Picture Credit: BCCI/IPL
On March 30, in the second match of double-header Sunday, Riyan Parag-led Rajasthan Royals defended the 183-run target to get their first win in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. At the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, RR defended the score with ease to get the two points under their belt and end their Guwahati leg on a high.
For the unversed, CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad had won the toss and invited RR to put the score on the board at their home ground. However, Yashasvi Jaiswal once again fell cheaply, scoring four off three deliveries, Sanju Samson stitched a 90-plus run stand for the second wicket was beaten by Noor Ahmed. Nitish Rana scored a 19-ball 50 and then added 31 more runs before falling to MS Dhoni’s lightning fast stumping.
The stand-in skipper Riyan Parag also played a 28-ball 37 and the second half saw the batting collapse as RR were resticted to 182/9 in the 20 overs. For CSK, Khaleel Ahmed, Noor Ahmed and Matheesha Pathirana got two wickets each whereas R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja also found themselves amongst wickets as they scalped one each.
RR end Guwahati leg with 6-run win vs CSK in IPL 2025
In the run-chase, CS were handed an early jot as in-form batter Rachin Ravindra departed on a four-ball duck, but Rahul Tripathi and skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad added quick runs before the former departed off Hasaranga’s over. However, the skipper looked good in the middle, scoring 44-ball 63, but simply could not get support from the other end as wickets kept falling.
At one point with MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja looking good in the middle, there were hopes of CSK pulling of a comeback win, but the former’s wicket off the penultimate over just ended their chances from hereon. But the Royals’ retention, Sandeep Sharma bowled in line and length and helped them get their first win.
With a win, the Royals moved to ninth place; displacing Mumbai Indians, who have now claimed the rock-bottom spot in the standings. CSK, on the other hand, continue to reel at the seventh place with a solitary win from three matches so far in the tournament.
