IPL 2023 | RR vs CSK: Talking Points & Who Said What?

image-lgzz6fjsYashasvi Jaiswal and MS Dhoni (Source: AP Newsroom)

Rajasthan Royals (RR) played the way they are known to play when they entered the field against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. The strength which is defending the total came into full effect when they posted 202 on the scoreboard and saved the total by a hefty margin of 32 runs in the end.

Let us now look at the Talking Points of this RR vs CSK Clash:

Jaiswal Stings CSK Hard

Opening the innings alongside Jos Buttler, Yashasvi Jaiswal started the innings on sixth gear as he smashed boundaries regularly against the Super Kings bowling line-up. It was a fantastic start for the Royals as they were 64 for no loss by the end of powerplay with bowlers finding it tough against the left-hander. His innings ended on 77 and the impact he left was too tough for CSK to recover from.

This clearly depicts that the right positive approach at the start of the game takes the team a step further in the match.

Jurel and DDP Delivers The Finishing Punches

At one stage RR were 146 for four by the beginning of 17th over when Shimron Hetmyer lost his wicket but that didn't really stopped them from posting a total that is good enough on this wicket as the duo of Dhruv Jurel and Devdutt Padikkal played their role completely well. Jurel thumped two sixes along with three boundaries to strike 34 from 15 balls while his partner smashed 27 off 13 with the help of five fours to power their side to 202. They forged a 48-run stand for the fifth wicket where their personal strike rates were over 200.


Zampa-Ashwin Make CSK's Life Difficult

Out of the six wickets that fell for CSK, five were shared by the spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Adam Zampa while one remaining went to pacer Kuldip Yadav that too falling on the final ball of the innings. The visitors were looking for their first breakthrough which they got by the end of the powerplay in the form of Devon Conway and after that, nothing looked easy against the spinners. Ashwin struck twice in the 11th over while Zampa was phenomenal during his entire spell with three scalps to his name.


Final Overs Prove Difficult for Super Kings

With 46 required off the final two overs, the onus was on the CSK batters Shivam Dube and Ravindra Jadeja to cross the line as skipper MS Dhoni was still waiting for his chance in the dugout. However, Jason Holder with his nineteenth and youngster Kuldip Yadav with the 20th were phenomenal as they gave away just nine and four runs, respectively. These two overs were decent enough to seal the game for the Royals and that too by a massive margin of 32 runs.


Who Said What?

MS Dhoni (Chennai Super Kings Skipper)

"I think the fans will be chasing me throughout. It (Jaipur)’s a very good venue. My first hundred was at Vizag which gave me 10 more games but the 183 I made here gave me an extra year. It is very close to my heart and always feels good to get back here."


Sanju Samson (Rajasthan Royals Skipper)

"Happy with the first win here in Jaipur this season. You can't go by one dimension everywhere. You would like to chase at Chepauk, Chinnaswamy and Wankhede. Happy to see Yashasvi, DDP and Dhruv to the way they are playing and it was because of them we won. You see Jaiswal at the RR academy during the off-season working hard in the nets."


Yashasvi Jaiswal (Player of the Match)

"I learn from seniors like MS Dhoni sir and Virat sir. I was not at all thinking about the hundred. I just tried to score continuously and keep going. I knew that we need at least 200 to defend here."