Tomorrow has the deciding game which will complete the playoffs fixtures. So join us then. For now, that's all. Thank you for tuning in, hope you enjoyed our coverage. Stay safe and take care.

R Ashwin, POTM for his 40(23) and 1 for 28: Feels like a million dollars. It was a special day for us. Finishing with a win and getting two bites of the cherry was important. The communication was clear before the season on what I needed to work on. the management had ensured my role was well defined, I opened practice games. I was told I'll play in the powerplay but not at the death (laughs). In T20, you can't chase wickets. I have to make batters take risks. Sometimes, they don't and I'll have to bowl for the other end. I have understood the game well and am innovative. I don't have enough power, credit has to go to Rajamani (Prabhu, Strength Specialist) and Zubin Bharucha. They've understood my nature and that I don't bat the same every game. They've given me encouragement and I've practiced a lot. I want to play my A-game for all franchises I play for. It's a mark of respect. Glad we're in the playoffs. (On celebrations) I brought the David Warner inside me (laughs).

Sanju Samson, RR Captain: Feels good. The way we've played throughout the league stage stands out. We've had great games where almost everyone has stood up to win games. We deserve to be in this position is what I feel. It was important to understand that the wicket was good and they just kept going. It's hard to stop someone like Moeen Ali. It was okay to go for runs. We knew we could believe in our bowlers to come back stronger, we came back stronger than expected to give just 75 after the powerplay. I wanted to bring McCoy over when the powerplay was done and he was more confident and comfortable. He used his change-ups and is maturing as a cricketer really well. There were nerves with the bat with cricket being a funny game, them having good bowlers, and the pitch being stoppy. Ashwin has done a great job and has turned out to be a great all-rounder for us. He batted a lot in the nets before the season.

11.08 pm Ashwin's knock vaults Rajasthan Royals past Lucknow Super Giants. It means Rajasthan will take on Gujarat Titans in the first playoff match on Tuesday for a straight shot into the IPL Final. Meanwhile, Lucknow awaits their opponent, which will be either Delhi Capitals or Royal Challengers Bangalore. If Delhi beat Mumbai Indians tomorrow, it will be Delhi v Lucknow. If Delhi loses, it will be Lucknow v RCB.

CSK captain MS Dhoni: "What we need to realize is we're playing a batter light. Once we lost those quick wickets, Moeen had to change his momentum. I feel if one of the batters had batted with him, he could have continued his momentum. The role and responsibility got slightly swapped once we lost those wickets and that made it really difficult. So a batter light with the last four, they're not really known for their batting. If we went hard and lost another wicket there, we wouldn't have got anything that we would look to defend. I would say [we were] 10-15 [runs short]. You need to bowl well after that. If their openers get going and if they get too many in the first six, then also 180 is not enough. Depending on whatever the par score is, the start is important, the first six overs specially on wickets that are really nice. So I feel definitely 15 runs short. [Asked about Solanki and Pathirana] Whatever games they have got, they have learned a lot from it. One of the biggest examples is Mukesh. He has played all the games but what is impressive is to see from the first game to the last game how he has improved, how he can bowl at the death. Still what he will do is go back and learn out of the outings he has got. That's what we really want from players. Once they have got that experience, what is important from next year once they turn up from IPL is that they don't start from scratch again. That is what is needed from the youngsters and most of them have made the most of whatever chance they have got. Our Malinga, he's really good. It's difficult to pick him and I feel he will definitely contribute next year for us in a big way. We have done well in patches but what is important to keep doing well as a team. The crucial thing is whenever you get an opportunity, once you are in, you need to make the most of it whether you are a bowler or a batter and keep learning. It's not a one-year tournament. You keep coming back year after year. So once you keep learning and once you mature, that's when you capitalize and be a big IPL player for the next 10-12 years. That's what you need from youngsters."

Rajasthan bowler Obed McCoy: "I think it was a better bowling performance from me. My line and length were better. I bowled less wides and had more control over everything. Malinga helped me in the nets. He was telling me to be consistent. Don't overthink, use your variations and be smart for each ball. The pitch was gripping, but with the newer ball it was sliding on a bit more. For me with the older ball, the lengths were important and the variations as well. [On bowling the cutter] I've had it for as long as I've had the back of the hand. I bowled two back of the hand slower balls and they slipped basically because of the sweat and I said I would bowl the offcutter because it's easier that way to grip. Everyone is happy. We worked hard to get here and it's just us going and winning the next game. [On Ashwin] That was fun to watch, especially his celebration making the 40."

19.5
1w
Pathirana to Parag, 1 wide, wide yorker, too wild and it lands outside the guideline outside off. Victory achieved for Rajasthan who clinch second place!

Ananth: "Ashwin has clearly read cricinfo's article about the number of boundaries being a better predictor for success as compared to singles and dot balls. He's hit so many sixes this season! I'm so glad that RR has consistently sent Ashwin to bat early in many of their innings."

19.4
0
Pathirana to Parag, no run, yorker squirts past off stump at 143 kph past Parag's wild heave.
19.3
1
Pathirana to Ashwin, 1 run, full on sixth stump, Ashwin tries to guide this away through third man again but an inside edge goes to fine leg for one. He jogs to the non-striker's end and pumps his fist in the air with a leap as scores are now level.
19.2
4
Pathirana to Ashwin, FOUR, pure class from Ash! Backs away from leg stump as Pathirana slings this on a good length on sixth stump, Ashwin adjusts to poke this in the air behind point and beats the sweeper. Ashwin thumps his chest afterward like a boss.
19.1
1lb
Pathirana to Parag, 1 leg bye, slings down an attempted yorker that winds up as a full toss on the legs at shin height. The ball goes into cover for a leg bye after a missed flick. Replays show it hit him outside leg stump.

END OF OVER:
19 | 12 Runs | RR: 144/5 (7 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 7.57, RRR: 7.00)

  • Riyan Parag10 (8b)
  • Ravichandran Ashwin35 (21b)
  • Mukesh Choudhary4-0-41-0
  • Matheesha Pathirana3-0-22-0

7 needed off the final over. The ball has been handed to the 19-year-old Sri Lankan Pathirana.

18.6
1
Mukesh Choudhary to Parag, 1 run, short ball on seventh stump, hacks a pull into the ground back toward Choudhary, who leaps up trying to collect it off a bounce but fumbles it to allow a crucial single.

Vishal: "What an allrounder Ashwin is turning out to be for RR. Just brilliant!"

18.5
1
Mukesh Choudhary to Ashwin, 1 run, full and wide on seventh stump, slices a drive to deep third man for one.
18.4
2
Mukesh Choudhary to Ashwin, 2 runs, full on fifth stump, in the slot for Ashwin to drive wide of the cover sweeper for two.

Choudhary switches back over the stumps.

Manish : "Impressed by Ashwin's batting this season. Really looks like he is doing everything possible to be in contention for t20 wc squad. He should be there in my view. "

18.3
6
Mukesh Choudhary to Ashwin, SIX, misfires the yorker getting it full on off at 136 kph, Ashwin winds up with the three wood and drives this powerfully high and deep over wide long-on for a 93-meter blow.

Vidhu : "I still clearly remember the toe-crushing yorker from Bret Lee to U. Chand. Poor soul. Didn't stand a chance. "

18.2
1
Mukesh Choudhary to Parag, 1 run, fullish length on sixth stump, skews a drive aiming for midwicket and it goes high toward the cover sweeper but it lands well in front of him for one.

Around the stumps now.

18.1
1
Mukesh Choudhary to Ashwin, 1 run, length ball on sixth stump, Ashwin shuffles across to get in line for this 133 kph ball and punches to mid-off for one.

Venkatesh Prasa: "For people speaking about chand, it must be noted that he has scored a lot of centuries at the u19 level compared to the other indian youngsters who excelled more than him in the senior stage. The season where he got zeros in the first three IPL matches with mumbai indians started his downfall. He never recovered after that in IPL and domestic cricket."

Choudhary returns for his final over, first since the Powerplay. 19 off 12 to win.

END OF OVER:
18 | 13 Runs | RR: 132/5 (19 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 7.33, RRR: 9.50)

  • Ravichandran Ashwin25 (17b)
  • Riyan Parag8 (6b)
  • Matheesha Pathirana3-0-22-0
  • Prashant Solanki2-0-20-2

Hemendra: "I think Chand was neither over rated nor unfortunate. Based on his U-19 performance and talent, he got enough chances in senior Cricket. But he could not convert it into performance for Delhi, hope he can do it in and for the USA. "

17.6
1lb
Pathirana to Ashwin, 1 leg bye, yorker zings Ashwin well outside leg stump and caroms to point for a leg bye. Dhoni goes for DRS immediately. This one doesn't have a prayer of being overturned. The ball pitched outside leg, hit Ashwin outside leg, was missing leg... Other than that, it had plenty going for it! Review lost.
17.5
4
Pathirana to Ashwin, FOUR, short ball picked easily by Ashwin on sixth stump and he brings out the uppercut to lift this easily over short third man. Poor ball but a smart shot.

Ani: "On the topic of Chand, can't help but feel that he wouldn't been more successful even if he been more consistent in domestic cricket. Sheldon Jackson, Jalaj saxena and co have had to toil for years without much reward when we had younger players like pant, Iyer and co fast-tracked. Tough selection on consistent demoestic players, can't help but feel it came down to IPL performances."

17.4
1
Pathirana to Parag, 1 run, fullish length on sixth stump, punched to mid-off for one.
17.3
0
Pathirana to Parag, no run, wide yorker at 142 kph lands just inside the guideline and Parag can't get bat on this.
17.2
4
Pathirana to Parag, FOUR, slower length ball lands short on fourth stump and sits up for Parag to whip over midwicket. Boundary rider is closer to cow corner and can't cut this off running to his right.

sanje: "Unmukt has actually just moved into my neighbourhood. I am still gathering the courage to speak to him though!" He's a nice guy from my interactions with him. I'm sure he'd be happy to chat.

17.1
2
Pathirana to Parag, 2 runs, fullish length on the stumps, chipped wide of long-on for two.
17.1
1w
Pathirana to Parag, 1 wide, wide slinged down the leg side at 127 kph.

Pathirana returns.

END OF OVER:
17 | 11 Runs 1 Wkt | RR: 119/5 (32 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 7.00, RRR: 10.66)

  • Ravichandran Ashwin21 (15b)
  • Riyan Parag1 (2b)
  • Prashant Solanki2-0-20-2
  • Moeen Ali4-0-21-1
16.6
6
Solanki to Ashwin, SIX, Ashwin repeats the slog sweep this time, but gets in line much better to this ball floated on the wide guideline having shuffled way outside off stump to line it up much better and slaughters it flat over the wide midwicket rope.

Viswa: "I think Unmukt is overrated player. He scored a century in the finals and won the world cup. Agreed. But it was Baba Aparajith who played consistently and scored crucial runs in both Quarter finals and Semi Finals but never even got the limelight that Chand got." Well, Chand was the captain after all.

16.5
0
Solanki to Ashwin, no run, flighted full on seventh stump, goes to sweep and misses.
16.4
1
Solanki to Parag, 1 run, full on fifth stump, driven to long-on for one.

Sarmaji: "To continue with the discussion on Unmukt Chand, he had an unwarranted burden of trying to emulate fellow Delhi lad Kohli in both international cricket and IPL. Unfortunately his fall coincided with the rise and rise of King Kohli"

16.3
0
Solanki to Parag, no run, full on fifth stump, driven firmly but straight back to Solanki.

RR 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st16JC ButtlerYBK Jaiswal
2nd51SV SamsonYBK Jaiswal
3rd9D PadikkalYBK Jaiswal
4th28R AshwinYBK Jaiswal
5th8R AshwinSO Hetmyer
6th39R AshwinR Parag

Indian Premier League

TeamMWLPTNRR
GT14104200.316
RR1495180.298
LSG1495180.251
RCB148616-0.253
DC1477140.204
PBKS1477140.126
KKR1468120.146
SRH146812-0.379
CSK144108-0.203
MI144108-0.506