Ambati Rayudu was crestfallen as Chennai Super Kings experienced their second consecutive setback in the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025), falling to Rajasthan Royals by six runs in Guwahati on Sunday, following a 50-run loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
The match emphasized the dramatic difference in fielding performances between the two sides, with pundits hailing the Rajasthan Royals' superior fielding efforts. The fielding discrepancy played a deciding factor in the closely contested match, with the Rajasthan Royals demonstrating excellent skills and CSK struggling on the field.
"Chennai Super Kings have never been known for their fielding — maybe in their earlier years — but what they've done in their first two matches this season has been quite poor. Dropping easy chances and struggling in the outfield — these are areas they need to address quickly. Some of CSK's mistakes were quite painful to watch,” Rayudu said on JioHotstar.
RR had posted 182/9 with Nitish Rana top-scoring with 81 in 36 balls with 10 fours and 5 sixes. Riyan Parag (37) and Sanju Samson (20) were the other main contributors. For CSK, Khaleel Ahmed, Noor Ahmad, and Matheesha Pathirana took 2 wickets each.
In the chase, Ruturaj Gaikwad made 63 in 44 balls and held the innings together until he fell to Hasaranga as well. Ravindra Jadeja made 32* in 22 balls, while MS Dhoni, batting at 7, scored 16 runs. However, CSK could only manage 176/6 and lost the game by 6 runs.
"When you're playing a close game, these one-percenters really matter. We saw quite a few incredible catches in this match—it's rare to see that! On the other hand, Chennai Super Kings didn't field well at all, except for maybe one or two stops in the infield. Rajasthan Royals were really up for it, and this shows that fielding is not just about having a young side—it's about anticipation and awareness. Riyan Parag's catch, when Shivam Dube was going strong, was a real game-changer,” he added.
CSK and RR will both be in action on April 5 as CSK takes on DC at home in a day game and RR clash with PBKS in Mullanpur in night.
