IPL 2023 Match 17: CSK Vs RR Key Highlights

Rajasthan Royals secured their second victory in a row as they beat Chennai Super Kings by 3 runs in a thrilling Match 17 of TATA IPL 2023 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Jos Buttler was the star of the show for Rajasthan Royals, scoring 52 off 36 balls, supported by Devdutt Padikkal (38 off 26), R Ashwin (30 off 22), and Shimron Hetmyer (30 off 18), as they posted a competitive total of 175/8. However, the Rajasthan Royals spinners were the key to their victory, picking up regular wickets in the middle overs and choking the CSK batters. Sandeep Sharma held his nerve to defend 21 off the last over against the rampaging MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja.

Chasing 176, Chennai Super Kings were pegged back early by some disciplined bowling from Rajasthan Royals. They lost the in-form Ruturaj Gaikwad early as he top-edged one off Sandeep Sharma, and Yashasvi Jaiswal pouched a good catch. RR gave away just one four in the first three overs. Rahane and Devon Conway then got going with a four each off Jason Holder in the fourth over. Conway hit a couple of fours off Zampa and was a bit lucky with the second one as Sandeep Sharma couldn't hold on to a difficult chance at backward square leg off a powerful sweep shot that burst through his hands and raced away to the fence.

Rahane hit the first six of the innings as he lofted one over wide long off, off R Ashwin as RR reached 45/1 at the end of the Powerplay. Conway hit a couple more fours as the duo brought up the fifty-run stand off 33 balls. Some smart placement saw them accumulate 15 runs off the over with four twos and a cracking four through extra cover by Ajinkya Rahane. Sanju Samson then brought back R Ashwin, and the move worked as he trapped Rahane (31 off 19) LBW off a Carrom ball to break the 68-run stand as CSK reached 80/2 at the end of 10 overs.

Rajasthan Royals built the pressure, and Ashwin reaped the rewards of some tight bowling as he sent back Shivam Dube, trapped leg before wicket. Yuzvendra Chahal could have had Moeen Ali in the next over as he got a bottom edge trying to hoick one, but keeper Samson couldn't hold on to it. Moeen, though, couldn't last long as he holed out to deep backward square leg via a superb catch by Sandeep Sharma off the bowling of Zampa. CSK then introduced Ambati Rayudu as their Impact Player in place of Magala, but he too couldn't make an impact as he mistimed one to deep mid-wicket, where Hetmyer took a very good catch, off the bowling of Chahal.

Conway, who held fort at one end, then brought up his fifty off 37 balls. But he too couldn't carry on as he miscued the next ball to extra cover off Chahal, and Yashasvi took another good catch. The wickets kept falling, and the pressure kept building. RR bowled brilliantly in the 10-17 over phase as they conceded just 42 runs and scalped four wickets. Ashwin finished with a very good spell of 4-0-25-0 while Chahal finished with an impressive spell of 4-0-25-2. With 54 needed off 18 balls, MS Dhoni released the pressure valve with a four and a six off Zampa to bring the equation down to 40 off 12. Jadeja then hit two sixes and a four off Holder in the penultimate over to take 19 off the over and bring the equation down to 21 needed off six balls.

Sandeep Sharma was given the task to defend 21 in the last over. He started with two wides and then bowled a dot ball. But he erred in length next ball, bowling a full toss that Dhoni swung behind square leg for a flat six, bringing the equation to 13 needed off 4. Dhoni swung the next ball over deep mid-wicket for another six off a low full toss, bringing it down to 7 off 3. He then swung at one again but mistimed it to deep mid-wicket for just a single as Sandeep changed sides and bowled from round the wicket. Sandeep then darted in a very good Yorker outside off and gave away just a single to Jadeja. With 5 required off the last ball, Sandeep bowled another brilliant yorker from round the wicket, which Dhoni heaved away straight to deep mid-wicket for just a single, and that's how RR won a high-nerve match by three runs.

Overall, it was an enthralling match that kept the spectators on the edge of their seats. Jos Buttler's half-century and the spinners' excellent performance helped Rajasthan Royals secure a crucial win. On the other hand, CSK would be disappointed with their performance, especially the top-order batsmen who failed to get going. Despite the loss, MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja put up a valiant fight and almost took the team home.