IPL 2025, RR vs CSK: Nitish hits 81 but Chennai Super Kings manage to restrict Rajasthan Royals

Indian Premier League 2025, IPL season 18: Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings in Guwahati on March 30, 2025. Chennai bowlers restrict Rajasthan despite Nitish Rana heroics

Nitish Rana showcased his big-hitting prowess with a scintillating 36-ball-81 but Chennai Super Kings bowlers made a spectacular comeback during the back-end to restrict Rajasthan Royals to a manageable 182 for 9 in an IPL match in Guwahati on Sunday (March 30, 2025).

Promoted to number 3, left-handed Nitish dominated the CSK bowlers smashing 10 boundaries and 5 sixes, after Rajasthan Royals were asked to bat first by CSK.

Skipper Riyan Parag (37), playing in front of his home crowd, hit couple of fours and as many sixes, but his innings lacked fluency as Royals managed only 37 runs in the last five overs. But what would encourage RR is the fact that since 2019, CSK has never chased anything above 180.

Royals' progress was slowed down by Afghanistan's Noor Ahmad (2/28), who bowled tightly in the middle overs, and Sri Lankan slinger Matheesha Pathirana (2/28) proved to be effective at the death.

Khaleel Ahmed (2/38) also picked up two wickets.

Royals suffered an early setback when opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, after hitting a boundary on the first ball, was dismissed by Khaleel but it was Nitish's show from thereon, as he added 82 runs off 42 balls with Sanju Samson (20) to lay a solid foundation for Rajasthan.

Nitish read the length of the ball perfectly, playing exquisite strokes to provide early momentum. He flicked, pulled, and even ramped the pacers for sixes, while using the slog sweep behind square to get two sixes off Ravichandran Ashwin.