In a historic match at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) broke a 17-year winless streak against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), securing a commanding 50-run victory. This triumph, which took place on March 28, 2025, marked RCB's first win at Chepauk since the inception of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008, sending shockwaves through the tournament and reshaping the points table.
RCB batted first after CSK won the toss, posting an impressive total of 196 runs for the loss of seven wickets. Skipper Rajat Patidar led from the front, scoring a crucial 51 runs off 32 balls, supported by timely contributions from Phil Salt (32 off 16), Devdutt Padikkal (27 off 14), and Virat Kohli (31 off 30). The innings was given a late boost by Tim David, who smashed 22 runs off just 8 balls, helping RCB recover from a mid-innings slump.
In response, CSK's batting lineup faltered dramatically, collapsing to 146 runs for 8 wickets in their 20 overs. The home side's woes began early as they lost three wickets within the first two overs, including their captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, who was dismissed for a duck by Josh Hazlewood. Hazlewood was the standout performer for RCB, claiming three wickets for just 21 runs in his four overs, while Yash Dayal and Liam Livingstone added to CSK's troubles with two wickets each.
CSK's innings never gained momentum, with only Rachin Ravindra showing resistance with a score of 41 runs off 31 balls. The middle order crumbled under pressure, and despite a late flurry from MS Dhoni, who scored 30 not out off 16 balls, CSK fell well short of the target. This loss saw CSK slip from fourth to seventh place in the points table, while RCB solidified their position at the top with a net run rate of +2.266.
Speaking after the match, Virat Kohli expressed his delight, stating, "It feels great to finally win here after so many years. The team showed great character, and I’m proud of how we executed our game plan." The victory not only boosts RCB's confidence but also raises questions about CSK's strategy, particularly regarding Dhoni's batting position, as he came in at number nine.
As the tournament progresses, RCB remains the only unbeaten team, with four points from two matches. They will next face the Gujarat Titans on April 2, 2025, while CSK will look to bounce back against the Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati on March 30, 2025.
For RCB, this match signifies a turning point, breaking a long-standing psychological barrier at Chepauk and setting the tone for their IPL 2025 campaign. With the points table now reflecting their dominance, fans are hopeful for a thrilling season ahead.
