Vijay Shankar made an instant impact in his first IPL 2025 match, pulling off a stunning catch to dismiss Wanindu Hasaranga in Chennai Super Kings’ clash against Rajasthan Royals at the Barsapara Stadium. On the very first ball of the 15th over, Hasaranga attempted a big hit off Ravindra Jadeja but mistimed his shot.
As the ball soared, Vijay Shankar covered ground swiftly and dived forward to complete a brilliant catch. His athletic effort drew immediate applause from Jadeja, who expressed his appreciation for the all-rounder’s sharp fielding.
Despite a season-opening win against Mumbai Indians, CSK has struggled to find their rhythm, looking far from their dominant past. Their heavy defeat against RCB prompted changes, bringing in Vijay Shankar to replace Deepak Hooda.
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Although Vijay Shankar has already impressed in the field, he wasn’t handed the ball in the first innings. His true test will come when he steps in to bat, where CSK will hope for a match-winning contribution. At the time of writing, RR had posted a competitive total of 182/9 in 20 overs.
#Yellove magic in the field! ✨#VijayShankar plucks a beauty to dismiss #WaninduHasaranga! 💛
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— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) March 30, 2025
At the toss, CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad acknowledged the quick turnaround between games and the unwavering support from the crowd. He confirmed two changes—Jamie Overton coming in for Sam Curran, while Vijay Shankar replaced Deepak Hooda.
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Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals’ stand-in captain Riyan Parag, leading at his home ground, admitted he too would have opted to bowl first. Stressing the importance of a collective effort, he stuck with the same playing XI as the previous match.
Chennai Super Kings XI: Rachin Ravindra, Rahul Tripathi, Ruturaj Gaikwad (capt), Vijay Shankar, Ravindra Jadeja, Jamie Overton, MS Dhoni (wk), R Ashwin, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed, Matheesha Pathirana
Rajasthan Royals XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, Nitish Rana, Riyan Parag (capt), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Wanindu Hasaranga, Jofra Archer, Maheesh Theekshana, Tushar Deshpande, Sandeep Sharma
