In a most awaited IPL 2025 encounter, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) [defeated Chennai super kings (CSK)] by 50 runs at Chepauk. RCB scored 196/7 in their batting innings, courtesy Rajat Patidar’s 51 and a brisk 32 from Phil Salt, even as the RCB bowlers crumbled CSK’s chase to just 146/8.
RCB’s batting brilliance on a difficult pitch
Even with the highlight on CSK’s spin attack, RCB batters counter-attacked aggressively to conditions. RCB also got off to an explosive start as Phil Salt clattered 32 off 16 balls including a six off Ravichandran Ashwin’s first ball. But he was stumped off Noor Ahmad by the ever-indecisive MS Dhoni, who continued his excellent IPL form.
RCB’s Devdutt Padikkal (27 off 14) took on Ravindra Jadeja, taking him on for a sweep and one for a charge down the wicket in an unusual glimpse of dominance against the left-arm spinner. This is when Rajat Patidar took over, capitalising on a dropped catch at 17 and hammering the CSK bowlers to the tune of a 51-run knock at a strike rate of 161.29 off 32 balls.
Virat Kohli struggled to go big but attacked the Sri Lankan Matheesha Pathirana taking 16 runs off his second over. CSK bounced back, however, with wickets at regular intervals in the middle overs to put RCB on the back foot, leaving them at 145/4 in 16 overs.
Strong Finish from RCB
Even as wickets continued to fall, Jitesh Sharma and Patidar helped RCB keep the run rate going. Jitesh had played the shot of the match — an inside-out six over extra cover off Noor Ahmad. Patidar showed his class with an excellent pick-up shot off a Pathirana slower delivery.
It was after that, when Tim David took off, hitting three sixes in the final over, bowled by Sam Curran, who continues to struggle, conceding 47 runs in his second match. RCB ended up with a score of 196/7 which was enough to put them in a good position.
Hazlewood And Bhuvneshwar Undone CSK’s Top Order
The RCB bowlers, spearheaded by Josh Hazlewood (3/21) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2/18), made life hard for the CSK batters. Their exacting lengths suited the conditions beautifully — Hazlewood concentrating on extra bounce, and Bhuvneshwar seam movement and swing to expand the top order’s discomfort.
Hazlewood’s first over proved pivotal as he took wickets of Rahul Tripathi and Ruturaj Gaikwad with steep-bouncing deliveries. Bhuvneshwar, meanwhile, brought up his 73rd powerplay victim of his career by sending back Deepak Hooda early.
CSK’s Struggle in the Chase
CSK’s chase never took off after three early wickets fell. Rachin Ravindra (41) and Shivam Dube tried to rebuild the innings, but RCB’s bowlers did not let things go out of hand. The required run rate kept rising, and CSK now appeared to be in a bit of a pickle.
MS Dhoni walked in at No. 9 with 4.4 overs to go, entering the much-anticipated phase of his batting far too late. His 30 off 18 balls* was not enough either, though he did entertain with a few late boundaries, and saturday’s defeat was CSK’s largest ever at home.
RCB’s First Victory in Chennai in 15 Years
With this 50-run win, RCB also ended a long wait for a win in Chennai, their first at the venue since 2008. Their ability to excel across batting, bowling, and fielding highlighted their determination to rock IPL 2025.
The CSK-RCB match scorecard reads as testament to the clinical execution of RCB, leaving CSK much to think about going ahead in the tournament.
