CSK vs RR IPL 2025: Nitish Rana’s 81 Destructive Innings Assists Rajasthan Royals in Achieving 182 Target Against Chennai Super Kings in the highly anticipated CSK vs RR IPL 2025 Match, CSK lost the chance to score in the powerplay along with losing initial wickets. In the end, RR successfully defended their team by 6 runs, dismissing the big fish, Ms Dhoni, in the last over, and Ruturaj Gaikwad in the crucial phase.
CSK vs RR IPL 2025: RR’s dominating batting display
Nitish Rana’s hard-hitting batting at No. 3 was the turning point for Rajasthan Royals.
Rana’s Explosive Performance:
Score: 81 runs off 36 balls
Strike Rate: 225
Powerplay Dominance: Rana scored 58 runs in the initial six overs alone, leaving CSK bowlers perplexed.
Rana’s performance against R Ashwin, CSK’s key bowler, was remarkable. Rana has not been dismissed by Ashwin in the IPL so far after scoring 108 runs off 58 balls before this match. He continued by dispatching Ashwin for 6, 6, and 4 in the fifth over.
Rana’s Dismissal
While his explosive start, Rana’s innings were curtailed as Ashwin used a canny ploy—waiting to deliver—to stump Rana off a wide ball. Rana’s 81 was an excellent blend of aggressive shot-play along with smart placement.
Riyan Parag’s cameo
The young skipper played some magnificent shots following 2 sixes and 2 fours but got bowled by a toe-crushing yorker by Pathirana at 37 runs off 28 balls. He also got hurt at the elbow by a short-pitched delivery.
RR’s Solid Beginning and faulty finish
Though Rana set the tone, RR’s innings too saw its share of ups and downs.
Early Struggles:
Sanju Samson & Yashasvi Jaiswal: The opening pair struggled, scoring only 20 runs together in the first six overs.
Noor’s Impact: Noor’s spectacular bowling saw Samson (20 off 16) and Dhruv Jurel (3 off 7) getting out, putting RR in pressure.
Vijay Shankar’s Jaw-Dropping Catch:
Vijay Shankar made an incredible catch while running in from deep midwicket to send Wanindu Hasaranga (4 off 5) back, and it was added misery for RR.
Late Breakthroughs: Pathirana & Khaleel’s Heroic Moments
While RR was all set for a 200-plus total, CSK’s bowlers Matheesha Pathirana and Khaleel Ahmed broke the back of RR with some key breakthroughs.
Pathirana & Khaleel’s Impact:
Pathirana: With his speed and accuracy, he was able to regulate the run-flow, particularly towards the death overs.
Khaleel Ahmed: His targeted wickets in the last overs prevented RR from going past the 200-mark.
Through their efforts, RR ended up with a fighting total of 182, leaving CSK with a tough target.
CSK’s trembling start and attempted a good finish
The in-form high scorer left-handed batsman of CSK Rachin Ravindra got out at duck by an outside off delivery by Zofra Archer. Zofra bowled effective economical overs in the powerplay by giving just 13 runs in his 3 overs and giving the first crucial breakthrough for RR.
Rahul Tripathi tried to gain some momentum with his few hits in the Archer’s last over but lost his wicket to Wanindu Hasranga on the mid-wicket in an attempt to hit a six via pull-shot.
Ruturaj played a great knock of 63 runs in 44 balls but could not get the team to attain a successful chase. Shivam Dube entered as an impact player during the middle over phase against the mighty spin attack of RR.
Dube managed to hit some boundaries scoring 18 runs in just 9 balls but got out to Hasranga by a flighted delivery on the off-side and the skipper of RR took an outstanding one-handed catch while diving on the covers. Jadeja and Dhoni were on the pitch when the asking required run rate was around 17.7 and with some explosive shots.
Dhoni managed to hit 16 runs off 11 balls including 1 maximum and 1 four but fell prey to Sandeep Sharma in the last over of the match. Jadeja tried his best to hit some boundaries but only managed to score 32 runs in 22 deliveries, unfortunately resulting in losing the match.
ALSO READ: IPL 2025: WATCH – Matheesha Pathirana’s Thunderbolt Injures Riyan Parag, Then Destroys His Stumps
