In a thrilling encounter at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) secured a historic victory against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by 50 runs, marking their first win at this venue since 2008. With this win, RCB not only celebrated their second victory of the IPL 2025 season but also climbed to the top of the points table, showcasing their intent to challenge for the title this year.
RCB set a formidable target of 197 runs after being put in to bat first. The innings was built around a stellar performance from captain Rajat Patidar, who scored a brisk 51 runs off just 32 balls, including three sixes and four boundaries. His innings was pivotal in helping RCB post a competitive total of 196 for 7 in their allotted 20 overs.
Patidar’s innings was complemented by aggressive starts from Phil Salt and Devdutt Padikkal, who scored 32 off 16 and 27 off 14 respectively. Salt's explosive batting set the tone early, hitting five fours and a six before being stumped by MS Dhoni off the bowling of Noor Ahmad. Padikkal also contributed significantly, but his innings was cut short by Ravichandran Ashwin, who claimed his wicket.
Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, RCB managed to finish strong, thanks to a late flourish from Tim David, who smashed three consecutive sixes in the final over bowled by Sam Curran, propelling RCB to a challenging total. David ended his innings unbeaten on 22 off just 8 balls, showcasing his power-hitting capabilities.
On the bowling front, Noor Ahmad emerged as the standout performer for CSK, claiming three wickets for 36 runs in his four overs, including the crucial wickets of Virat Kohli and Liam Livingstone. Matheesha Pathirana also made an impact, taking two wickets, including that of Patidar in the 19th over.
Chasing a daunting target, CSK’s innings got off to a disastrous start. They lost their first two wickets for just 8 runs, with Josh Hazlewood wreaking havoc by dismissing both Rahul Tripathi and Ruturaj Gaikwad in quick succession. The pressure mounted as CSK struggled to find momentum, and soon they were reeling at 26 for 3 after five overs.
Rachin Ravindra provided some resistance with a fighting 41 runs off 31 balls, but the RCB bowlers maintained tight control throughout the innings. Yash Dayal and Hazlewood were particularly effective, taking two and three wickets respectively, while Liam Livingstone chipped in with two wickets as well.
CSK’s innings ultimately faltered, finishing at 146 for 8, well short of the target. MS Dhoni, who scored a quickfire 30 off 16 balls, tried to ignite a late comeback, but it was too little too late as RCB's bowlers executed their plans flawlessly.
This victory is particularly sweet for RCB, as it ends a long-standing drought at the Chepauk, a venue where they have historically struggled. The last time RCB won at this ground was back in 2008, making this win a significant milestone for the franchise and its fans.
Player of the Match Rajat Patidar expressed his delight post-match, stating, “It was a good total on this surface. The ball was stopping a bit, and it wasn't easy for batters. It's always special playing at Chepauk against Chennai because of the fans. We were targeting around 200 because we knew it wasn't easy to chase.”
With this win, RCB has set a positive tone for the rest of the tournament, demonstrating that they are a force to be reckoned with in IPL 2025. As they look ahead, the challenge will be to maintain this momentum and continue building on their early-season successes.
