Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube anchor CSK recovery after shaky start against Royals

The real rescue act came from Dewald Brevis and Shivam Dube, who stitched together a vital 59-run partnership for the sixth wicket (Pic: IPL/BCCI)

Chennai Super Kings managed to post a fighting total of 187 for eight in their allotted 20 overs against Rajasthan Royals in their IPL 2025 clash on Tuesday, despite enduring a dramatic top-order collapse.

After being asked to bat first, CSK got off to a dismal start, losing both openers with just 12 runs on the scoreboard. The early damage left the team reeling, and by the eighth over, they were tottering at 78 for 5, with Rajasthan's bowlers tightening the screws.

However, young opener Ayush Mhatre offered a quick-fire counterattack, scoring an aggressive 43 off just 20 deliveries. His stroke-filled innings helped stabilize the innings momentarily before he was dismissed against the run of play.

The real rescue act came from Dewald Brevis and Shivam Dube, who stitched together a vital 59-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Brevis, playing with intent and control, scored 42 from 25 balls, while Dube anchored the innings with a composed 39 off 32 deliveries. Their stand helped CSK recover from a precarious position and push the total towards respectability.

Lower-order cameos further boosted CSK's effort as the team clawed its way to a challenging 187-run total, providing their bowlers with something to defend on a lively surface.

Among the bowlers from Rajasthan Royals, Yudhvir Singh Charak, playing in place of Fazalhaq Farooqi, made a strong impact by picking up three wickets for 47 runs in his four-over spell. While he proved to be slightly expensive, he delivered crucial breakthroughs at important junctures during the innings.

Akash Madhwal, on the other hand, was the pick of the bowlers in terms of economy and consistency. He returned with impressive figures of 3 for 29 from his quota of four overs, effectively keeping the CSK middle order in check.

With a target of 188 now set for the Rajasthan Royals, the second innings promises to be a thrilling chase, especially considering the batting firepower in both line-ups. Despite the shaky start, CSK's middle-order resilience and smart finishing have kept them in contention for what could be a crucial win in the league stage.

(With inputs from PTI)