Nitish Rana Ignites Rajasthan Royals' Innings
If IPL 2025 needed a statement knock early in the season, Nitish Rana delivered it in style. Rajasthan Royals stepped onto the Guwahati pitch desperate for momentum after a shaky start, and the left-hander’s explosive 81 off just 36 balls was exactly the spark they needed. The Chennai bowlers, usually so reliable under pressure, found themselves at Rana’s mercy as he picked gaps and cleared boundaries almost at will—smashing 7 crisp fours and launching 4 monster sixes. He brought up his half-century in a blistering 21 balls, setting a breakneck pace that left CSK on their heels. The carnage left Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja—two of the IPL's most respected spinners—leaking 65 runs between them, with none of their trademark guile able to rein in the assault.
The platform was shaky at the start, with Khaleel Ahmed taking out both Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson in quick time. But Rana was unfazed. Batting with intent, he forged on and found an ally in Riyan Parag, who chipped in 37 and rotated the strike to perfection. By the time Rana fell, he had already shaped the contest, and the Royals managed to post a respectable 182/9 despite some spirited CSK bowling at the death.
CSK Falter in the Chase—Royals Hold Their Nerve
Chasing 183 can feel dicey, especially when you’re still hunting your first win of a campaign. Yet, Chennai’s Ruturaj Gaikwad didn’t let the pressure get to him. Anchoring the innings with a composed 63, Gaikwad kept the chase steady, even as wickets fell at crucial moments and the required rate crept up. But the real turning point came courtesy of Wanindu Hasaranga, whose wrist spin was a puzzle CSK’s middle order just couldn’t solve. Mixing up pace and flight, Hasaranga returned figures of 4/35, dismantling any thoughts Chennai had of cruising home.
By the time the final few overs rolled around, Jadeja had his sights set on an unlikely rescue act. His unbeaten 32 showed fight, but the run chase boiled down to a last-over equation: CSK needed 19, MS Dhoni still in the hut, and the crowd bracing for fireworks. But Sandeep Sharma, the Royals’ reliable pacer, shut the door fast—removing Dhoni right away and keeping his nerve to concede almost nothing under the spotlight. With that, Rajasthan clinched victory by six runs, giving themselves some breathing space in the season’s points table and handing CSK their second tough loss in a row.
- Nitish Rana powered RR with a 36-ball 81, punishing even the best CSK spinners.
- Khaleel Ahmed’s early blows kept RR on their toes but couldn’t suppress Rana’s onslaught.
- Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ravindra Jadeja fought hard in CSK’s chase, only to run into a clinical Hasaranga and a nerveless Sandeep Sharma at the end.
- CSK’s middle order issues surfaced, while RR showed they have the depth and nerve to bounce back early in the tournament.
The win feels like more than just two points for Rajasthan—it’s a sign that their rebuilding process may be gathering pace, with new heroes stepping in. For Chennai, though, the hunt for answers continues as once more, their chase crumbled under the weight of high expectations and some inspired Royals cricket.
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