Rajasthan Royals lost to Chennai Super Kings by five wickets in the Indian Premier League 2024 match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Sunday.

Riyan Parag top-scored in the contest with an unbeaten 47 off 35 balls which included a four and three sixes as the Royals made 141/5. For the Super Kings, Simarjeet Singh finished with 3/26 and Tushar Deshpande picked up two wickets.

But the Super Kings managed 145/5 with Ruturaj Gaikwad remaining unbeaten on 42. The Royals spinners kept it tight, particularly Ravichandran Ashwin, who picked up 2/35.

Earlier in the day, Sanju Samson, leading his side for a 57th time in IPL, went past legendary Shane Warne for most matches as captain of the Rajasthan Royals, when he walked out to the middle for the toss.

The Royals skipper Samson won the toss on a hot afternoon and elected to bat first. There were two changes to the Royals side with Jos Buttler and Dhruv Jurel coming into the playing XI in place of Donovan Ferreira and Rovman Powell.

The Royals started cautiously moving to 14/0 after three overs before Yashasvi Jaiswal broke the shackles hitting a six and a four in the fourth over. The southpaw continued with two more boundaries in the next over as the Royals ended the powerplay at 42 without the loss of any wicket.

But the left-handed opener departed in the next over after making 24 off 21 balls. Riyan Parag joined Samson in the middle as the Royals reached 61/2 at the halfway stage on a slow pitch, where shot-making was difficult. 

Samson and Parag cleverly put the ball into vacant areas and picked up ones and twos to keep the scoreboard ticking. Both added 42 for the third wicket as the Royals were looking to shift gears in the last six overs. But in-form Samson was dismissed in the 15th over with the score reading 91.

New batter Dhruv Jurel hit a six off his legs as nine runs came in the 16th over. Both Parag and Jurel hit boundaries in the next over to give the Royals a much-needed push towards the end of the innings.

Jurel hit his second six of the innings as the ascendancy continued with Royals getting to 124/3 at the end of the 18th over. Parag scored a six in the final over to remain unbeaten at 47 as the Royals set the Super Kings a target of 142. Jurel hit two sixes and a four in his 18-ball 28.

Though the Super Kings got off to a good start, homeboy Ravichandran Ashwin dismissed Rachin Ravindra for 27 in his very first over. The Royals could not make further inroads in the powerplay as CSK got to 56/1 at the end of six overs.

Yuzvendra Chahal also struck in his first over as he trapped the dangerous-looking Daryl Mitchell in front and conceded just a run. The Royals bowled a few quiet overs conceding only 18 runs in four overs as the bowlers kept them in the game.

Impact substitute Nandre Burger struck as Moeen Ali perished looking to improve the scoring rate, with Avesh Khan taking a safe catch in the deep. The Royals continued to dry up the runs and CSK needed 50 off the last seven overs.

Ashwin came back strongly after getting hit for a six and two boundaries by Shivam Dube as the off-spinner got his 50th wicket at Chepauk. There were more twists in store with Ravindra Jadeja getting dismissed for obstructing Samson’s throw as CSK were five down with 21 needed in the last four overs.

In the end, the Royals lost out despite putting on a valiant fight as the Super Kings won by five wickets with eight balls to spare. Ashwin ended with two wickets as Chahal and Burger got a wicket each. 

Rajasthan Royals are currently second in the IPL 2024 points table with 16 points from 12 matches.

The Royals play the Punjab Kings in their next game at the ACA Stadium in Guwahati on May 15.

CSK vs RR IPL 2024 brief scores: Rajasthan Royals 141/5 (Riyan Parag 47*, Dhruv Jurel 28, Simarjeet Singh 3/26) lost to Chennai Super Kings 145/5 (Ruturaj Gaikwad 42*, Ravichandran Ashwin 2/35) by five wickets. Get full CSK vs RR score here.