Rajasthan Royals delivered a relentless chase in the second innings against Chennai Super Kings, sealing the win with 17 balls and 6 wickets to spare. From dazzling strokeplay by Yashasvi Jaiswal to a composed finish by Dhruv Jurel, the Royals outclassed CSK in every aspect. Here’s a full breakdown of RR’s innings.
Firestarter: Jaiswal Sets the Chase Ablaze
RR’s innings began with Yashasvi Jaiswal in menacing form. Facing Khaleel Ahmed, Jaiswal wasted no time:
- 0.1 – Jaiswal opened with a lucky four off his gloves, nearly caught by Dhoni.
- 1.4 – Beautiful loft over cover for a six off Kamboj.
- 2.2 to 2.5 – A flurry of boundaries followed: cut, loft, and power-hitting down the ground, taking full advantage of field restrictions.
By the time Jaiswal was dismissed for 36 (19), he’d already cracked 5 fours and 2 sixes, giving RR the perfect head start at 3.4 overs.
Class & Calm: Samson’s Anchoring Knock
Sanju Samson brought elegance and stability to RR’s innings. While others went for fireworks, Samson blended aggression with finesse:
- 4.4 – A dreamy loft straight down the ground for four.
- 6.3 & 9.1 – Two delightful sixes through deep square and backward.
- 12.1 & 13 – Executed fine placement and flicks off Pathirana to keep the board ticking.
Samson’s 41 off 31 (4s-3, 6s-2) was an important gear-shifter in the chase until he mistimed a big hit off Ashwin and was caught at long-on.
The Teen Tornado: Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s Blazing Fifty
IPL 2025 may well be remembered for Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s emergence. The teenager played a stunning knock that kept CSK bowlers clueless:
- 6.0 – Gorgeous cover drive off Kamboj for four.
- 7.4 to 8.0 – Took Noor Ahmad apart with a six, four, and another thumping boundary.
- 10.3 & 10.5 – Back-to-back sixes off Jadeja, celebrating the team’s 100 and his rising dominance.
- 11.5 – Raised his fifty with a monstrous six on a free-hit.
His innings of 57 off 33 (4s-4, 6s-4) was the defining knock of the chase, only ending due to an ambitious slog.
The Finisher’s Touch: Jurel and Hetmyer Close It With Style
With 40-odd runs needed and overs in hand, RR’s middle order ensured there were no late hiccups:
- 14.4 & 14.5 – Jurel’s six and four off Jadeja marked the beginning of the end.
- 15.2 & 15.4 – Paddle sweep and a bowled dismissal to Parag, but momentum remained.
- 16.3 & 16.5 – Jurel and Hetmyer toyed with Ashwin, clubbing sixes and fours.
- 17.0 – Hetmyer muscled Ashwin over deep mid for six.
- 17.1 – Jurel sealed the win with a towering six off Pathirana.
The final blows came in emphatic style, underlining RR’s dominance and CSK’s struggle with the ball.
🎯 Ball-by-Ball Highlights: RR vs CSK IPL 2025 Run Chase Snapshot
| Over | Key Moments |
|---|---|
| 0.1 – 3.4 | Jaiswal lights up the powerplay with 36 off 19 |
| 4.2 – 6.3 | Samson & Suryavanshi keep the scoreboard ticking |
| 7.4 – 11.5 | Suryavanshi’s fireworks including back-to-back sixes |
| 13.2 – 14.4 | Ashwin strikes twice, but RR maintain control |
| 15.4 – 17.1 | Jurel-Hetmyer finishing combo – 3 sixes, 2 fours |
CSK’s Downfall: Sloppy Fielding & Inconsistent Bowling
Chennai’s bowlers looked bereft of plans:
- Anshul Kamboj’s early success in removing Jaiswal wasn’t backed up.
- Khaleel Ahmed went for 20+ in his first 2 overs.
- Noor Ahmad’s spin lacked bite; RR’s batters took 3 sixes off him.
- Ashwin, despite a 2-wicket over, was expensive at the death.
Fielding was worse—missed judgments and slow reactions from Ashwin and Dhoni cost valuable runs.
Strategic Breakdown: Why RR’s Chase Worked
- Early Powerplay Punch: Jaiswal ensured CSK couldn’t settle.
- Middle Overs Anchors: Samson and Suryavanshi rotated well, didn’t let spinners dominate.
- Calculated Finishing: Jurel and Hetmyer knew they had time and played risk-free attacking shots.
Each phase was tactically sound, unlike CSK who seemed out of sync and reactive.
Player of the Innings: Vaibhav Suryavanshi – The Teen Trailblazer
With audacious strokeplay, Suryavanshi’s 57 (33) not only broke the back of the chase but also established him as a future IPL star.
Final Verdict: RR’s Command Performance Buries CSK
- Result: RR won by 6 wickets with 17 balls to spare
- CSK’s fielding & bowling were sub-par across the board.
- RR executed their chase to perfection, making a mockery of what could’ve been a defendable score.
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