11:53pm That will be a wrap from this game, folks. We will be back tomorrow to do it all over again as the Mumbai Indians, the only team yet to win this season, face off against the defending champions, the Kolkata Knight Riders. Do join us for that contest, and until then, from the entire team at ESPNcricinfo, this is goodbye and goodnight!

Nitish Rana, Player of the Match: I was trying to utilize the new ball because the powerplay is important. The ball starts stopping and spinning after it gets old. Wanted to maximize the powerplay and play the field, rather than playing the pitch or the bowler. Whenever fine leg or third was up, I was trying to use the pace. I was trying to hit the ball too hard (in the first two games), and thought that if I tried to place the ball, I would get a better result. (On batting at three) This was from the coaches. I am happy to bat wherever. It was a tactical move because I was trying to hit it too hard batting at four, and Riyan was doing the same at three. Wanted to bat as long as possible and thankfully that clicked tonight. (On if he has made that number three spot his own now) You will have to ask Rahul sir (laughs).

Riyan Parag, Rajasthan Royals captain: (On how he feels after his first win as captain) Took a lot of time, just two games, but felt really long. We still think we were 20 short. We lost a couple of wickets quickly (in the middle overs). But we bowled really well. We have had two tough games, but the chat was to forget those games, come with a fresh mindset and have a good game collectively. (On Archer not bowling out) Just assessing the situation, luckily had seven options. Went with the gut feeling. Fielding always makes up for the runs we were short. We are working a lot with Dishant Yagnik, our fielding coach, and it is paying off.

Ruturaj Gaikwad, CSK captain: In the powerplay, during their batting, Nitish batted well, but we were not proactive. He was going behind square, so we had to be more ahead. It is always about one hit, and we were one hit away from crossing the line. We gave 8-10 runs in misfields, and that is something we are looking to improve but that is something that is costing us. 180 was chaseable. It was still a good wicket. If you timed the ball well, it was a good wicket. I was happy towards the end of the innings, after the score they had in the powerplay, they were looking at 220-230. Over the years, we had Ajinkya batting at 3 and Rayudu taking care of the middle order. We thought it is better I come back one step. Rahul (Tripathi) is known for playing aggressive roles and he can free himself up. Not much difference anyway, so I am getting to bat in the first or second over itself (smiles). Till now, no discussions have happened about me batting at three. It was decided during the auction time and I was convinced about that. I have no problem. I can take risks, rotate strike when needed - that is what you want when you have Shivam. We have not been able to get good starts, once we get that going, we will be a really good batting unit. Long flight, looking forward to it. lots of positives - Noor, as usual, bowling well, Khaleel is bowling well, Jaddu bhai bowled well. You need that sort of momentum in the bowling department, when you get a wicket to build pressure. Not happening since the last game, once fielding comes together, we will be a really good side.

Wanindu Hasaranga: I tried to do my basic things, tried to bowl at the stumps. At the end, I tried to bowl wide. Our batters batted really well, so we saw how the wicket was behaving. (Toughest to bowl to) Gaikwad, I guess. He is a really good player. He batted really well. End of the innings, I got him out. (On their fielding) Riyan Parag, he took a brilliant catch. Even Hettie, he was a gun in the field. I love to watch Telugu, Malayalam and Tamil films, and I got that from the Pushpa film. We have a really good bowling attack, especially in the middle. We have different roles to play, we have really good fast bowlers with the new ball and at the death. They all did a good job today.

11:30pm Phew. What a game. It ebbed and flowed, and it ebbed and flowed right until the end. With 20 needed off the last six, RR had runs on the board, and that proved pivotal, especially once Dhoni departed, getting caught magnificently by Hetmyer on the fence. Jadeja could not turn it on through the rest of the over and even though Overton sparked a flicker of hope with a clean strike, it was not adequate to power CSK past the finish line.

There will, of course, be debate over whether CSK left too many for themselves at the end, with the 16th and 17th overs, in particular, feeling like missed opportunities. Prior to that, Gaikwad had held fort and registered a half-century. Dube, Shankar and Tripathi all got a couple of hits away, but could never really sustain that momentum to mount a threatening partnership.

Which was also down to how well RR bowled. Hasaranga kept coming back after being hit for sixes and ended with four vital wickets. Archer did his bit at the start of the innings, bowling a rapid spell with the new ball and Sandeep closed it out at the death, sticking to his yorker plan and ensuring that CSK did not turn the tables on the Royals.

One legal ball, and RR will be home. And to add to the drama, Overton pulls out of his stance late. So, Sandeep will have to reload

11 off 2 now. Wow, this game has delivered tonight

17 off 3. RR almost there now

18 off 4. All eyes on Jadeja now. He has to find the fence

Overton, on debut, walks in. 19 off 5. No pressure, eh?

And, here we go again. 20 needed off the final over. MSD on strike. Who is the pressure on? Is this still RR's game to lose from here? What do these two veterans have up their sleeve? Who will bowl the over? Sandeep to bowl, and he has done this before, defending the last over against this very pair - back at Chepauk in 2023

26 off 7. Jadeja needs to find the fence now

34 off 10. CSK need a maximum, and they need it right about now

35 off 11 now

39 off 12 now. Advantage RR at this stage. Who will they turn to? Sandeep should bowl one, will Archer bowl the other? Oh wait, RR have opted for Deshpande. Against his former team. Talk about storylines!

Only five off the over so far. This is turning out to be a cracking 18th over

RR squeezing CSK nicely here. 41 off 15 now

The cap comes out for Dhoni, which means RR are going to bowl spin in the 18th. 45 needed off 18. Theekshana, up against his former team, tasked with this over

Pavan : "2 Uncapped players trying to prove their worth!"

Hasaranga seems to have pulled up after fielding that ball and is receiving treatment

Just 7 off this over so far. CSK will probably want another boundary

Dhoni on strike now. He usually likes to take it deep, but CSK might want a few boundaries here to relieve a bit of the pressure. 49 off 22