IPL 2021: RR vs CSK Review – Royals stay alive in playoff race after winning a run fest

Rajasthan Royals pulled off an amazing win against Chennai Super Kings in Abu Dhabi in the IPL 2021 league match. The win now keeps them in the race for the playoffs. This was their fifth win in 12 matches, which is similar to what Kolkata, Punjab and Mumbai have. Chennai made a good score, but Rajasthan made a mockery of Chennai’s bowling, chasing down the total with 15 balls and seven wickets in hand.

Sanju Samson won the toss and elected to bowl first with the thought that dew may play a part. Well, it might’ve but on a good batting wicket, his bowlers had to handle a bit of hammering by CSK. Ruturaj Gaikwad started with a good stand with Faf du Plessis (25 runs), with the pair adding 47 runs. He later had another important 57-run stand with Moeen Ali (21 runs).

But after starting slowly and adding only 32 runs from his first 32 balls, he soon accelerated nicely. Leading into the death overs, he started taking on the Royals’ bowling at will, smashing boundaries. CSK were 100 for 2 after 14 overs, but a late power-hitting display ensured them a total of 189 for 4. Ravindra Jadeja made 32 runs from 15 balls, while Gaikwad, who batted the entire innings, hit the last ball for a six to get his maiden century.

With the ball, only Rahul Tewatia had some fun picking up three wickets. But, after taking a bit of attack from CSK, Rajasthan started with a flurry of boundaries. Yashasvi Jaiswal made a 19-ball fifty while Evin Lewis contributed 27 runs from 12 balls. The pair got out in quick succession but Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube built another good stand. Samson made 28 but Dube made 64 runs to help the Royals finish the chase with 2.3 overs to spare. Glenn Phillips was unbeaten on 14 runs as well.

Top performers: 

Ruturaj Gaikwad:

In the last 28 balls of his innings, he made 69 runs taking on each and every bowler with ease. He hit nine fours and five sixes in his knock as he played one of the more memorable knocks in recent times. This was also the first hundred in the UAE leg of this season.

Yashasvi Jaiswal:

The left-handed batter has been looking in good touch in the UAE so far, but his knock today was a testament to the fact that people have been speaking about his talent for the last few years. He smashed Josh Hazlewood all over the park, scoring 50 runs from 21 balls, hitting six fours and three sixes on the way.

Shivam Dube: After sitting out from Rajasthan’s every match in the UAE so far, the southpaw played an outstanding knock of 64 runs from 42 balls, making sure there were no hiccups during the tall run chase which was set by the CSK team. Maybe, this knock is the first of many.

Personal achievements/records:

• Yashaswi Jaiswal’s 19-ball 50 is the second-fastest by any uncapped player in the IPL.
• Ruturaj Gaikwad’s century is the ninth 100+ score by a CSK player in the IPL. He is also the youngest CSK player to do so.

Way ahead:  

Chennai will now face Delhi on October 4 while Rajasthan will play Mumbai on October 5.