Rajasthan Royals got off to a breathtaking start at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati on Sunday as a swashbuckling 21-ball half-century from Nitish Rana took their score to 79/1 at the end of the powerplay. The veteran was at his big hitting best on the day, striking a stunning seven boundaries and four maximums within the first six overs of the agame. While most of Rajasthan’s scoirng shots were middle-of-the-bat out-of-the-ground stuff, there were a couple of streaky efforts in between too, as well as a hilarious bit of misfielding from Matheesha Pathirana on the final ball of the third over that netted Rana four runs.
Samson had managed to firmly glance a back of a length Khaleel Ahmed delivery drifting onto his hips and the ball raced towards the gap at backward midwicket. Pathirana came steaming in from square-leg hoping to save his team runs and in desperation put in a full-blooded sliding tackle Sergio Ramos would have been proud of, but the Kookaburra merely deflected his legs and kept trickling towards the boundary. That was all the invitation Pathirana needed to pull out the fancy moves as he used his hand as an anchor to pop himself off the ground and execute an amusing rotatory kick, albeit to no avail as the umpires signalled four all the same.
Twitter was thoroughly entertained and asked for more of the same from the Lankan quick, even if at the cost of some runs for CSK.
Break dance time
Not satisfied
Being a #CSK fan over the years i was never satisfied with the bowling option they have yet they have 5 titles
This year as well except Pathirana no good overseas fast bowler— chanchal ghosh (@chancha93215472) March 30, 2025
Seems CSK saving Pathirana for last overs, a poor decision by team. You need wickets early #RRvsCSK #RRvCSK #CSKvRR #CSKvRR
— Raja (@_raja_kumar) March 30, 2025
Enjoying
What is Anshul Kamboj doing on the bench?
Devon Conway should be our 2nd Overseas after Pathirana, Then play Noor and Rachin.— Najaf Emam (@Najaf_Imam) March 30, 2025
Mug
CSK a team with Mug fielders🤮🤮
Pathirana, khaleel, Ash, Tripathi 🙏🙏— Wils@7 (@Thoughts7Sk) March 30, 2025
As soon as the ball goes towards Pathirana, CSK players should give up hope of fielding#CSKvsRR
— Kheraj Bairad (@kherajbairad) March 30, 2025
Yup
Pathirana should start bowling in the Powerplay. Sam Curran & Overton type dibbly-dobblers shouldn’t be bowling with the new ball #RRvsCSK
— Sherlock (@Zallion) March 30, 2025
Bad attitude
Matheehsa Pathirana has such a bad attitude man … #RRvsCSK
— Shaurya deep (@Shaurya74901512) March 30, 2025
We are Definitely missing a Fast bowler to pair with khaleel in pp and Pathirana in Death over
— Heart Smuggler ❤️🔥 (@im_not_done_07) March 30, 2025
Looks like that
Ball chasing Pathirana today 😭😭
— Second Slip (@santhosh_prn) March 30, 2025
