New Delhi, May 20: In a match that served as a silver lining to an otherwise underwhelming campaign, Rajasthan Royals (RR) bowed out of the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season on a high, defeating Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by six wickets at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday.
Chasing a target of 188, the Royals made light work of the run chase, reaching 188/4 in just 17.1 overs, with 17 balls to spare. The star of the evening was 19-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who turned heads with a fearless 33-ball 57 — a knock filled with youthful exuberance and clean, calculated hitting that anchored the Royals’ chase.
Earlier in the evening, RR skipper Sanju Samson won the toss and elected to field first. His decision bore fruit almost instantly as CSK lost two wickets for just 12 runs on the board. The Chennai side struggled to recover, reeling at 78 for five inside the first eight overs.
However, despite the early stutter, CSK clawed their way back thanks to a timely counterattack led by young opener Ayush Mhatre, who struck a brisk 43 off just 20 balls. He was well-supported by South African prodigy Dewald Brevis (42 off 25) and the ever-reliable Shivam Dube (39 off 32), who stitched together a 59-run partnership that helped CSK post a respectable total of 187/8.
MS Dhoni added a quick 16 towards the end, but the final flourish was still missing as Rajasthan’s bowlers managed to keep the scoring in check during the death overs. Yudhvir Singh Charak, who replaced Fazalhaq Farooqi for this clash, bagged three crucial wickets albeit at the cost of 47 runs. Akash Madhwal, on the other hand, impressed with his accuracy and variations, finishing with figures of 3 for 29 from his quota of four overs.
Despite the recovery, 187 looked just about par on a true batting wicket under the Delhi lights.
And Rajasthan made sure it never looked like enough.
The chase began with aggressive intent. Yashasvi Jaiswal set the tone early, smashing 36 off just 19 balls with four boundaries and two sixes.
His flurry of strokes up front meant that the required run rate was never an issue. Captain Sanju Samson then took charge, playing a composed yet fluent knock of 41 off 31 balls, providing the perfect bridge between the openers and the middle order.
The teenager, who has shown glimpses of promise throughout the season, finally announced his arrival in style. Walking in at a crucial juncture, Suryavanshi displayed a fine blend of composure and flair. He timed the ball sweetly, found the gaps with ease, and even took on the spinners with authority. His half-century came off just 30 balls and was laced with six boundaries and two towering sixes.
By the time he departed, the job was nearly done. Finishing touches were applied by Dhruv Jurel, who remained unbeaten on 31 off just 12 balls — a cameo that included three crisp boundaries and a six, sealing the deal for the Royals in style.
On the bowling front for CSK, veteran Ravichandran Ashwin managed to pick up two wickets, but the rest of the attack looked out of ideas against the Rajasthan onslaught.
The dew didn’t help either, making it difficult for the spinners to grip the ball.With this victory, Rajasthan Royals ended their IPL 2025 journey with pride, showcasing the depth of young talent in their ranks. As for CSK, the loss will sting — especially considering the spirited recovery they showed with the bat after a dismal start.
But in the end, it was a night for the Royals and their rising star, Vaibhav Suryavanshi — a name that IPL fans will likely hear a lot more of in the years to come. (PTI)
