Rajasthan Royals wrapped up their IPL 2025 campaign in style, clinching a commanding six-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday. While it was a team effort that sealed the victory, it was the composed and impactful knock by youngster Vaibhav Suryavanshi that stole the spotlight. Former India cricketer Abhinav Mukund heaped praise on the 19-year-old, calling his innings a sign of true maturity under pressure and tipping him as a future star for Indian cricket.
Batting second after their bowlers restricted CSK to 187/8, RR got an explosive start thanks to Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 19-ball 36. Though Jaiswal fell early, the innings didn’t lose steam as Suryavanshi joined skipper Sanju Samson to build a fluent 98-run partnership off just 59 deliveries. Suryavanshi reached his maiden IPL fifty with a massive six in the 12th over and finished with a stellar 57 off 33 balls, decorated with four sixes and four boundaries.
Mukund was particularly impressed by the youngster’s ability to shift gears despite limited opportunities in the powerplay. “There were question marks over how he handles spin, but today he took on both Noor Ahmad and Jadeja fearlessly. His sixes aren’t just clearing the boundary—they’re traveling 80–90 meters. At just 19, that’s something special,” said Abhinav Mukund on JioHotstar.
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Earlier, RR’s bowling unit set the tone. Akash Madhwal, returning to the XI, impressed with figures of 3/29, alongside Yudhvir Singh who also bagged three wickets. Tushar Deshpande and Wanindu Hasaranga chipped in with one wicket each, keeping the CSK total in check.
Former pacer Varun Aaron was vocal about Madhwal’s potential, questioning why RR had delayed his inclusion. “He bowled excellent yorkers, used his round-arm angle effectively, and showed composure at the death. It baffles me why he was benched for the early part of the season. Pairing him with Sandeep Sharma from the start would’ve solved RR’s death bowling concerns,” said Varun Aaron.
The result marked RR’s eighth win in their last 10 encounters against CSK and highlighted the team’s overall strength. Despite a minor hiccup when Ravichandran Ashwin picked two quick wickets in a single over, the Royals’ lower-middle order stood tall. Shimron Hetmyer and Dhruv Jurel calmly guided the team home, ensuring a positive end to their campaign.
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Aaron concluded by praising RR’s composure: “The middle order hasn’t been the most reliable this season, so when Ashwin struck, there were nerves. But Hetmyer and Jurel held their own. Even though Riyan Parag didn’t contribute this time, the Royals will be relieved to close their season on a winning note.”
