Chennai Super Kings 127 (Overton 43, Jadeja 2-18, Archer 2-19) vs Rajasthan Royals
New IPL season, new-look team, but same-old batting troubles for Chennai Super Kings.
Their powerplay score of 41 for 4 was straight out of 2025, when they had finished rock bottom in the league, and they were eventually bowled out for 127 in 19.4 overs.
The Guwahati pitch wasn't easy to bat - it had spent considerable time under covers both on match day and match eve - and Rajasthan Royals made excellent use of it after winning a crucial toss and opting to bowl.
Both Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger bowled Test-match lengths to wreck CSK's top order. Ravindra Jadeja then marked his return to Rajasthan Royals after 17 years with a double-wicket first over. There would be no way back for CSK.
It was Burger who struck the first blow when he knocked out Sanju Samson's off stump with a perfectly pitched delivery that decked away from left-arm over the wicket. Perhaps, expecting the inswinger Samson shaped to flick and missed. CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad tried to hit his way out of trouble: he exposed all his stumps only to be bowled by Archer.
Samson and Gaikwad fell for 6 each and the middle order could not stop the rot. Ayush Mhatre was bounced out by Burger for a golden duck while Matt Short, who got a game in place of the injured Dewald Brevis, popped Sandeep Sharma to midwicket for 2 off 7 balls.
When Jadeja picked off both Sarfaraz Khan, who came in as an Impact Player, and Shivam Dube in his first over back for RR, CSK were 57 for 6. Overton then added 33 for the last wicket with Anshul Kamboj to haul CSK past 120.