On March 30, 2025, the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati hosted a thrilling IPL 2025 Match 11 showdown, where Rajasthan Royals (RR) clinched a 6-run victory over Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Nitish Rana’s fireworks and Wanindu Hasaranga’s spin wizardry outshone Ruturaj Gaikwad’s valiant effort, giving RR their first win of the season. Here’s how this rollercoaster unfolded.

Toss and Lineups

CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad won the toss and elected to bowl, hoping to exploit late conditions on a balanced Guwahati pitch. CSK swapped Sam Curran for Jamie Overton and Deepak Hooda for Vijay Shankar, aiming for extra pace and batting depth. RR, desperate to snap a two-game losing streak, stuck with their XI, led by stand-in captain Riyan Parag, with Sanju Samson slotting back into the top order.

RR’s Innings: Rana’s Blitz, Late Stumble

RR’s batting ignited with Nitish Rana’s sensational 81 off 36 balls (10 fours, 5 sixes), racing to 82/1 by the 8th over alongside Samson (20). Noor Ahmad broke through, dismissing Samson, and R Ashwin’s stunner had Rana stumped, sparking a collapse from 120/2 to 145/6. Riyan Parag’s gritty 37 off 28 steadied the ship, but Matheesha Pathirana (2/28) and Khaleel Ahmed (2/34) struck late, pegging RR back to 182/9 in 20 overs. A late flurry from Shimron Hetmyer (19) kept them competitive, but CSK’s bowlers had clawed back brilliantly.

CSK’s Chase: Gaikwad Fights, Middle Order Falters

Chasing 183, CSK lost Rachin Ravindra (8) early to Sandeep Sharma, but Ruturaj Gaikwad’s classy 63 off 44 (5 fours, 2 sixes) and Rahul Tripathi’s 23 kept hopes alive at 54/1 after 8 overs. Wanindu Hasaranga turned the game, snaring Tripathi, Shivam Dube (9), and Vijay Shankar (9) in quick succession, finishing with 4/35. Gaikwad fell to Hasaranga at 129/5, and despite Ravindra Jadeja’s 32* off 22 and MS Dhoni’s 16 off 11 (including a late six), CSK needed 17 off the last 3 balls. Jamie Overton’s six off Sandeep wasn’t enough, as CSK ended at 176/5 in 20 overs, 6 runs short.

Pitch and Conditions: Guwahati’s Tightrope

The Barsapara pitch offered true bounce early—RR’s 98/2 in the powerplay showed its batting-friendly nature—but slowed later, aiding spinners like Hasaranga (4/35) and Kuldeep Yadav (supporting role). No dew in this afternoon game (3:30 PM IST) meant no chasing advantage, with 40% of IPL wins here split evenly between batting first and second. CSK’s spinners kept RR under 200, but their batsmen couldn’t capitalize.

Standout Stars

• Wanindu Hasaranga (RR): 4/35—Player of the Match for dismantling CSK’s chase.
• Nitish Rana (RR): 81 off 36—set a defendable total.
• Ruturaj Gaikwad (CSK): 63 off 44—fought lone-handedly.
• Noor Ahmad (CSK): 2/28—kept RR in check.

Head-to-Head: RR Narrow the Gap

RR now trail CSK 15-14 in 29 IPL clashes, snapping a four-game losing streak against them at Guwahati (now 1-1 here). CSK’s last win over RR at this venue was in 2023, but this defeat marks their second straight loss in 2025, dropping them to 1-2.

What’s Next?

RR (1-2) head to Mullanpur to face Punjab Kings on April 2, buoyed by this morale-boosting win. CSK (1-2) return to Chepauk to host Delhi Capitals on April 5, needing to regroup their middle order. Can Dhoni inspire a turnaround?

Closing Take

CSK vs RR Match 11 was a classic IPL thriller—Rana’s aggression, Hasaranga’s spin, and Gaikwad’s defiance kept fans on edge till the last ball. RR’s first victory of IPL 2025 proves they’re not down yet, while CSK’s middle-order woes raise questions. What’s your highlight from this epic? Share below!