CSK Vs RR, IPL 2024: Chennai Super Kings Beat Rajasthan Royals By 5 Wickets - As It Happened

Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royal Highlights, IPL 2024: CSK prevailed over RR in the crucial encounter in their typical Chepauk fashion. First, their bowlers kept RR to an under-par 141 on a sluggish Chepauk pitch and then they easily chased the total in the penultimate over. Simarjeet Singh was the star with his three-wicket haul where he took out Jos Buttler, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson. With the win, CSK are now at 14 points and in a strong position for a top-4 finish. RR have now lost 3 on the bounce but they still are at the second position with 9 wins and 4 losses

Chennai Super Kings Squad: Ruturaj Gaikwad(c), Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Shivam Dube, Moeen Ali, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni(w), Mitchell Santner, Shardul Thakur, Tushar Deshpande, Simarjeet Singh, Ajinkya Rahane, Shaik Rasheed, Aravelly Avanish, Sameer Rizvi, Mukesh Choudhary, Richard Gleeson, Ajay Jadav Mandal, Prashant Solanki, RS Hangargekar, Nishant Sindhu, Maheesh Theekshana

Rajasthan Royals Squad: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson(w/c), Riyan Parag, Donovan Ferreira, Rovman Powell, Shubham Dubey, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Avesh Khan, Sandeep Sharma, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jos Buttler, Kuldeep Sen, Tanush Kotian, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Kunal Singh Rathore, Navdeep Saini, Keshav Maharaj, Shimron Hetmyer, Nandre Burger, Dhruv Jurel, Abid Mushtaq

Pitch report: "It's hot, very hot at Chepauk. Temperature around 37 but feels like 47. The boundaries, 66m and 70m square and those aren't too small, 79 is the straight hit. It's a day game so you got to read the pitch well. Avg score here is 183". "What will be critical firstly is the water content in this surface and that will determine how tricky this pitch is. There is no grass covering, it's bare. The curator told me that it's normal water content. Now the challenge really is how does he preserve that water content where it remains good for batting first and remains good for batting throughout the course of the game. It's hot, so there is going to be that drying out. Maybe if there is a little bit of moisture it will be tacky, sticky, bit of a challenge for the team batting first. There will be a bit of turn because historically we have seen six matches this season and the average turn for the spinners is 2.1 - above the average we have seen in the tournament so expect spin to play a part. Average as Pommie said is 183 but for day games it is usually a bit lower. But Chennai, playing on this pitch No. 6 they have played twice batted first and scored over 200 runs and those were night games. Batting first teams will be looking for a score around there," says Pommie Mbangwa. Daren Ganga.

Rajasthan Royals have won the toss and have opted to bat.

Sanju Samson: We would like to bat first. Looks like a decent wicket, don't expect any dew. Change of conditions and weather, got time to adapt to it. Need to give it all in this game. Need to stick to what has worked for us. Need to do our basic processes, just taking care of the controllables. Need to perform as a batsman, results have to go your way to feel happy.

Ruturaj Gaikwad: Dew is not a factor, doesn't matter if we bat or ball first. The pitch will remain the same throughout the game. In these conditions you need to prepare mentally. We spoke about the areas we need to improve. You need to be in a good head space and deliver what's expected. We got the right balance, Rachin and I will open, Mitchell will bat at number 3. Theekshana comes in for Santner. Need to believe and back yourself. We want to win every game possible, you got to have the right mindset.

Chennai Super Kings (Playing XI): Rachin Ravindra, Ruturaj Gaikwad(c), Daryl Mitchell, Moeen Ali, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni(w), Shardul Thakur, Tushar Deshpande, Simarjeet Singh, Maheesh Theekshana

Rajasthan Royals (Playing XI): Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson(w/c), Riyan Parag, Shubham Dubey, Dhruv Jurel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Avesh Khan, Sandeep Sharma, Yuzvendra Chahal

Rajasthan Royals Impact Subs: Rovman Powell, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Nandre Burger, Tanush Kotian, Keshav Maharaj

Chennai Super Kings Impact Subs: Ajinkya Rahane, Sameer Rizvi, Prashant Solanki, Ajay Mandal, Mukesh Choudhary

Deshpande begins well

Just three runs from the first over by Tushar Deshpande to Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler.

Slow but steady

RR openers have been unusually slow in the powerplay scoring just 42 runs despite not losing a single wicket. CSK bowlers have kept the lid on scoring but would need some wickets to put pressure.

Simarjeet Singh strikes twice!

Rajasthan openers are both back in the dugout courtesy a fiery spell from Simarjeet Singh. Jaiswal and Buttler both miscued their shots and were caught.

The pitch is two-paced and CSK bowlers are currently dominating.

Simarjeet Singh gets his third

Simarjeet Singh has again broken a budding partnership this time by dismissing RR skipper Sanju Samson after a 42-run stand with Riyan Parag. Runs are at a premium so far on this pitch and RR are hoping for big hits against pacers at the death.

Parag ends strongly

Riyan Parag ended at an unbeaten 47 to top score for RR on a difficult Chennai wicket as RR finished at 141/5 in 20 overs. Parag was ably supported by Dhruv Jurel who got a breezy 28 from 18 balls.

Tushar Deshpande struck twice in the final over.

Burger replaces Dhruv Jurel for RR

Rapid Rachin Ravindra

Ravindra has finally found some form and smashed two consecutive 12-run overs for CSK as they look to chase down 142.

Daryl Mitchell takes over

The wicket of Rachin Ravindra has had not effect on CSK's intent to keep scoring. Daryl Mitchell has raced to a 10-ball 20 and is looking dangerous. Skipper Gaikwad is happily playing the anchor.

RR fight back!

RR are trying to claw their way back into the game with wickets but Ruturaj Gaikwad is keeping CSK fans calm with his measured knock. A few more quick wickets is the only way RR can turn the game.

Ravindra Jadeja out for obstructing the field

Ravindra Jadeja just found a unique way to get out as he was adjudged out for obstructing the field by the third umpire.

Meanwhile, CSK are closing in on a win but RR are not ready to let it go.

CSK win by 5 wickets!

"I think after the powerplay the message was slow and two paced. Hence after the powerplay the score we were expecting was 170, we were short 20-25 runs... We thought batting first was the better option. They had a better idea of what to chase being used to playing here, we thought it would have been slower in the second innings, but the wicket was instead better."

"We would like to play on such pitches where it will keep our bowlers in the game, the spinners as well. Bowling into the wicket is the plan usually here when it's slow. But sometimes it flattens out and the yorker and the use of two short balls becomes important. But if it's slow pace off is a good ploy here."

"I'm very thankful to the CSK management, physio and the trainer. They treated me so well when I was injured the whole year. We saw how the pitch played. The captain and me had a chat and decided bowling into the wicket was the right thing to do."