For a team that’s struggled to chase all season long, the Rajasthan Royals chose a bold ending — and it finally worked.
On a pleasant evening in Delhi, Rajasthan Royals (RR) defeated Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by six wickets, chasing down 188 with 17 balls to spare. It was a game that looked anything but straightforward, until RR’s bowlers turned up the heat, and Vaibhav Suryavanshi showed maturity beyond his years.
Early Strikes and a CSK Collapse
The script early on wasn’t kind to CSK. They lost five wickets in just 7.4 overs, and none of it made much cricketing sense. No swing. No seam. No tricks. Just simple length balls and a series of mistimed shots. Yudhvir Singh led the early destruction, finishing with 3 for 47.
Ayush Mhatre (43 off 20) and R Ashwin provided some resistance with a 56-run stand, and Dewald Brevis (42 off 25) played fluently. At one stage, CSK looked set to cross 200. But that’s when Akash Madhwal stepped in.
Madhwal Turns the Tide
Introduced as late as the 12th over, Madhwal took two balls to adjust — and then he was on fire. He bowled a series of spot-on yorkers and dipping full tosses that stifled the scoring. CSK managed just 17 runs in the last three overs. Madhwal’s 3 for 29 was not only timely but match-defining.
RR’s Chase: Finally, a Clean One
Yashasvi Jaiswal gave RR a lively start, hitting 36 off 19. His aggression allowed Suryavanshi and Sanju Samson to settle in. Then Suryavanshi took control.
He looked in complete command — hitting Noor Ahmad for 14 in an over, taking on Jadeja, and rotating strike smartly. His 57 off 33 was not just stylish, but responsible. This is a player RR will want to build around.
Samson chipped in with 41, but it was Dhruv Jurel who put the final stamp on the game. His 12-ball 31, including big hits off Jadeja and Ashwin, ensured there were no last-minute hiccups.
Hetmyer and Jurel stayed unbeaten as RR finally closed out a chase with composure — a rare sight this season.
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