In a historic clash at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) broke a long-standing jinx by defeating the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by 50 runs on March 28, 2025. This victory marked RCB's first win at Chepauk since 2008, a feat that sent their fans into raptures while leaving the home crowd in stunned silence.
RCB set a formidable target of 197 runs, thanks to solid contributions from Rajat Patidar, who scored a crucial 51 off 32 balls, and Phil Salt, who added 32 off just 16 deliveries. The team's innings was bolstered by a late onslaught from Tim David, who smashed 22 runs off just 8 balls, including three consecutive sixes in the final over, helping RCB post a total of 196/7.
In response, CSK's chase faltered spectacularly as they stumbled to 146/8 in their allotted 20 overs. The early breakthroughs by RCB's bowlers, particularly Josh Hazlewood, who claimed two wickets including that of CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad for a shocking duck, set the tone for the match. Hazlewood's figures of 2/19 in four overs were instrumental in dismantling CSK's batting lineup.
CSK's struggles were compounded by the lack of contributions from their top order. Rahul Tripathi and Deepak Hooda, both of whom had been underwhelming in previous matches, failed to deliver once again. Tripathi managed only 5 runs off 3 balls before being dismissed by Hazlewood, while Hooda could only muster 4 runs off 9 balls before falling to Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the fifth over. By the end of the powerplay, CSK found themselves in dire straits at 30/3, their lowest score in the powerplay this season.
Despite the early setbacks, Rachin Ravindra provided a glimmer of hope for CSK with a fighting knock of 41 runs off 31 balls. However, his dismissal by Yash Dayal in the 13th over effectively ended any hopes of a CSK revival. As the required run rate escalated, MS Dhoni's entrance to the crease brought cheers from the crowd, yet even the legendary finisher could not work his magic this time around.
RCB's bowlers executed their plans with precision, as the likes of Liam Livingstone and Noor Ahmad chipped in with crucial wickets. Ahmad was particularly impressive, finishing with 3 wickets for 29 runs in his four overs, proving to be CSK's nemesis throughout the innings.
As the match progressed, the atmosphere at Chepauk shifted from anticipation to despair for the home fans. The combination of RCB's disciplined bowling and CSK's batting collapse meant that the defending champions could never find their footing. The final score of 146/8 illustrated the stark contrast in performance between the two teams, with RCB celebrating a momentous victory while CSK faced the reality of their shortcomings.
This match not only highlighted RCB's resurgence at Chepauk but also raised questions about CSK's batting order and their ability to perform under pressure. With the IPL season still young, both teams will be looking to reassess their strategies as they move forward.
In conclusion, RCB's emphatic win at Chepauk serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of cricket, where fortunes can shift dramatically in a matter of overs. As the fans continue to celebrate this historic victory, the pressure mounts on CSK to regroup and bounce back in their upcoming fixtures.
