Burger, Archer and Sooryavanshi crush CSK in Guwahati opener

Chennai Super Kings' batting was shambolic. Rajasthan Royals' was prolific. CSK were bowled out for 127 in 19.4 overs. RR needed only 12.1 overs to get to 128. If CSK's effort was a no-show, RR's was a one-man show – Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. A 15-ball fifty – the joint third-fastest in the IPL – shut the game in a flash, making an already below-par total look even more so.

Brief scores: CSK 127 in 19.4 overs [Jamie Overton 43 (36); Jofra Archer 2-19, Ravindra Jadeja 2-18, Nandre Burger 2-26] lost to RR 128/2 in 12.1 overs [Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 52 (17), Yashasvi Jaiswal 38 (36); Anshul Kamboj 2-27] by 8 wickets.

How did the refurbished CSK top order perform?

Sarfaraz Khan walked in as the Impact Player as early as the fourth over, summing up CSK's dismal start. Sanju Samson lasted only until the end of the second over, bowled by Nandre Burger. Ruturaj Gaikwad was cleaned up by Jofra Archer, and Ayush Mhatre was caught behind off Burger, leaving CSK reeling at 19 for 3. Sarfaraz played a few attractive shots, but Matt Short's dismissal in the sixth over reduced CSK to 38 for 4.

What did RR's OG Rockstar do?

Ravindra Jadeja, the former CSK all-rounder, was introduced in the eighth over. He trapped Sarfaraz in front. Shivam Dube struck a six in the same over, but Jadeja lured him into another big shot only for Dube to find long-off.

Kartik Sharma, CSK's INR 14 crore signing, batted with maturity on debut, even striking a six, but lacked support and eventually became the seventh to fall.

Who was CSK's top run-getter?

Jamie Overton. Walking in at No. 8 with CSK tottering at 57 for 6 after eight overs, he found himself in a rescue act. Wickets continued to tumble, but Overton showed composure, batting through most of the remaining overs to drag CSK past 120. He was eventually run out in the final over.

It was all about the fearlessness of Sooryavanshi. Be it slamming Matt Henry over deep midwicket for a six, a slash off the same bowler for another maximum, or treating Anshul Kamboj with disdain, Sooryavanshi once again underlined why he belongs at this level despite turning 15 only three days back. His wagon wheel in this game showcased the positions he got into, to toy with the CSK bowlers.

CSK head to Chennai for their first home game of the season on April 3 against Punjab Kings. Royals will travel to Ahmedabad to face Gujarat Titans on April 4.