Rajasthan Royals beat Chennai Super Kings by 32 runs in a high-scoring thriller at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Thursday, April 27. Shivam Dube's fighting knock threatened the Royals in the end, but his lone fight wasn't enough for the visitors to cross the finish line. Royals registered their second win against four-time champions CSK this season and climbed to the top of the points table.
Defending a total of 203, RR bowlers started brilliantly as they removed the dangerous Devon Conway and restricted CSK batters to 42 in the powerplay. The Pacers got them off to a strong start, and the spinners kept the momentum going. Adam Zampa dismissed Conway for just 8 runs off 16 balls in the sixth over. However, Ruturaj Gaikwad led from one end until the Australian spinner claimed his second wicket in the 10th over.
With enough power strikers in the squad, CSK were still in the game but Ravichandran Ashwin delivered a double strike by dismissing Ajinkya Rahane and Ambati Rayudu in the 11th over. However, the Moeen Ali-Shivam Dube partnership again gave hope to CSK fans, but Zampa dismissed Moeen at the right moment and broke the threatening partnership. Dube, who brought up his third half-century of the season, was dismissed for 52 off 33 balls, while Ravindra Jadeja remained unbeaten on 23 off 15 balls.
Jaiswal's brisk half-century saw RR cross the 200-run mark
Earlier, after opting to bat first, Jaiswal and Jos Buttler got the Royals off to a flying start, scoring 64 runs in the powerplay. The 21-year-old got dismissed for 77 runs in the 14th over but set the stage for the hosts. Buttler, who has yet to play a truly explosive innings this season, was a spectator on the other end, while the 21-year-old was having a great time in the middle, notching up a brisk 26-ball 50.
Jadeja gave a breakthrough in his second over, breaking the first wicket partnership by sending back Buttler. The duo put on an 86-run stand before the right-hander got out for 27 runs off 21 balls. Tushar Deshpande delivered a double strike in the 14th over, dismissing RR captain Sanju Samson on the first ball and Jaiswal on the fifth ball.
The CSK bowlers then staged a comeback, but in the end, Dhruv Jurel (34 off 15) and Devdutt Padikkal’s (23 off 13) brilliant finishing ensured they post a competitive total of 202-5 in 20 overs.
Here's how fans reacted to RR's emphatic win:
Love RR for showing twice how good Thala and CSK are.
— Pooh (@ThodaYehThodaWo) April 27, 2023
No boult still winning
— Freak (@soul_freak80) April 27, 2023
Story of this IPL pic.twitter.com/IOmJCnzlN4
— SANKET (@oye_protein) April 27, 2023
Dhobi afraid to bat when required rate is more 🤮
— Deepanshu (@AshishJ05310011) April 27, 2023
RR domination over CSK
— Smit Manore (@smitmanore) April 27, 2023
So if RRvCSK final happened, RR would win it
"Give me freedom, give me fire, Give me Raina DJ Bravo or I'll retire"
— ً (@Ro45Goat) April 27, 2023
Easy win against finished team Csk 🤣😂☝️and give this man a fair and lovely
— Catholic Qadiani (@Nightbo22172361) April 27, 2023
And no boult in both the matches 👏👏
— Akhil Lucky (@akhil_lucky_06) April 27, 2023