Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are locking horns with Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the 11th match of IPL 2025 at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad won the toss and opted to field first, a decision that seemed spot-on when Khaleel Ahmed struck early to remove Yashasvi Jaiswal in the very first over.
However, what followed was a stunning counterattack from Nitish Rana, who was promoted ahead of Riyan Parag and walked in with an aggressive mindset. Rana wasted no time in asserting his dominance. He took on the CSK bowlers with fearless stroke play, launching a brutal assault on Ravi Ashwin in the fifth over.
WATCH – Nitish Rana Stuns CSK with Blistering Fifty, Leaves MS Dhoni & Co. Searching for Answers
The southpaw hammered Ashwin for back-to-back sixes before following it up with a four, amassing 19 runs in the over and shifting the momentum in RR’s favor. His aggressive approach provided the perfect platform for a big total, and he raced to a blistering half-century off just 21 balls.
Sublime strokeplay! 💪🏻#NitishRana is making the full use of the field restrictions as he finds yet another biggie! 👊🏻
Watch the LIVE action ➡ https://t.co/nlNC9EgmIb#IPLonJioStar 👉 #RRvCSK | LIVE NOW on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 Hindi, Star Sports 2, Star Sports 2 Hindi… pic.twitter.com/0yK0mrv7R5
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) March 30, 2025
In the 12th over, Nitish Rana continued his fireworks, smashing Ravichandran Ashwin for another towering six wide of long-on, followed by a cheeky switch-hit boundary. However, Ashwin had the last laugh, using his experience to outfox Rana. The off-spinner tossed it wide, drawing Rana out of his crease, and MS Dhoni, ever reliable behind the stumps, completed an easy stumping.
R. Ashwin got his man Nitish Rana 81(36)
One of the worse match with ball for Ash 4-46-1#IPL2025 #csk #Dhoni pic.twitter.com/NmjPq6AKV3
— Arv (@Arv922137579481) March 30, 2025
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Rajasthan Royals (Playing XI): Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, Nitish Rana, Riyan Parag(c), Dhruv Jurel(w), Shimron Hetmyer, Wanindu Hasaranga, Jofra Archer, Maheesh Theekshana, Sandeep Sharma, Tushar Deshpande
Chennai Super Kings (Playing XI): Rachin Ravindra, Rahul Tripathi, Ruturaj Gaikwad(c), Vijay Shankar, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni(w), Jamie Overton, Ravichandran Ashwin, Noor Ahmad, Matheesha Pathirana, Khaleel Ahmed
