The Royals won their first match after Rana and Hasaranga secured a narrow victory.

Hasaranaga's reaction after taking Rururaj's wicket.

The Rajasthan Royals (RR) emerged triumphant by six runs when they faced the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on March 30, 2025 for the 11th match of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. RR won their first match of the season at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium which brought essential energy to their campaign.

Rajasthan Royals Innings :

The RR batsmen scored 182 runs for 9 wickets during their first batting turn in the 20-over match. The innings reached its peak when Nitish Rana scored 81 runs from his 36 balls by hitting 10 boundaries and 5 sixes. Through his aggressive batting style Rana created difficulties for the CSK bowlers which gave RR the necessary boost to move forward. Riyan Parag provided essential support to the innings by hitting 37 runs from his 28 deliveries to maintain stability in the middle of the match.​

In the match both Noor Ahmad and Matheesha Pathirana from CSK's bowling lineup achieved 2 wickets while surrendering 28 runs. Khaleel Ahmed successfully took 2 wickets which helped his team limit the scoring opportunities during the match.

Chennai Super Kings Innings :

The batting order of Chennai Super Kings started their chase from 183 runs with risk in their first few overs. Jofra Archer dismissed Rachin Ravindra during the first over when the batter edged a delivery to be caught. The premature dismissal of Rachin Ravindra created substantial pressure for CSK batters to perform.​

Both Ruturaj Gaikwad and Rahul Tripathi as captains of CSK made efforts to recover from the early setback. Gaikwad played his innings with composure to keep CSK competitive but the run requirement escalated. The RR bowlers remained disciplined throughout the innings which made it tough for Vijay Shankar and Shivam Dube to score runs along with the middle-order batters.The middle batting lineup of CSK faced difficulties in establishing meaningful partnerships during the game. The bowling attack eliminated Shivam Dube and Rahul Tripathi one after the other to seriously damage the pursuit. The team reached 92 for 4 after 11.5 overs while needing 91 runs to win from 49 available balls at a challenging rate.​

A significant feature during CSK's batting performance was how they had MS Dhoni bat at number seven. The former captain MS Dhoni entered the game as number seven during the match against Rajasthan Royals. His batting position has received extensive analysis from fans and experts following this move. The late batting entry from Dhoni allowed him only 11 balls to score his 16 runs before the innings conclusion. The director of CSK Stephen Fleming stated that Dhoni adjusts his batting spot according to daily body condition because he handles his body carefully following knee surgery during the year 2023.

CSK fought until the end of their inning but ended with 176 for 8 which gave RR a six-run triumph.

Key Performances :

• Nitish Rana (RR): 81 runs off 36 balls.​

• Riyan Parag (RR): 37 runs off 28 balls.​
  
  
• Jofra Archer (RR): Early breakthrough with the wicket of Rachin Ravindra.

• Noor Ahmad (CSK): 2 wickets for 28 runs.​
  
  
• Matheesha Pathirana (CSK): 2 wickets for 28 runs.

Pitch Report and Conditions :

The Barsapara Cricket Stadium at Guwahati provides ideal conditions for batsmen and bowlers to achieve equilibrium in the match. Throughout history the pitch has produced various scoring outcomes resulting in a 138-run average for the first innings totals. Despite the challenging conditions batters have shown their ability to reach right past 200 runs through determined play. The 182 runs scored by RR demonstrated their successful batting strategy during this match played under those conditions.

Implications for Both Teams :

Rajasthan Royals obtained their initial IPL 2025 victory following two successive defeats in the season. The winning performance along with Nitish Rana's exceptional play will create a positive momentum which will help the team excel in future IPL 2025 matches. Chennai Super Kings must review their batting approaches as well as their deployment of key players including MS Dhoni for future matches. Stephen Fleming highlights in his remarks how effective fitness management and player form control will be essential for Chennai Super Kings to succeed in upcoming matches. ​

Conclusion :

The clash between Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings displayed all the thrilling aspects of T20 cricket that define IPL matches. Rajasthan Royals won their match by six runs which reveals that individual excellence and tactical execution play critical roles in successful outcomes. The two teams plan to capitalize on their gained experience as IPL 2025 continues by striving for consistent victory throughout upcoming matches.

Brief Scores :

RR Innings :182/9 (20 Overs) Nitish Rana 81 off 36 Balls (10 Fours And 5 Sixes), Riyan Parag 37 off 28 Balls (2 Fours And 2 Sixes).

CSK Bowling : Noor Ahmad 2/28 (4 Overs), Matheesha Pathirana 2/28 (4 Overs).

CSK Innings : 176/6 (20 Overs) Ruturaj Gaikwad 63 off 44 ( 7 Fours And 1 Sixes) , Ravindra Jadeja 32 off 22 Balls (2 Fours And 1 Sixes ).

RR Bowling : Wanindu Hasaranga 4/35 (4 Overs), Jofra Archer 1/13 (3 Overs).

Result : Rajasthan Royals Won by 6 Runs.