Sandeep Sharma delivered a brilliant final over, restricting MS Dhoni and CSK batters to help Rajasthan Royals secure a thrilling six-run victory.
Sandeep Sharma Seals a Thrilling Victory
Rajasthan Royals held their nerve to secure a brilliant win against Chennai Super Kings, as Riyan Parag’s men opened their IPL 2025 account on Sunday. In a thrilling encounter in Guwahati, the Royals edged past CSK with a narrow six-run victory, with Sandeep Sharma emerging as the hero of the night.
With 20 runs needed off the final over and MS Dhoni at the crease, both teams had hopes of snatching the crucial two points. Despite Jofra Archer having an over left, Parag made a bold call by handing the ball to Sandeep Sharma—a move that surprised many, including Archer, who watched intently from the boundary.
Sandeep’s over started nervously with a wide, but he quickly turned the game around. Dhoni, attempting to clear deep mid-wicket off a low full toss, was caught brilliantly by Shimron Hetmyer, leaving the CSK legend stunned and the stadium in disbelief. With Chennai in trouble, Ravindra Jadeja and Jamie Overton tried to salvage the chase. Overton struck a six to keep CSK’s hopes alive, but Sandeep responded with pinpoint yorkers, restricting the batters to singles and doubles.
The situation 🤯
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 30, 2025
The catch 🫡
The moment 🔝
🎥 Shimron Hetmyer's match-changing catch 🙇♂️
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/V2QijpWpGO#TATAIPL | #RRvCSK | @rajasthanroyals pic.twitter.com/ytuCdERVas
Needing nine off the last two balls, Overton failed to find the big hits, sealing a thrilling six-run victory for the Royals.
Sandeep Sharma Delivers in Crunch Moments Again
Sandeep Sharma justified his captain’s trust, holding his nerve under immense pressure to deliver in the final over and secure Rajasthan Royals’ first win of the season.
This wasn’t the first time Sandeep had silenced MS Dhoni in a tense chase. Two years ago, in IPL 2023, he found himself in an almost identical situation—defending 21 runs against Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja while playing for RR against CSK. Coincidentally, that over also began with two wides, but Sandeep recovered brilliantly to guide the Royals to a narrow three-run victory.