Match Center

Right then, that is it from this huge game where Rajasthan gets the better of Chennai and get back to winning ways. However, the action in the Indian T20 League does not stop here as we have another exciting clash between Punjab and Lucknow on Friday, the 28th of April. The first ball will be bowled at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT), but as you know, you can join us early for all the build-up. Until then, goodbye and cheers!

Yashasvi Jaiswal is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his excellent inning. He says that the wind was playing a massive role and he had it in his mind but informs that he knew that he wanted to play good cricketing shots. Adds that he wanted to score freely in the Powerplay and get his team off to a good start. Mentions that he has been putting a lot of effort into training and says that he has been speaking to the coaching staff and many senior players. Claims that he feels the pressure but he wants to be there in such a situation and enjoys it. Ends by saying that he was not thinking about getting a hundred and just wanted to keep his strike rate high to get runs on the board as well as look for scoring options.

Sanju Samson, the victorious skipper of Rajasthan says that it was a good win and it was important for the team atmosphere and also for the fans. Adds that this is their first win in Jaipur and it feels great. Tells that they cannot be only a defending team and that depends on the conditions as in Chinnaswamy or Wankhede you will like to chase. Says that before the game looking at the conditions, he felt dew would not play a big role and that is why they wanted to bat. Mentions that he is delighted with the youngsters as they played good attacking cricket and the mindset was really good. Credits the team management and the support staff for the success. Ends by saying Yashasvi Jaiswal works very hard and he deserves all the good things.

Presentation Time...

Adam Zampa is up for a quick chat. He says they have been under the pump in the last few games but the boys did really well. Explains that he has been in and out of the team and got a few wickets so he is glad to help the team. Claims that he saw Maheesh Theekshana bowl with extra pace as well as shorter than usual and he decided to put it into the wicket and let the ball do its bit. Mentions that the young players have been great to watch especially the way they got them off to a flier and ended the innings as well. Ends by saying that he has been playing cricket for a long time and he aims to be mentally prepared, train hard and have a nice time while he is here.

MS Dhoni, the captain of Chennai, says that the score was well above par and the reason for that was the first six overs but at the same time he feels that it was the best time for the batters. Mentions that they controlled the middle overs but conceded too much at the end and they did not start well in their first six overs. When asked about Matheesha Pathirana he says that they have to accept what is happening and not look at the scorecard. Adds that he sees what kind of deliveries are being bowled and not how many runs are coming off so he felt that Pathirana was bowling really well. Credits Yashasvi Jaiswal for his effort and says that he batted really well as he took calculated risks. Claims that they made it slightly easy as their bowlers didn’t assess the right lengths to bowl and gave away too many boundaries due to which they were playing catch up. Goes on to say that in the end, Dhruv Jurel batted really well too. Ends by saying that the crowd will be chasing him and this venue is close to his heart because he got his 183 here which gave a lifeline to his international career.

Earlier in the game, Rajasthan posted the highest total at this ground in the Indian T20 League courtesy of a brilliant inning from Yashasvi Jaiswal and a good contribution from Dhruv Jurel and Devdutt Padikkal towards the death overs. Tushar Deshpande picked up a couple of wickets for Chennai while Maheesh Theekshana and Ravindra Jadeja chipped in with one each.  While chasing, Chennai could not get to the start that they wanted and were on the back foot. Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shivam Dube played fighting knocks but without much support, and eventually, it proved to be too much for them as they tasted defeat.

Rajasthan, on the other hand, were hot and cold with their bowling effort. They started off well and came in with a plan to bowl straight to Devon Conway which worked for them. They went for a few after that but Adam Zampa and Ravichandran Ashwin pulled things back nicely in the middle overs and picked up five wickets among themselves. However, they let their foot off the gas and allowed Chennai to get back in the game. The pacers were expensive except for Sandeep Sharma who bowled a brilliant spell. They once again managed to pull things back and did well to close the game down in the end to get over the line with ease. Kuldip Yadav also did well considering this was his first game of the season.

Chennai did not get off to the ideal start as the openers were struggling to time the ball. Ruturaj Gaikwad did get his rhythm back and played some beautiful shots but Devon Conway struggled throughout and ate up 16 balls to score just 8 runs before getting out. Ajinkya Rahane also couldn't replicate his form and fell cheaply while Gaikwad holed out after a quickfire 47 off just 29 balls trying to up the ante. Ambati Rayudu came in as the Impact Player but went without making any as he did not trouble the scorers at all. However, after that Shivam Dube and Moeen Ali changed the momentum of the chase with a few good overs on the trot but unfortunately, Ali could not stick around for long and got dismissed after scoring 23 runs off just 12 balls. That did not affect Dube one bit as he continued to smash it all around the park and registered his third fifty in a row. Ravindra Jadeja also delivered a few lust blows but this was always going to be difficult for them and in the end, they fell short by 32 runs.

Rajasthan have marked their 200th Indian T20 League game with a fantastic win! They have done the double over Chennai and have gone top of the table due to their better net run-rate. It was a complete performance from the hosts as they were better in all three departments and in the end, it was quite comfortable for them.

OUT! CAUGHT! A wicket on the last ball of the inning and Rajasthan complete a comprehensive win! Kuldip Yadav bowls this full and outside the off pole. Shivam Dube looks to hit through the line but does not connect cleanly. Ends up hitting it straight down the throat of Jos Buttler at long on who makes no mistake grabbing hold of the ball. Shivam Dube's fine inning comes to an end but it is in vain. Chennai have fallen well short of the target and they will be ruing the amount of runs they conceded. Rajasthan win by 32 runs.

On a length and outside the off stump. Ravindra Jadeja drags this towards deep mid-wicket and takes one.

Continues to bowl full and outside the off pole. Shivam Dube knocks this aerially towards deep cover and takes a single.

Delivers this full and outside off. Ravindra Jadeja smashes this straight to the long off fielder for a run.

Full and outside the off pole. Shivam Dube hits this hard but finds the fielder at long off for a run.

Kuldip Yadav bowls this on a length and outside the off stump. Shivam Dube swings hard but misses.

Who will bowl the last over? It will be Kuldip Yadav.