Hasaranga steers Rajasthan to victory over CSK

Wanindu Hasaranga of Rajasthan Royals celebrates a dismissal 

Rajasthan Royals (RR) clinched a thrilling six-run victory over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to bring up their first win of IPL 2025 in Guwahati. Staring with the bat for the Royals was Nitish Rana who hit a powerful 81 before Wanindu Hasaranga helped defend the total with crucial strikes right through.

While Rana’s onslaught in the powerplay set RR up to get a total that was above-par, CSK had managed to pull things back at the back end. In the chase, however RR managed to keep things in control with regular strikes right through. 

The chief architect of that was Hasaranga, who struck at important junctures not allowing CSK to get away.

Rajasthan were almost single-handedly kept in the game by Hasaranga’s three strikes through the middle overs. He struck with his first ball having Tripathi caught at deep midwicket. 

But CSK had their best spin-hitter in Shivam Dube, walk in and he took the attack straight back to Hasaranga hitting him for a six down the ground. 

He continued the onslaught in Hasaranga’s next over hitting him for a four and a six, readying to get that one big over that could tilt the equation. But Dube fell immediately after, thanks to a magical catch at cover by a diving Riyan Parag.

Hasaranga once again played his part in the final overs with Gaikwad trying to take charge. CSK’s Captain managed to tonk Hasaranga down the ground for a crucial six but became the leg-spinner’s fourth victim of the night when he holed out to long on next ball to fall for 63. 

Hasaranga finished with figures of four for 35 and ensured that he played a major part in RR’s defence of a middling total.

Chief scores

Rajasthan Royals: 182/9 (Nitish Rana 81, Noor Ahmed 2/28, Matheesha Pathirana 2/28) 
Chennai Super Kings: 176/6 (Ruturaj Gaikwad 63, Wanindu Hasaranga 4/35). Agencies