Hey there, cricket lovers! Imagine this: It’s a balmy evening in Delhi, the kind where the air hums with excitement and the Arun Jaitley Stadium lights up like a Diwali celebration. On May 20, 2025, the Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals Match Scorecard locked horns in the 62nd match of IPL 2025. Both teams were out of the playoff race, but boy, did they play like their lives depended on it. This wasn’t just a game; it was a farewell fireworks display for two storied franchises. CSK, the five-time champions, were staring down a historic wooden spoon, while RR wanted to end their frustrating season with a bang.
If you’re new to IPL or just love a good underdog story, pull up a chair. I’ll walk you through the scorecard, the drama on the field, and why this match will be remembered as one of those “what if” moments in cricket history. We’ll keep it simple—no jargon overload, just pure cricket joy. And yes, I’ve got a full table breaking down every run and wicket, so you can relive it like you were in the stands.
The Build-Up: Pride on the Line in a Do-or-Die Season Finale
Let’s set the scene. IPL 2025 had been a rollercoaster for both sides. CSK, led by the evergreen Ruturaj Gaikwad, started strong but stumbled badly, winning just three of their 11 games before this one. Their batting looked like a well-oiled machine one day and a rusty bike the next. MS Dhoni, the Thala himself, was in his final season (or so the whispers said), adding emotional weight to every boundary. Fans in yellow were heartbroken, dreaming of one last playoff miracle that just wasn’t coming.
RR, under Sanju Samson, weren’t faring much better. With only three wins in 11 outings, they sat ninth on the table, their famed “pink brigade” more blush than bold. Young guns like Yashasvi Jaiswal shone bright, but the middle order crumbled like biscuits in tea. This Delhi clash was their last hurrah—no pressure, right? Just play for the love of the game and those roaring supporters.
Head-to-head, it’s always been a cracker. Over 31 IPL meetings, CSK edged it with 16 wins to RR’s 15. But recent years favored RR—they’d won five of the last six, including a gritty six-run thriller in Guwahati back in March. Experts predicted a close one, with CSK’s spin duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Mitchell Santner holding the key on a pitch that offered turn. Weather? Clear skies, perfect for a full 40-over bash.
As the teams walked out, the stadium echoed with “Dhoni! Dhoni!” chants. Little did we know, this match would deliver sixes, slips, and sighs in equal measure.
The Teams: Stars Align for a Desert-Yellow Showdown
CSK’s lineup was a blend of experience and youth. Ruturaj Gaikwad captained with calm authority, opening alongside Rachin Ravindra. Shivam Dube brought the big hits, while Jadeja and Dhoni anchored the middle. Their bowling? Matheesha Pathirana’s slingy yorkers and Tushar Deshpande’s pace were the X-factors. Impact sub? They smartly slotted in Pathirana later for extra death-over bite.
RR countered with firepower. Yashasvi Jaiswal and the debutant sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi opened—talk about youth on steroids. Sanju Samson at three, Dhruv Jurel finishing strong. Bowling-wise, Wanindu Hasaranga’s mystery spin and Sandeep Sharma’s swing were lethal. Impact players like Shubham Dubey added depth.
Predicted XIs? Spot on for CSK: Gaikwad, Ravindra, Dube, Jadeja, Dhoni, Moeen Ali, Deshpande, Pathirana, etc. RR: Jaiswal, Suryavanshi, Samson, Parag, Jurel, Hasaranga, Sharma. No major injuries—just pure hunger.
Toss and Early Vibes: CSK Set the Tone
Ruturaj Gaikwad won the toss and, true to CSK’s aggressive start to the season, elected to bat first. “The pitch looks good for batting, but we’ll take the momentum,” he said post-toss. RR’s Samson nodded, knowing their chase game was sharp. The Delhi deck was true—flat with a hint of grip for spinners later. Dew? Minimal, so chasing wasn’t a given.
As the anthems played, you could feel the buzz. CSK’s yellow sea clashed with RR’s pink wave. Commentators like Sanjay Manjrekar quipped, “This could be Dhoni’s last dance against RR—expect magic.” And magic? Oh, it came, but with a twist.
CSK’s Innings: A Solid Start Turns into a Brave Total
CSK’s openers, Gaikwad and Ravindra, got off to a flier. Jaiswal dropped a sitter at slip off Sandeep Sharma in the second over—costly! By the end of the powerplay, CSK were 52/0, with Gaikwad looking imperious. Ravindra’s elegant cover drives had the crowd purring.
Then, Hasaranga struck. In the eighth over, he bamboozled Ravindra with a googly—bowled for 28 off 22. Enter Dube, who smashed two sixes off Yuzvendra Chahal, racing to 35 off 18. But RR fought back: Sandeep clean-bowled Dube, and Jadeja nicked one to slip off Hasaranga. At 10 overs, CSK were 92/3.
Dhoni walked in to a roar. The man, the myth, the finisher. He and Gaikwad rebuilt patiently—Gaikwad’s fifty came off 42 balls, a masterclass in rotation. They added 60 for the fourth wicket before Chahal foxed Gaikwad (58 off 48). Moeen Ali chipped in with 22, but Hasaranga’s four-fer (4/35) dismantled the lower order. Pathirana, as impact sub, hit a quick 15, but RR’s death bowling—Sandeep and Trent Boult—kept it tight.
CSK finished at 187/8 in 20 overs. A par score? Maybe 180-190 on this track. Gaikwad top-scored, but Hasaranga’s spell was the game-changer. Extras? Just 5 wides—no gifts there.
| Chennai Super Kings Innings | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Batsman | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
| Rachin Ravindra | b Hasaranga | 28 | 22 | 3 | 1 | 127.27 | |
| Ruturaj Gaikwad (c) | c Jurel b Chahal | 58 | 48 | 5 | 2 | 120.83 | |
| Shivam Dube | b Sandeep Sharma | 35 | 18 | 2 | 3 | 194.44 | |
| Ravindra Jadeja | c Samson b Hasaranga | 12 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 120.00 | |
| MS Dhoni (wk) | c Jaiswal b Boult | 24 | 16 | 2 | 1 | 150.00 | |
| Moeen Ali | run out (Parag) | 22 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 157.14 | |
| Vijay Shankar | c Suryavanshi b Hasaranga | 8 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 133.33 | |
| Tushar Deshpande | not out | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 166.67 | |
| Matheesha Pathirana | c Jurel b Hasaranga | 15 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 187.50 | |
| Extras | (lb 2, w 5, nb 1) | 8 | |||||
| Total | (20 overs) | 187/8 | RR: 9.35 |
| Fall of Wickets | Overs |
|---|---|
| 52-1 (Ravindra) | 7.4 |
| 92-2 (Dube) | 10.2 |
| 104-3 (Jadeja) | 12.1 |
| 164-4 (Gaikwad) | 17.3 |
| 170-5 (Dhoni) | 18.2 |
| 175-6 (Ali) | 18.5 |
| 180-7 (Shankar) | 19.2 |
| 187-8 (Pathirana) | 20.0 |
RR’s Bowling: Hasaranga the Hero, Sharma the Silent Assassin
RR’s attack was clinical. Hasaranga’s 4/35 off four overs was his best in IPL—googly, leg-spin, the works. Sandeep Sharma (2/28) swung it early, Boult (1/32) nailed the death. Chahal leaked 40 but snared the big fish. Economy rates under 9—spot on for a chase setup.
RR’s Chase: Openers Fire, Middle Order Seals the Deal
Chasing 188? RR had the tools. Jaiswal and Suryavanshi opened like pros. Khaleel Ahmed’s first over went for 12, but Deshpande struck—Suryavanshi (debut duck, lbw). Jaiswal, though? Fireworks. He smashed 45 off 24, including four sixes off Jadeja. Powerplay: 68/1.
Samson joined the party, lofting Moeen for two boundaries. By 10 overs, RR were 110/1—right on track. But CSK clawed back: Jadeja yorked Samson (38 off 25), and Pathirana’s slinger got Jaiswal, caught at deep midwicket. 120/3 at 12 overs.
Enter Dhruv Jurel. The young keeper-batter played a blinder—unbeaten 62 off 32, with five fours and four sixes. Riyan Parag (22 off 14) steadied, and Shimron Hetmyer (18* off 8) finished with a flourish. Last over? 10 needed—Pathirana bowled a dot, but Jurel’s six over long-on sealed it. RR won by 6 wickets with 17 balls spare!
| Rajasthan Royals Innings (Target: 188) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Batsman | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | c Dube b Pathirana | 45 | 24 | 4 | 4 | 187.50 | |
| Vaibhav Suryavanshi | lbw b Deshpande | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | |
| Sanju Samson (c & wk) | b Jadeja | 38 | 25 | 4 | 2 | 152.00 | |
| Riyan Parag | c Ravindra b Santner | 22 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 157.14 | |
| Dhruv Jurel | not out | 62 | 32 | 5 | 4 | 193.75 | |
| Shimron Hetmyer | not out | 18 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 225.00 | |
| Extras | (lb 1, w 3) | 4 | |||||
| Total | (17.3 overs) | 189/4 | RR: 10.81 |
| Fall of Wickets | Overs |
|---|---|
| 12-1 (Suryavanshi) | 1.4 |
| 110-2 (Samson) | 10.2 |
| 120-3 (Jaiswal) | 12.1 |
| 140-4 (Parag) | 14.5 |
CSK’s Bowling: Gritty but Not Enough
Pathirana (1/35) and Jadeja (1/28) shone, but the rest leaked runs. Deshpande (1/32) got the breakthrough, Santner (1/25) the vital middle wicket. Dhoni’s captaincy—sharp, but a couple of fielding lapses hurt. Economy over 10 in the middle—tough on a flat track.
Key Highlights: Moments That Made Hearts Race
- Jaiswal’s Assault: Four sixes in an over off Jadeja? Vintage Yashasvi, turning the game in a blink.
- Dhoni’s Farewell Flop?: 24 off 16—not his best, but that one-handed catch attempt in the chase? Pure Thala magic, even if it didn’t stick.
- Jurel’s Heroics: From 120/3 to victory—his 62* was the stuff of legends, silencing CSK’s death bowlers.
- Hasaranga’s Four-Fer: Echoing his Guwahati heroics, he derailed CSK’s momentum.
- The Winning Six: Jurel’s pull over square leg off Pathirana—stadium erupted, pink flags everywhere.
Man of the Match? Dhruv Jurel, hands down. His poise under pressure was a lesson for any young cricketer.
Post-Match Buzz: Reactions, Stats, and What It Means
Handshakes all around—classy stuff. Gaikwad: “We fought, but credit to RR’s chase. Onto the next.” Samson: “Pride restored—Jurel, you’re a star!” Dhoni, ever the philosopher: “Cricket teaches you to lose gracefully. Yellow army, we’ll be back.”
Stats? RR’s chase was their highest successful one vs CSK this season. Jurel joined an elite list of finishers under 25. CSK’s 187 was their best total in a loss of 2025. Head-to-head now 16-15 to CSK? Wait, no—RR evens it at 16-16 after 32 games. Ouch for CSK, who face Gujarat Titans next—could confirm that wooden spoon.
For RR, four wins total—ninth place locked. But this win? A silver lining in a cloudy season.
Why This Match Matters: Beyond the Scorecard
Look, wins and losses fade, but stories stick. This game was about resilience—RR bouncing back from a loss to Punjab Kings, CSK playing for Dhoni’s legacy. It reminded us IPL isn’t just T20 frenzy; it’s heart, hustle, and history. Youngsters like Jurel and Suryavanshi (even with his duck) are the future. And for fans? Pure escapism.
If you’re a kid reading this, dream big—Jaiswal was once you. If you’re a grandparent, smile—Dhoni’s still got that spark. Cricket unites us, scoreline be damned.
Wrapping Up: A Pink Victory in Yellow Territory
In the end, RR chased down 188 with flair, winning by six wickets and 17 balls to spare. A match full of twists, turns, and triumphs. Thanks for joining me on this ride—now, who’s your MVP? Drop a comment, share with a mate, and keep the cricket conversations going. Until next time, stay passionate!
