Rajasthan Royals Secure First IPL 2025 Victory with Thrilling Win Over Chennai Super Kings

Rajasthan Royals (RR) registered their first win of the IPL 2025 season with a nail-biting six-run victory over Chennai Super Kings (CSK). A spectacular batting display by Nitish Rana and an exceptional bowling performance by Wanindu Hasaranga played a crucial role in RR’s triumph.

How Rajasthan Royals Clinched the Win

Rana’s Powerplay Onslaught Sets the Tone

Powerplay Score: 79/1 [RR: 13.16; 4s/6s: 9/5]

After losing Yashasvi Jaiswal early, Rajasthan Royals found a savior in Nitish Rana, who took the CSK bowlers to the cleaners. Rana’s aggressive intent was evident from the start, dispatching the second ball he faced to the boundary. Debutant Jamie Overton had a forgettable start, conceding 30 runs in his first two overs. Even R Ashwin, CSK’s experienced spinner, failed to contain Rana, who smashed him for a six and multiple boundaries. By the end of the powerplay, RR had already amassed 79 runs, with Rana alone contributing 58.

CSK’s Spinners Slow Down Rajasthan’s Momentum

Middle Overs Score: 66/4 [RR: 7.33; 4s/6s: 4/2]

Although Rana continued his aggressive approach, CSK’s spin duo—Noor Ahmed and Ravindra Jadeja—applied much-needed pressure. Noor Ahmed dismissed RR skipper Sanju Samson early, and Ashwin got the better of Rana, who fell for a blistering 81 off 36 balls. With the well-set batter gone, RR struggled to accelerate as CSK took control. Dhruv Jurel and Wanindu Hasaranga also fell cheaply, allowing CSK to stage a strong comeback.

Rajasthan Royals Lose Momentum in Death Overs

Death Overs Score: 37/4 [RR: 7.4; 4s/6s: 2/2]

Despite a solid start, RR’s finishing lacked firepower. Riyan Parag and Shimron Hetmyer provided brief resistance but failed to execute big shots consistently. Matheesha Pathirana’s lethal yorker dismissed Parag, while Hetmyer was caught in the final over. CSK managed to restrict RR to 182/9, giving themselves a fighting chance in the chase.

Chennai Super Kings’ Chase Falls Just Short

Tight Powerplay Battle Between Bat and Ball

Powerplay Score: 42/1 [RR: 7; 4s/6s: 6/1]

With the Guwahati pitch offering extra bounce, RR’s pacers Jofra Archer and Tushar Deshpande troubled CSK’s top order. Archer dismissed Rachin Ravindra early, while Gaikwad and Rahul Tripathi found it difficult to time the ball initially. However, both batters adapted well, using the pace to collect boundaries and steady the innings.

Hasaranga’s Magic Derails CSK’s Chase

Middle Overs Score: 80/3 [RR: 8.88; 4s/6s: 6/3]

Wanindu Hasaranga turned the game on its head with a brilliant spell. He dismissed Tripathi with his very first delivery and later sent Shivam Dube and Vijay Shankar packing with well-disguised googlies. Although Gaikwad fought back with a half-century, CSK found themselves needing 61 runs from the final five overs with only a few recognized batters remaining.

Final Overs Drama: RR Hold Nerve to Seal Victory

Death Overs Score: 54/2 [RR: 10.8; 4s/6s: 2/4]

Gaikwad tried to take the attack to Hasaranga but fell attempting another big shot, making the leg-spinner RR’s standout performer with figures of 4-35. With CSK needing 39 off 12 balls, Ravindra Jadeja and MS Dhoni added crucial boundaries to bring the equation down to 20 off the final over. Despite the pressure, Sandeep Sharma held his nerve, dismissing Dhoni and conceding only 14 runs to help RR secure a six-run win.

Match Summary

• Rajasthan Royals: 182/9 (Nitish Rana 81; Noor Ahmed 2-28, Matheesha Pathirana 2-28)

• Chennai Super Kings: 176/6 (Ruturaj Gaikwad 63; Wanindu Hasaranga 4-35)

• Result: Rajasthan Royals won by 6 runs.

What’s Next?

Both teams now have a five-day break before their next matches on April 5:

• CSK vs Delhi Capitals (Home match for CSK at Chepauk Stadium)

• RR vs Punjab Kings (Away match in Mullanpur)

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For a complete scorecard and detailed stats, visit ESPN Cricinfo.