IPL 2020 Highlights, CSK vs RR Match Today: Rajasthan Royals beat Chennai Super Kings by 7 wickets

This is it! Jos Buttler and Steve Smith have done it. The duo have won the match for their team from a precarious position. RR takes two points and this will also give them a boost in Net Run Rate.

FOUR! Steve Smith has hammered Piyush Chawla for a boudnary. Fantastic shot, and now RR just need 10 to win.

Rajasthan Royals reach 113/3 after 16 overs. They still need 14 runs to win in 4 overs, that is, 24 balls. Seems like an easy task.

FOUR! Jos Buttler hits it straight towards long-on for a four off Piyush Chawla for a boundary. Brings up his 11th IPL ffity in style. Follows it up with another boundary for a boundary.

FOUR! A fuller one from Shardul Thakur to Steve Smith and the RR captain just scooped it towards square leg for a boundary.

It has been hot and cold for Piyush Chawla in this year’s IPL. The leg-spinner has lost his role to Karn Sharma but he needs to showcase why he is a better option.

FOUR! SIX! Shardul Thakur tries a short one - Jos Buttler cut it away past point for a boundary. Shardul Thakur tried a length delivery and Jos Buttler opened the face of his bat and hit it over long-off for a six.

Caught behind appeal! A play and a miss from Jos Buttler but SHardul Thakur was expecting too much with an appeal, it was clearly missing the bat.

10 overs gone, RR have reached 59/3. Steve Smith needs to play the captain’s knock and stay till the end to win it for his team. Jos Buttler has to support him from the other end.

Chennai Super Kings captain have brought in Shardul Thakur into the attack. Can he get the much-needed breakthrough here?

Steven Smith vs R Jadeja in IPL (before today)

12 inns

65 Runs

68 Balls

5 Dismissal

95.58 SR

SIX! Jos Buttler hits it straight towards long-on for six. Straight fuller from Josh Hazlewood and that has been planted by Buttler. Fantastic shot.

In 4 overs, Deepak Chahahr just gave 18 runs and picked up 2 wickets. What a good comeback from him after being hit for boundaries in the first over.

Ravindra Jadeja has come into the attack and Jos Buttler hammers a reverse sweep for a boundary. Great shot from RR batsman. RR 39/3 after 6.4 over.

A massive LBW appeal for CSK and Chris Gaffney got it right, says no. MS Dhoni was not convinced but was forced to take the review by bowlers. Reviews showed that there was a bat.

Deepak Chaha bowls a straying delivery, Sanju Samson gets the faintest of edges and MS Dhoni takes a diving one-handed low catch to get rid of Samson. RR 28/3

Lowest Total that CSK has successfully defended against RR in IPL is 140 in IPL 2014

GONE! Robin Uthappa tried to scoop a slower one from Josh Hazlewood over MS Dhoni’s head, but there was no timing and he has just given an easy catch to CSK captain. RR 28/2

GONE! Ben Stokes nicks one from Deepak Chahar on to his stumps. BIG WICKET! Rajasthan Royals are 26/1 after 3 overs.

Ben stokes is on fire at the moment. He hits a cracking shot off the middle of the bat for a boundary towards long-off. Beauty! RR 26/0

FOUR! Ben Stokes steps forward and slices Josh Hazlewood for another boundary. Fantastic start for Rajasthan Royals in chase. 2 overs gone, RR 20/0

Huge LbW appeal against Robin Uthappa by seamer Deepak Chahar. He convinces MSD to take a review, but it was umpire’s call. NOT OUT!

And what’s worse for CSK is that it’s 4 overthrows. Five runs to Stokes. How can you afford that when you’re defending less than 130.

CRRRUNCHED! Short and wide from Chahar and Stokes pummels the ball through the off side. What an authoritative shot.

Once again, it’s Deepak Chahar who will be bowling the first over. Many would have thought maybe Hazlewood will have the first crack, but Dhoni has stuck to Chahar. Starts off with a dot ball to Stokes.

No change for RR at the top as Ben Stokes and Robin Uthappa walk out. Even though it’s not the toughest of targets to get, RR cannot take this lightly.

The lowest score defended at Abu Dhabi is 132, says Ian Bishop, back in 2014 when Kings XI Punjab bowled out Kolkata Knight Riders for 109.

Right then, 125 CSK have to defend. Key will be to get wickets up front. Josh Hazlewood is warming up. In the only match he played before this, the fast bowler went wicketless. CSK will be hoping for better returns tonight.

We reckons it’s Kartik Tyagi, even though he went for 25 runs tonight. After being hit for consecutive fours, he had Shane Watson out caught. Jofra Archer, Shreyas Gopal and Rahul Tewatia also picked up a wicket each.

On first thought, 125 isn’t the kind of target you’ll back you bowlers to defend, but this is a surface where the ball is really slowing up. The biggest evidence of the same was Ben Stokes bowling the final over.

Chennai Super Kings post 125/5 in 20 overs against Rajasthan Royals in Abu Dhabi. RR need 126 to win.

RR pacer Ben Stokes will bowl the final over for Rajasthan Royals. He needs to keep Ravindra Jadeja off strike, which he has as Jadeja gets a single on the first ball.

Ravindra Jadeja first slammed one towards long-off for first boundary of the over, and then trickles one towards fine leg for the 2nd over.

Jofra Archer is bowling the penultimate over. He has been hard to get away today and he is keeping it tight in this over as well.

GONE! MS Dhoni ran for a double on the misfield and he has been run out by Jofra Archer. good pickup from Sanju Samson. Big wicket, MS Dhoni departs for 28. CSK 107/5

FOUR! MS Dhoni hits it hard and Jofra Archer reached the ball, but somehow he has just pushed the ball towards the boundary ropes. Welcome boundary for CSK.

Karthik Tyagi is into the attack and he is picked ahead of Ankit Rajpoot to bowl the crucial 18th over. A lot of faith in the youngster shown by Steve Smith here.

Good over from Jora Arhcer, he gives away just four runs in the over. 100 up for CSK, but it is still not enought. They need a big over in the next three.

2 overs left from Jofra Archer and he takes control of the death overs. Ben stokes still has 2 overs left and he gave away 7 runs in the previous over, so he might bowl the other two.

Ben Stokes is brought back into the attack. He gave away 15 runs in his first over. Can MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja hammer him as well?

4 overs

18 runs

1 wicket

Fantastic day for Rahul Tewatia with the ball.

What a fantastic day fro Rahul Tewatia with the ball. He is keeping Dhoni and Jadeja scratching their heads to get away with a boundary.

Back to back boundaries from Ravindra Jadeja on Karthik Tyagi delivery, two late cuts, one goes past point, the other to the third man boundary. Great batting. CSK 85/4 after 14 overs.

MS Dhoni vs Archer in IPL

4 inns

42 Runs

34 Balls

0 Dismissal

123.52 SR

Here comes Karthik Tyagi into the attack - MS Dhoni hits him for a four! Tyagi bowls it fuller, and Dhoni has hit it hard past gully for another boundary.

IPL 2020 has seen its fair share of thrilling encounters but there is certainly a beauty about low-scoring thrillers. Right now, CSK are 70/4 in 12.3 overs. It seems like a hard task right now to put a total of 140-150 at the moment.

Rahul Tewatia has been a revelation in this year’s IPL. He bowls another tight over, just 7 from it. He delivers with both bat and ball.

MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja have to build a big partnership here. CSK have not even crossed the 100-run mark yet and they are into the 11th over. They need to fire.

GONE! Ambati Rayudu tried to slog sweep one, simple top edge and it is easily taken by Samson. BIG WICKET. CSK 56.4.

Shreyas Gopal has trapped Ambati Rayudu. Huge appeal, umpire takes his time and gives it out. Review taken after consulting with MS Dhoni. MISSING LEG STUMP! Dhoni review System always works!

GONE! Sam Curran steps forward to Shreyas Gopal and now he has sliced it in the air - where will it land? Straight in Jos Buttler’s hands. CSK 53/3

Rayudu vs Archer in IPL

3 inns

4 Runs

13 Balls

2 Dismissed

30.76 SR

FREE HIT! Rahul Tewatia to Ambati Rayudu - Rayudu stepped and sliced it in the air, but it has been caught by Karthik Tyagi. Still gets a single.

Fantastic over from Shreyas Gopal and he just gives away 2 runs in his over. More spin to follow - it is Rahul Tewatia now onto the attack.

End of the powerplay and it is Shreya Gopal who has been brought into the attack. He will look to slow down the run rate a bit.

FOUR! FOUR! Ambati Rayudu hammers Ben Stokes for two consecutive boundaries. One on the on side and the other on the off-sider. This is sensational batting. 

SIX! A straight six from Sam Curran on Ben Stokes’ first delivery of the match and this has been hit cleanly. Fantastic shot, and a worrying start for Stokes.

GONE! Karthik Tyagi bowls an inswinger on Shane Watson’s pads and the batsman flicks it straight to Rahul Tewatia at short mid-wicket. BIG WICKET. CSK 26/2

FOUR! Karthik Tyagi bowls a short one to Shane Watson and that IS NOT the length you give to Watson. He will pull it for fours and sixes all day long. FOUR! The next one a lot fuller, and Watson just got an edge on it but it goes over keeper for a boundary.

FOUR! Ankit Tyagi bowls it short and wide to Sam Curran who has lashed hard on it to hit it past point for his first boundary in the game.

OUT! Faf du Plessis gives away an easy catch to Jos Buttler and this is first blow for Chennai Super Kings in the match. CSK 13/1

Jofra Archer is really testing the CSK openers here at the moment. He is bowling lethal bouncers close to the body, no room to get shots going.

Amazing presence of mind from Karthik Tyagi to save a certain boundary. Just 2 runs. CSK off to slow start after electing to bat. CSK 10/0 after 2 overs

FOUR! A short one to Faf du Plessis, he picked the length right and just pulled it towards deep midwicket for first boundary of the match.

Jofra Archer teste Sam Curran with short ones close to the body in the final two deliveries of the over. The first of which nearly took Curran’s head off. Fantastic start. Ankit Rajpoot on the other end.

Three balls from Jofra Archer and only two singles. Mistimed shots and quick running from Sam Curran and Faf du Plessis. Certainly Archer is testing Curran here. Good start.

Faf du Plessis and Sam Curran come out to bat for Chennai Super Kings. Jofra Archer starts the attack for Rajasthan Royals. HERE WE GO!

Dwayne Bravo’s injury had given CSK a chance to bring in Imran Tahir in the palaying XI but they have gone for Josh Hazlewoopd - who is a good choice, but fans would have loved to see IMran Tahir play in this game.

MS Dhoni on Monday reached a huge landmark before anyone else. Dhoni, captain of the three-time winners Chennai Super Kings, has become the first and only cricketer to play 200 matches in the Indian Premier League. READ MORE

A Few Nuggets for the match: -

· 200: Dhoni will become the first player in IPL to play 200 matches.

· 21: Runs Smith needs to score 1000 runs for RR in IPL.

· 6: Runs Dhoni needs to complete 4000 runs for CSK in IPL, will become the 2nd player after Raina.

· 5: Runs Rayudu needs to reach 5000 T20 runs. `

· 66: Runs Bravo needs to complete 1000 runs for CSK in IPL.

· 1: 6 Smith needs to reach 100 T20 6s.

· 28: Tom Curran needs 28 runs to reach 1000 T20 runs.

· 1: Ankit Rajpoot is 1 wicket away from 100 T20 wickets.

· 5: Wickets Tye needs to reach 200 T20 Wickets.

· 100: Runs Miller needs to reach 7000 T20 Runs.

· 63: Runs S Curran needs to reach 1000 T20 runs. `

· 2: 4s Faf du Plessis needs to reach 200 4s in IPL.

· 31: Runs Needed by Jadeja to reach 2500 T20 runs. `

· 21.50: Jadeja has taken 16 wickets against RR at an avg of 21.50, his best against a current IPL opponent.

· 55: Runs Samson Needs to reach 2500 runs in IPL.

· 57: Runs Needed by Uthappa needed to reach 600 runs vs CSK in IPL, will become the 4th player to do so.

· 60: Unadkat’s average vs CSK his worst against any team

· 51: Runs Needed by Dhoni needed to reach 500 runs vs RR in IPL, will become the 7th player to do so.

Rajasthan Royals have made one change and it is Ankit Rajpoot coming in for Jaydev Unadkat.

Rajasthan Royals (Playing XI): Robin Uthappa, Ben Stokes, Sanju Samson(w), Steven Smith(c), Jos Buttler, Riyan Parag, Rahul Tewatia, Jofra Archer, Shreyas Gopal, Ankit Rajpoot, Kartik Tyagi

Chennai Super Kings have made two changes - It is Josh Hazlewood replacing Dwayne Bravo and Piyush Chawla comes in for Karn Sharma.

Chennai Super Kings (Playing XI): Faf du Plessis, Sam Curran, Shane Watson, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni(w/c), Ravindra Jadeja, Kedar Jadhav, Deepak Chahar, Piyush Chawla, Shardul Thakur, Josh Hazlewood

Rajasthan Royals captain Steve Smith at the toss: “He (Stokes) has put up okay fortunately, good to go tonight. The equation is pretty simple for us we need to keep winning, hopefully we can start tonight. We have to bowl first, restrict them and chase it down. We will see how we go (about his batting position). I found a bit of rhythm the other day which was nice and hopefully can carry on. We have got one change - Rajpoot comes in for Unadkat.”

Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni: “We will bat first. It is a used wicket and chances are it may slow down as the game progresses, that’s been the trend and the reason we want to put runs on the board. He (Bravo) won’t be available for the next few games. I think injuries are not only our concern but for quite a few other franchises as well, one of the reason being because the players have not played competitive cricket for a long time. You spoke about it and that’s how I got to know (referring to his 200th IPL game). It feels good but at the same time it’s just a number. I feel fortunate to play for such a long time without many injuries. We have a couple of changes - in place of Bravo we have got Josh Hazlewood and in place of Karn we have got Chawla.”

Daren Ganga and JP Duminy: “It is the same pitch that was used yesterday, so the dimensions also don’t change. Teams will be looking to that short boundary which is 63 meters and also there’s a short straight boundary which is 59 meters. It looks a lot drier than yesterday, there’s an uneven covering of grass which and it will play into the hands of the bowlers. The average first innings score here is 167.”

Rajasthan Royals have lost 17 wickets in Powerplay this season, the most by any team in IPL 2020. RR need a good start against CSK.

Dwayne Bravo’s absence will certainly raise questions on who will Dhoni use in death overs - in batting and in bowling. This is another worry for CSK.

Chennai Super Kings will go with Sam Curran on top or not? He has not set the stage on fire so far, but MS Dhoni is known to continue with experiments?

It will be MS Dhoni and Steve Smith coming out in Abu Dhabi for the toss in about 30 minutes! Are you ready for the action to begin??

Javed Miandad to MS Dhoni: “My suggestion to Dhoni will be to increase his exercise drills and batting time at the nets. If he is doing 20 sit-ups (for example), he can increase it to 30. If he doing five sprints, he can increase it to eight. If he is spending an hour at the nets for batting practice, he can increase it to two hours. It’s not necessary that you have to do it at a stretch. You can do it in parts. You can do it in three sessions – morning, afternoon and evening. Dhoni knows this and maybe, he is already doing that.”

The last time the two teams met each other, it was Rajasthan Royals who had emerged victorious with an easy win. Can RR repeat te result?

Ben Stokes has not been able to set the stage on fire at the top and I think it should be Jos Buttler and Robin Uthappa opening the innings with Ben Stokes coming in the final few overs and hitting big shots. He is a finisher, not a starter.

Kevin Pietersen praises IPL 2020 after what was an epic Sunday night.

A SUPER, SUPER over yesterday. What about the @IPL as a product?! It keeps getting better and better and BETTER!

Changing the lives of millions of people.

It really is, Sport For Good!