour of the home side, who edged out all the crucial moments today. Rajasthan got a fiery start from Nitish Rana who scored 81 today off just 36 balls, as his side finished with a solid score of 182. In reply, Jofra Archer delivered a blistering new ball spell, getting Rachin Ravindra out for a duck. Ruturaj Gaikwad steadied the ship for Chennai, as he scored a gritty fifty while losing wickets around him.
Wanindu Hasaranga was the chief destroyer for Rajasthan, as he picked up a wicket in each over and troubled the batters with his googlies. Despite that, CSK were in with a shout needing 45 off the last three overs with Dhoni and Jaddu at the crease. However, both batters seemed to play hot potato in that next Theekshana over, as only five runs came off it.
In a game of fine margins, that miserly over proved to be the difference as CSK ultimately fell short by six runs despite some late slogs from Dhoni, Jadeja and Jamie Overton. Some bold captaincy from RR as well, who used Sandeep Sharma in the final over ahead of the more celebrated Jofra Archer.
So Rajasthan get their first win of the tournament. They played the same team as the KKR match, but just tweaked their bowling and batting order to get over the finish line. A second loss on the trot for CSK who seem to be a bit out of steam this season. T20 is a young person’s game and this season might just be showing the ‘dad’s army’ their age. However, we are just three games into the season, and as Stephen Fleming said in the previous game – just see at the end, who wins it. We’ll continue to see everything that happens this IPL season.
Both teams have a five day-gap before their next encounter on April 05 when CSK host the Delhi Capitals while Rajasthan Royals go to Mullanpur to take on the Punjab Kings on the same day.
Also Read:Â IPL 2025: CSK’s Star Cricketer MS Dhoni Regrets Losing His Cool During IPL 2019