Chennai Super Kings solidified their position in the race for the IPL playoffs with a crucial win over Rajasthan Royals on Sunday.

Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad's unbeaten 42 guided Chennai to chase down Rajasthan's total of 141-5 with five wickets and 10 balls to spare at their last home game at MA Chidambaram Stadium. Gaikwad's composed innings proved pivotal as Chennai secured their seventh win of the season, moving to third place on the points table with 14 points from 13 matches.

The victory puts Chennai in contention for a playoff spot alongside Kolkata Knight Riders, who currently lead the 10-team table and have already secured their place in the playoffs. With the top four teams advancing to the playoffs, Chennai's focus remains on controlling what they can and continuing their winning momentum in the upcoming matches.

Despite facing a few setbacks during the chase, including the dismissal of Ravindra Jadeja for "obstructing the field," Gaikwad remained composed and steered Chennai towards victory. His partnership with impact substitute Sameer Rizvi sealed the win for Chennai, with Gaikwad showcasing his batting prowess throughout the season, accumulating 583 runs including one century and four half-centuries.

On the bowling front, disciplined performances from Simarjeet Singh and Tushar Deshpande restricted Rajasthan to a below-par total on a slow pitch.

Singh's impressive figures of 3-26 and Deshpande's two wickets played a crucial role in limiting Rajasthan's scoring opportunities, with Riyan Parag being the top scorer for Rajasthan with an unbeaten 47. Despite contributions from Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler, Rajasthan struggled to build substantial partnerships, ultimately falling short in their innings.