Steve Smith departs for 69

OUT! Steve Smith hits it straight down to the deep mid-wicket fielder. Amid all the drama at the other end, Smith has been dismissed by Sam Curran, who now has three. CSK have a made fantastic comeback into the match.

Drama, Curran called back after being given out

What’s happening there? Tom Curran wanted to take a review but RR don’t have one. The umpires consult but decide to give Tom Curran out. The replays clearly show that the ball hit his thigh pad and probably it didn’t even carry to Dhoni. Now the umpires have asked Curran to wait.

The third umpire has been referred and he has adjudged it not out. So Tum Curran comes back into crease. We saw Dhoni having a long chat with the umpires there. We don’t know whether he actually called Curran back or the opposite.

Curran gets another, RR lose their 6th

Edged and taken! A soft dismissal there. All of a sudden CSK have come back strongly with three quick wickets. It was a wide delivery from Curran, Riyan Parag wanted to guide it down but ended up getting an outside edge to Dhoni, who takes good low catch.

Curran gets Tewatia

Sam Curran gets his man. A rash shot from Rahul Tewatia. He has gone for the review after some consultation with Smith and it’s not the most smart one, three reds. It was a full delivery, hit Tewatia on the front leg and the umpire had no hesitation tin raising his finger.

Steve Smith plays a remarkable shot

FOUR! What a shot that was. Just astonishing how got into position and almost manufactured that shot out of nowhere. It was a wide a delivery by Ngidi but Smith paddles it over fine leg for a boundary.

Chawla gets his first breakthrough

OUT! Piyush Chawla needed that wicket for his own sake. He had battered to all parts of the ground today but now the experienced leggie gets the wicket of Robin Uthappa. Good captaincy by Dhoni too for backing him to bowl another over.

2nd Strategic timeout

14 overs have been bowled, the umpires have signalled for the second stragetic time out. CSK are in a far better position from what they were in the first time out. But RR still well on course to post a target in excess of 200.

Drop and six

Oh dear? Sam Curran palms it over the ropes. It was at a comfortable height to be honest, Curran would be very disappointed. What’s worse? It was Steve Smith and it has gone for a six. Don’t look at Jadeja now. It’s not the CSK spinners’ night.

Steve Smith gets to his fifty for David Miller is run out

IPL never ceases to amaze you. Steve Smith got to his fifty but when he tried to go for the second run David Miller was found short of his crease. Is this going to be a turning point? Two quick wickets for CSK now.

Sanju Samson falls for 74

OUT! What a big wicket for CSK. It’s that man Lungi Ngidi, who had picked a couple of wickets in his spell even the other night against MI. Samson for once fails to make good connection and gets hold out in the deep cover. But what an innings from Samson, he departs for 74 off 32 with NINE SIXES in it.

Bowling change from Dhoni

A bowling change by CSK. Dhoni has brought Lungi Ngidi into the attack. This is now desperate stuff from CSK. They badly need a wicket.

Half-way through, RR firmly on top

10 overs bowled. RR have already reached 120 for 1 with Samson and Steve Smith in a six-hitting competition. How much will RR get? Well if Samson bats for another 4-5 overs then we won’t be surprised if they cross 230.

Count the sixes – No. 8 for Samson

SIX again, oh we’ve lost count now, or have we? It’s six no. 8 for Sanju Samson and he has hit four of those against Piyush Chawla. We are in for something special tonight.

Big appeal but no DRS by Dhoni

That was mighty close. Jadeja was almost pleading for the umpire to raise his finger. It was a sider from Jadeja and Smith for once, played all around it. Should they have gone for the review?

Oh you wouldn’t wanna hear this if you are a CSK fan, the replays show three reds – a rare mistake from Dhoni.

28 runs from Piyush Chawla’s over

FOUR SIXES – 28 runs from Piyush Chawla’s over. The last one came from Steve Smith’s bat off a free hit. Let that sync in. What hitting by Samson and Smith.

Consecutive sixes again from Sanju Samson’s bat

SIX SIX! There is no stopping Sanju Samson. After hitting a couple of sixes off Jadeja, he now gives the same treatment to Chawla. He has already hit six sixes in the match.

Spin from both ends

Veteran leg-spinner Piyush Chawla has been introduced into the attack by MS Dhoni. It will be spin from both ends now.

Back-to-back sixes by Samson

SIX! SIX! Sanju Samson is in an overdrive and we all know what happens when he goes into that mode. Ravindra Jadeja bearing brunt in his first over. This partnership is now really hurting CSK.

End of powerplay, RR on top

Another 14-run over to end the powerplay. The last three overs have made sure, RR are on top at the end of the powerplay SOme breathtaking shots from Sanju Samson and Steve Smith.

Sanju Samson hits another six

SIX! That’s a fantastic shot from Sanju Samson. A shortish delivery from Chahar, no venom on it. Samson stands there, just transfer his weight onthe backfoot and uses those lovely wrists of his to flick it for his second six.

End of 5 overs

A very productive over for RR. 14 runs from it. Sanju Samson and Steve Smith have just started to step the foot on the accelerator.

Sanju Samson gets going

FOUR! SIX! Sanju Samson gets going. A streaky four through the vacant slip cordon followed by a delightful pull shot which sails over the ropes for the second six of the match.

End of 4 overs

9 runs from the Lungi Ngidi first over – the best one of the RR innings so far. It has been a tidy start by CSK seamers. But the good thing for RR is that Steve Smith has got his eyes in.

Steve Smith hits first six of RR vs CSK match

SIX! Lungi Ngidi has been greeted with a fantastic pick-up shot from Steve Smith. Some timing there from RR captain. A loosener from Ngidi, on the pads and it’s no entry zone to Smith. He flicks it using his wrists and the ball flies over the ropes.

RR lose 1st wicket, Chahar gets Jaiswal

OUT! Yashasvi Jaiswal’s IPL debut is not a dream one. He wanted to play the pull shot again but this time it was a bit wider and gets the top edge and Chahar runs to hold on to a good caught and bowled.

Yashasvi Jaiswal hits first four of RR innings

FOUR! Yashasvi Jaiswal hits the first boundary of the match. It was a short one from Chahar, Jaiswal got into position quickly and pulled it away to collect his first boundary.

Very good over Sam Curran

Top stuff from Sam Curran. There wasn’t much swing on offer. He realised that quickly and satrted to use the left-armer’s angle, which didn’t allow Steve Smith to play on the on-side. Only 3 runs from the over. Tidy start for CSK.

Sam Curran from the other end

It will be England’s left-arm seamer Sam Curran to share the new-ball with Chahar. So two out-and-out swing bowlers to make use of the new ball for CSK.

End of the 1st over

A rather eventless first over from Deepak Chahar comes to an end. Both the RR openers are off the mark. They are 4/0 after the first over.

Yashasvi Jasiwal and RR off the mark

A nice tap down the third man for a single and young Yashasvi Jasiwal is off the mark, nothing matches this feeling when you are playing a big tournament like the IPL.

Yashasvi Jaiswal to face the first ball

18-year-old Yashavi Jaiswal has marked his guard. He will face the first ball of the CSK vs RR match, which will be bowled by CSK right-arm seamer Deepak Chahar.

Steve Smith to open for RR

Alright, we see Steve Smith all padded up and coming out with Yashasvi Jaiswal. So looks like he will open the batting for RR and not Robin Uthappa.

CSK vs RR – Stat attack

5 : times R Jadeja has dismissed S Smith in IPL, most by a bowler to dismiss Smith.

11.28: Sanju Samson average vs CSK in IPL, strikes at 100.00 and his best score is 26 vs CSK.

150: T20 game for Sanju Samson, if he takes the field vs CSK

5: MS Dhoni is 5 sixes away from completing 300 sixes in T20 cricket. He can become the 3rd Indian to hit these many sixes in T20s after Rohit Sharma (361) and Suresh Raina (311).

3: Deepak Chahar is 3 wickets away from completing 100 wickets in T20s.

33.33%: RR’s win rate vs CSK and is the worst among all the current teams in IPL.

100: runs David Miller needs to complete 7000 T20 runs.

Yashasvi Jaiswal makes his IPL debut

What a moment for young Yashasvi Jaiswal. He is set to open the batting for RR on his IPL debut. If he needed any motivation before the start, he perhaps got that from MS Dhoni, who was seen sharing a laugh with the youngster right after the toss.

Ravindra Jadeja can be the key for CSK

Ravindra Jadeja has picked up 16 wickets vs RR in 14 innings and has a bowling average of 19.00 with a strike rate of 15.8 which is the best for him among all the active teams. 16 wickets by Jadeja is the 3rd most by a bowler vs RR in IPL. Jadeja has taken two four-fer vs RR, one of them has come in UAE in 2014.

RR playing XI against CSK

Rajasthan Royals (Playing XI): Yashasvi Jaiswal, Robin Uthappa, Sanju Samson(w), Steven Smith(c), David Miller, Riyan Parag, Shreyas Gopal, Tom Curran, Rahul Tewatia, Jofra Archer, Jaydev Unadkat

CSK playing XI against RR

Chennai Super Kings (Playing XI): Murali Vijay, Shane Watson, Faf du Plessis, Ruturaj Gaikwad, MS Dhoni(w/c), Kedar Jadhav, Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, Deepak Chahar, Piyush Chawla, Lungi Ngidi

MS Dhoni and Steve Smith speak

Steve Smith: I have been involved with the Royals since 2014, it has been a while apart from a couple of years. I have heard about him in the last few weeks.

MS Dhoni: Dew is a factor. I feel this is venue where the pitch will be different from the other two venues. I don’t know how hard the surface will be.

RR’s four overseas player

Captain Steve Smith, England’s Tom Curran and Jofra Archer and South Africa’s David Miller are the four overseas players for Rajasthan Royals.

No Ambati Rayudu for CSK

BREAKING NEWS – CSK’s top run-scorer in the last game against MI, misses out as he is not a 100% fit. Ruturaj Gaikwad makes his IPL debut.

CSK vs RR – toss update

Chennai Super Kings won the toss and opted to bowl first against Rajasthan Royals in the match no.5 of IPL 2020 in Sharjah

CSK vs RR live score

5 minutes to go for the toss. We see the captains – MS Dhoni of CSK and Steve Smith of RR – making their way out into the centre. Are you ready?

Wath out for Yashasvi Jaiswal, says Sunil Gavaskar

India U-19 star Yashasvi Jaiwasl is set to make his IPL debut for Rajasthan Royals and he has received some encouraging words from Sunil Gavaskar, who said he is looking forward to watch the youngster go.

CSK vs RR, IPL 2020 – pitch report

A lot less grass on the pitch than the previous three matches, might see the ball turn more, the captain winning the toss should look to bat first, says former England batsman Kevin Pietersen.

RR vs CSK live updates – players to watch out for

Rajasthan Royals – Yashasvi Jaiswal, Steve Smith, Jofra Archer, Sanju Samson, Jaydev Unadkat

Chennai Super Kings – Shane Watson, Sam Curran, MS Dhoni, Ambati Rayudu, Deepak Chahar.

Firs sight of MS Dhoni

Live pictures showing MS Dhoni practising leg-spin. This seems to be the CSK captain’s latest fixation. He was seen bowling wrist spin even ahead of the MI match. Does he want to give a tough competition to Piyush Chawla? Not really but Dhoni always keeps everyone guessing.

RR predicted XI vs CSK

Are you playing fantasy leagues? This might help, here’s our RR predicted XI for the CSK match Yashasvi Jaiswal, Robin Uthappa, Sanju Samson (WK), Steve Smith, David Miller, Tom Curran, Riyan Parag, Shreyas Gopal, Jofra Archer, Kartik Tyagi, Jaydev Unadkat.

CSK predicted XI against RR

For all the fantasy buffs, here’s our predicted XI for CSK against RR – Murali Vijay, Shane Watson, Faf du Plessis, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni, Kedar Jadhav, Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, Deepak Chahar, Piyush Chawla, Lungi Ngidi

CSK vs RR head-to-head

CSK have an overwhelming record against Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. In the 21 encounters they have won 14 while Rajasthan have emerged on top on 7 occasions.

Sharjah makes debut in IPL 2020

The very mention of Sharjah transfers Indian fans into the 80s and 90s. The stadium is more or less the same but the pitch has changed to a certain extent over the years. Here are the venue insights of Sharjah when IPL was last played here in 2014.

Highest Team Total:193/3 By Kings XI Punjab Against Rajasthan Royals In 2014.

Lowest Team Total: 121/10 By Sunrisers Hyderabad Against Kings XI Punjab in

Highest Individual Score: 95 By Glenn Maxwell (Kings XI Punjab) Against Sunrisers Hyderabad

Best Bowling Figures: 4/13 By Lakshmipathy Balaji (Kings XI Punjab) Against Sunrisers Hyderabad

Highest Partnership: 116 By Cheteshwar Pujara And Glenn Maxwell (Kings XI Punjab) For 3rd Wicket Against Rajasthan Royals

Win Rate Batting First: 33.33% (2 Won; 4 Lost)

Ruturaj Gaikwad available for selection

CSK youngster Ruturaj Gaikwad has tested negative and is available for selection in the RR match today. Will he get a game? Looks unlikely but you never know.

CSK look menacing as ever

What’s with CSK? Year after year, they turn up as if nothing has changed, except obviously the hairstyle and beard and of MS Dhoni. There was no Suresh Raina, no Harbhajan Singh, they had to take on IPL’s most successful team MI in the first match but who cares? They went there and displayed a near-perfect performance to the tournament on the right-track.

Why are Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes not playing?

Jos Buttler is with the RR squad but he has to go through a mandatory quarantine of six days unlike the other England and Australia cricketers before being available for selection as he has come with his family. Buttler was obviously coming from a bio-secure environment but his family is not.

As far as Ben Stokes is concerned, the England all-rounder is still with his family back in New Zealand to support his ailing father. There is no official word on his arrival date but Royals are hopeful of getting him in the squad after the first couple of weeks.

IPL 2020, RR vs CSK – who’s the favourite?

Aritra – I’m a huge fan of backing the underdogs, so my heart will be with Rajasthan Royals. I would’ve said my mind is with the Royals too had Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes been available for selection but considering they are not, the odds are heavily stacked against RR. They would need someone to play a blinder. May be that man could be Steve Smith? What say Karan?

Karan – Chennai Super Kings will win this one. Period. Royals don’t have Jos Buttler. No Ajinkya Rahane. No Ben Stokes. Jofra Archer is not looking his best and seems disinterested. Royals built a good team but things have not worked out for them. Easy task for CSK to go up here and get their second win of the season.

RR vs CSK – what’s in store?

It’s kinda hard to pick favourites in an IPL match but when CSK are playing, it’s safe to lean towards their side under any given circumstances. Steve Smith’s Royals might have a few things to say about that for sure and why shouldn’t they? It’s a fresh season, they would like to believe they can topple Dhoni’s ‘Dad’s Army’.

IPL 2020, match no.5: RR vs CSK

Hello and welcome to the fifth match of IPL 2020 between Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals in Sharjah. I’m Aritra Mukherjee and with me is Karan Prashant Saxena. We will bring you all the updates of this cracker of a match. So stay tuned.