The Indian Premier League 2025 has seen a recurring theme of teams setting the tone with the new ball, and the 11th match was no different. Rajasthan Royals' clever use of short-balls exposed Chennai Super Kings' vulnerabilities, restricting them to 16/1 in the first four overs. This strategy has been a hallmark of the IPL, with winning teams scoring at a rate of 11.16 per over in the powerplay, losing 10 wickets at an average of 73.7.

At the heart of CSK's inefficiency has been their struggles against short-balls. Since the start of IPL 2023, the current CSK batters have had poor numbers against short-balls in the first six overs, with a strike rate of mere 121.90. This is comfortably the lowest among all IPL 2025 squads, and well below the combined strike-rate of 145.74 in the timeframe. Key statistics include: * CSK batters vs short-balls in Overs 1-6 in the IPL since 2023: + Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway have been exceptions, but their recent separation has affected the team's performance + The team's overall strike rate against short-balls in the powerplay is the lowest among all IPL 2025 squads * Batting vs short-balls in Overs 1-6 in T20s since 2023 (grouped by IPL 2025 squads): + Data shows that CSK batters have struggled against short-balls, with a significant difference in strike rates compared to other teams

The new-ball burst wasn't the only clever tactic employed by RR on Sunday. Despite Jofra Archer being economical in his three overs, Riyan Parag opted for Maheesh Theekshana in the 18th over, who responded by conceding just six runs. This move was significant, as the two batters at the crease have been striking at less than run-a-ball against spin since 2020. The use of short-balls and clever bowling changes have been key to RR's success, and they will look to continue this strategy in their upcoming matches.