RR Triumph Over CSK in Thrilling IPL 2025 Clash

TATA IPL 2025 Match 11 , RR Vs CSK – Match Report

Rajasthan Royals won by six runs
Player of the Match: Nitish Rana’s

Rajasthan Royals (RR) began their TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 campaign with a thrilling six-run victory over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in a dramatic encounter at the ACA Stadium in Guwahati.

Fans were treated to a nail-biting finish in the final game of the season at this venue. With multiple momentum swings throughout the match, it was Sandeep Sharma who held his nerve in the final over, denying an MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja special, and guiding RR to victory after setting a target of 183.

RR posted a total of 182/9, thanks to Player of the Match Nitish Rana’s scintillating 81 off 36 balls.

CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad won the toss and opted to bowl first. RR faced an early setback when Khaleel Ahmeddismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal on the third ball of the innings. However, Nitish Rana quickly turned the game in RR’s favor with a blistering knock.

The former KKR captain played aggressively, hitting Ravichandran Ashwin for two sixes and a four in the fifth over, followed by 14 runs off Ahmed in the next. Supported by RR captain Sanju Samson, Rana’s fireworks were the highlight, smashing seven fours and four sixes, and bringing up a 50 off just 21 balls inside the powerplay. At 79/1, RR were in control.

Although Samson fell, Rana’s onslaught continued. He greeted Ashwin with another six and four in the 12th over, reaching 81 off 35 balls. But Ashwin got his revenge, outsmarting Rana with some clever bowling and a stumping from MS Dhoni on the very next ball.

Rana’s powerful innings left RR in a strong position at 129/3 after 12 overs. However, CSK’s spinners made a comeback, with Noor Ahmad and Ravindra Jadeja picking up three wickets.

Two brilliant catches by Matheesha Pathirana and Vijay Shankar added to the pressure. In the final three overs, Pathirana and Ahmed gave away only 17 runs, while also taking wickets, restricting RR to 182/9 after 20 overs, despite Riyan Parag’s 37 off 28 balls.

CSK’s chase got off to a rough start as Jofra Archer made an immediate impact, dismissing Rachin Ravindra for a duck in the first maiden over of the season. RR continued to squeeze, leaving CSK at 46/2 in the 8th over.

When Shivam Dubetried to inject momentum into the chase with a cameo of 18 off 10 balls, his efforts were thwarted by a brilliant one-handed catch by Parag off Wanindu Hasaranga.

CSK’s captain Gaikwad kept them in the hunt with a well-crafted 63 off 44 balls, but it was Hasaranga’s spell that gave RR the upper hand. The leg-spinner finished with impressive figures of 4/35. With 54 runs needed from the last four overs, Dhoni and Jadeja provided a typical late-game flourish, with a 19-run penultimate over. Dhoni hit a six over long-on, and Jadeja swept Tushar Deshpande for a boundary, leaving CSK needing 20 from the final over.

However, Sandeep Sharma held his composure, dismissing Dhoni on the first ball of the last over, and RR secured a thrilling six-run victory.

RR, currently in 9th place on the points table, will next face Punjab Kings in Chandigarh on April 5th, while CSK (7th place) will take on Delhi Capitals in Chennai earlier that day.