Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) registered a landmark victory over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Friday, ending a 17-year wait to triumph at Chepauk. Led by Rajat Patidar, RCB delivered a dominant performance, securing a 50-run victory in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 fixture.
On a humid evening in Chennai, RCB posted a competitive 196 for 7 before restricting the hosts to 146 for 8 in 20 overs.
The visitors’ bowling unit dictated terms, dismantling CSK’s batting line-up early and maintaining control throughout the innings.
Josh Hazlewood spearheaded RCB’s bowling attack with an impressive 3 for 21 in his four overs. He was well-supported by debutant Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1 for 20), Yash Dayal (2 for 18), and Liam Livingstone (2 for 28), ensuring that CSK never recovered from their initial setbacks.
The hosts struggled to build momentum after a shaky start. Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rahul Tripathi, and Deepak Hooda all perished within the first five overs, leaving CSK floundering.
CSK made some puzzling decisions during their chase. Sam Curran was promoted ahead of Shivam Dube, despite the latter’s reputation as a specialist against spin.
Curran laboured to 8 off 13 balls before departing, adding to CSK’s woes.
The early setbacks—29 balls soaked up by the top order in the first nine overs—left the hosts struggling to keep up with the required rate.
Another baffling call saw Ravichandran Ashwin sent ahead of MS Dhoni at a crucial juncture. When Dhoni eventually arrived at No. 9, the game had already slipped out of CSK’s grasp.
Though he struck an unbeaten 30 off 16 balls, including a late flourish against Krunal Pandya, it had no bearing on the outcome.
RCB’s innings was marked by flashes of brilliance and inconsistency.
Opener Phil Salt rode his luck early on before finding rhythm, scoring a brisk 32 off 16 deliveries before being stumped by Dhoni.
Virat Kohli, despite recent improvements against spin, struggled for fluency during his 30-ball stay. Frustrated by his timing, Kohli eventually fell in the 13th over while attempting to accelerate against Noor Ahmad.
Devdutt Padikkal provided much-needed impetus with a quickfire 27 off 14 before being dismissed by Ashwin.
Thereafter, captain Rajat Patidar anchored the innings, registering the only half-century of the match (51 off 32). CSK paid dearly for their lapses in the field, dropping Patidar thrice.
Tim David provided the finishing touches, smashing an unbeaten 22 off 8 balls to lift RCB to 196 for 7, a total deemed slightly above par on the slow Chepauk track.
With this emphatic win, RCB not only ended their 17-year drought at Chepauk but also made a strong statement early in the tournament.
Meanwhile, CSK will have much to ponder, particularly their tactical errors and fielding lapses, as they seek to bounce back from a humbling defeat.
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