Chennai Super Kings 127 all out in 19.4 overs (Reece Overton 43; Ravindra Jadeja 2-18, Jofra Archer 2-19, Nandre Burger 2-25) v Rajasthan Royals, Guwahati
A change of year, kit and personnel has not yet shifted Chennai Super Kings’ batting fortunes. Put in on a damp, two-paced Guwahati surface, Ruturaj Gaikwad’s side mustered only 127 and were dismissed with two balls unused.
“The pitch offered something if you just kept it on a Test-match length,” Jofra Archer told the host broadcaster. “No need to be clever, really.” He and Burger prised out four wickets in the powerplay – CSK 41 for 4 felt eerily similar to the early collapses that sent them to the foot of the table last season.
Burger struck the first blow, pegging back Sanju Samson’s off stump with one that kissed the surface and straightened. Gaikwad, trying to manufacture room, lost his leg stump to Archer for six. Ayush Mhatre’s debut lasted one ball – a steep Burger bouncer fended to gully – and Matt Short scratched two from seven before mis-pulling Sandeep Sharma.
At 57 for 6 Ravindra Jadeja, in Royals colours again after 17 years, applied the squeeze. “I just wanted to land it on the seam and let the pitch do the rest,” he said after a double-wicket over that removed Impact sub Sarfaraz Khan and the big-hitting Shivam Dube.
Only Reece Overton, promoted from No. 9, coaxed the innings past three figures. His 43 from 28, including a neat six over long-off, underlined the value of batting depth but also the lack of top-order application. He added 33 with debutant quick Anshul Kamboj for the last wicket, a stand that dragged the score beyond 120 and at least gave CSK something to bowl at.
In the commentary box Ambati Rayudu was blunt: “CSK never earned the right to attack. On a pitch like this, you tick off 130 first, then you think about 160.”
The Royals, who had won an important toss following overnight rain, left the field quietly satisfied. CSK, new-look or not, walked off with familiar questions swirling.
