New Delhi: A high-voltage IPL clash turned into a one-sided affair as Rajasthan Royals (RR) steamrolled Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by six wickets with 17 balls to spare at the Arun Jaitley Stadium here on Tuesday.
Chasing a competitive target of 188, RR rode on a sparkling half-century by teen sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi and a brutal finish by Dhruv Jurel to hand CSK a resounding defeat and keep their playoff hopes alive.
The win was sealed in emphatic fashion as Jurel launched Matheesha Pathirana over deep midwicket for a towering six off the first ball of the 18th over — a hit that punctuated CSK's bowling failures and fielding lapses through the night.
Put into bat, CSK were rocked early by Yudhvir Singh Charak, who struck twice in the second over to remove Devon Conway (10) and Urvil Patel (0).
Ayush Mhatre, however, lit up the evening with a blazing 43 off just 20 balls, counter-punching with poise and flair. His innings was punctuated by three boundaries in one over and a monster six over midwicket that silenced the RR fans momentarily.
Mhatre and Ashwin added 50 for the third wicket, but once Mhatre holed out and Ravichandran Ashwin (13) slogged Wanindu Hasaranga to deep midwicket, the innings began to wobble. Dewald Brevis injected fresh momentum with a 25-ball 42, including a clean loft over long-off and a no-look six over square leg.
Shivam Dube (39 off 32) tried to push the total past 190, but Akash Madhwal’s yorkers and clever variations ensured CSK were kept in check at the death. Madhwal finished with 3/29, including the prized scalps of MS Dhoni (16) and Dube in the final over. CSK stuttered from 128/4 in the 14th to 187/8 in 20 overs.
In reply, Rajasthan’s innings began with a flurry as Yashasvi Jaiswal (36 off 19) found boundaries at will. From a stylish cut past point to a towering six over cover, Jaiswal's strokeplay was a treat. He was eventually bowled by Anshul Kamboj, trying an ambitious heave.
Enter Suryavanshi, the southpaw stamped his class with 57 off 33 balls, an innings peppered with powerful shots. He drove Khaleel Ahmed with elegance, slogged Ashwin with confidence, and launched Ravindra Jadeja over long-on for a monstrous six.
Suryavanshi reached his half-century in style with a mighty hit off a free-hit from Noor Ahmad, sending the ball soaring over deep square. His innings ended in the 14th over when a mistimed slog off Ashwin found Jadeja at short third, ending a 98-run partnership with skipper Sanju Samson.
Samson (41 off 31) was elegance personified, clearing long-on off Ashwin and threading fine leg off Pathirana. He perished shortly after Suryavanshi, failing to clear Brevis at long-on.
But if CSK dreamt of a late comeback, Dhruv Jurel dismissed it with disdain.
Walking in at 139 for 3, Jurel had one brief: finish it quickly. And he obliged in jaw-dropping fashion. His first real statement came off Jadeja — a six over deep square, followed by a deft paddle to fine leg for four.
Against Noor Ahmad, Jurel mixed subtlety with savagery — reverse paddling one for four before climbing into a tossed-up delivery for a 90-metre six.
When Riyan Parag fell bowled for 3, it mattered little. Shimron Hetmyer stepped in and added to the carnage — a cheeky four fine, then a giant six over midwicket off Ashwin.
Fittingly, it was Jurel who ended the night in style — smashing Pathirana for a six straight down the ground to bring up the win.
For CSK, Ashwin (2/41) tried to create a middle-over collapse, but the spinners — Noor Ahmad (1/42) and Jadeja (0/27) — leaked runs. Pathirana (0/22 in 2.1 overs) struggled with control and length, while Kamboj (1/21) showed glimpses of promise.
