Chennai Super Kings beat Rajasthan Royals by 5 wickets

In a crucial encounter of the IPL 2024, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) emerged victorious against the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in their final home game at the M. A Chidambaram Stadium. The win proved vital for CSK as they aimed to secure a playoff spot in the tournament.

CSK Restricts RR to 141/5

Rajasthan Royals opted to bat first, with openers Jos Buttler and Yashasvi Jaiswal providing a solid start. However, CSK’s bowlers, led by Simarjeet Singh, struck regularly to limit RR’s scoring opportunities.

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Opting to bat first, Rajasthan’s opening duo, Jos Buttler and Yashasvi Jaiswal made a solid start, accumulating 43 runs on the scoreboard by the end of the powerplay. The quick succession of two wickets slowed down Rajasthan’s momentum as they aimed to set a competitive total.

Captain Sanju Samson also fell to Singh’s bowling, adding to the woes of the five-time champions. Singh ended his spell with impressive figures of 3/26 from his 4 overs. Riyan Parag emerged as the top scorer for the Royals, contributing an unbeaten 47 runs from 35 balls, guiding Rajasthan to a total of 141/5 by the end of the innings.

CSK’s Strong Chase

CSK’s chase started promising, with openers Rachin Ravindra and Ruturaj Gaikwad laying a solid foundation. While Rachin Ravindra had to depart after an 18-ball 27, Ruturaj Gaikwad continued to bat to give CSK the valuable 2 points on the night.

However, quick wickets by Rajasthan had CSK struggling a little with the score at 86/3 in 11.5 overs. In came Shivam Dube who knocked a couple of deliveries out of the boundary to help ease the pressure on the hosts. His 11-ball 18 runs wasn’t enough to give CSK the win on the night. Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad eventually top-scored for his side with an unbeaten 42 as he and impact substitute Sameer Rizvi took CSK over the line in the end.

CSK results in IPL 2024
At home – 5 wins in 7 matches
Away from home – 2 wins in 6 matches

Most wins for a team at a venue in IPL
52 – KKR (Kolkata)
52 – MI (Mumbai WS)
50 – CSK (Chennai)*
42 – RCB (Bengaluru)
37 – RR (Jaipur)
**including Super Over results

Controversial Dismissal of Ravindra Jadeja

The match witnessed a controversial moment when Ravindra Jadeja was given out for obstructing the field. The decision sparked debates and discussions, adding drama to the encounter. Nevertheless, skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad’s innings ensured CSK remained on course for victory.

Sanju Samson would try to throw the ball at the stumps which would hit Jadeja on the hand and the on-field umpires decided to take the call to the third umpire. The replays were closely examined and the third umpire made the conclusion that Jadeja had seen the direction of the ball and would run in a manner to protect the stumps. The decision on the big screen was out which stunned Jadeja and the CSK fans inside the stadium.

Ruturaj Gaikwad’s Heroics

Ruturaj Gaikwad emerged as the standout performer for CSK, top-scoring with an unbeaten 42 runs. His maturity and composure at the crease guided CSK to a crucial win, securing their playoff aspirations in the IPL 2024.