Historic Triumph at Chepauk: RCB Ends 17-Year Jinx with Commanding Win Over CSK

RCB Ends 17-Year Jinx: The MA Chidambaram Stadium, a fortress for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), witnessed a seismic shift in IPL history on March 28, 2025, as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) clinched a decisive 50-run victory. This marked RCB’s first win at Chepauk since 2008, breaking a 17-year drought and rewriting the narrative of their rivalry with CSK.

Match Overview: Toss, Pitch, and Strategy

Table of Contents

CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad elected to bowl first, banking on Chepauk’s spin-friendly reputation and their historical dominance at home. However, the pitch defied expectations, offering minimal turn early on, which RCB exploited ruthlessly. Despite CSK’s spin trio—Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Noor Ahmad—entering the game with confidence after restricting Mumbai Indians in their opener, RCB’s batters adapted brilliantly.

RCB’s Batting Masterclass

Aggressive Start by Salt and Kohli
RCB’s innings roared to life with Phil Salt’s blistering 32 off 16 balls, including five boundaries and a six. His explosive start against Ashwin, whom he smashed for 10 runs in the first two deliveries, set the tone. Virat Kohli, though slower with 31 off 30, anchored the powerplay, ensuring RCB reached 76/2 by the eighth over.

Patidar’s Captain’s Knock
Skipper Rajat Patidar emerged as the linchpin, scoring a fiery 51 off 32 balls. His innings, laced with four boundaries and three sixes, stabilized RCB after Devdutt Padikkal’s departure (27 off 14). A dropped catch by Deepak Hooda at 17 proved costly, as Patidar capitalized to propel RCB past 150.

David’s Late Fireworks
Tim David’s unbeaten 22 off 8 balls, featuring three consecutive sixes off Sam Curran in the final over, catapulted RCB to 196/7. This late surge demoralized CSK, who conceded 22 runs in the last six deliveries.

RCB First Innings vs CSK Analysis: A Challenging 196/7 Sets the Stage for CSK’s Chase

CSK’s Bowling Struggles

Despite Noor Ahmad’s 3/36, including the key wickets of Salt and Kohli, CSK’s bowling lacked consistency. Matheesha Pathirana, returning from injury, claimed 2/36, but Sam Curran (0/34) and Ravindra Jadeja (0/37) struggled to contain the onslaught. Fielding lapses, notably Hooda’s drop, further compounded their woes.

CSK’s Chase Derailed Early

Powerplay Collapse
CSK’s chase crumbled immediately as Josh Hazlewood (3/21) dismissed Rahul Tripathi (5) and Ruturaj Gaikwad (0) within two overs. At 8/2, the hosts faced an uphill battle.

Ravindra’s Lone Resistance
Rachin Ravindra’s 41 off 31 balls offered fleeting hope, but wickets fell relentlessly. Shivam Dube (19 off 15) and Ravindra Jadeja (25 off 19) attempted counterattacks, but RCB’s spinners—Liam Livingstone (2/28) and Suyash Sharma (0/32)—tightened the grip.

Dhoni’s Late Flourish: Too Little, Too Late
MS Dhoni, entering at No. 9 with 98 needed off 28 balls, smashed 30* off 16, including two sixes and a four in the final over. His effort reduced the margin but underscored CSK’s tactical misstep in delaying his entry.

Key Performances and Turning Points

Rajat Patidar’s Leadership: His 50 and astute bowling changes, including early spin introductions, were pivotal.
Hazlewood’s Precision: The seamer’s early breakthroughs dismantled CSK’s top order.
Noor Ahmad’s Spin Prowess: His 3/36 kept CSK in the game temporarily.
Tim David’s Finishing Power: His 22* off 8 sealed RCB’s dominance.
CSK’s Fielding Lapses: Dropped catches and slow reactions cost them dearly.

Post-Match Reflections

Rajat Patidar (RCB Captain): “We targeted 200 knowing the pitch would slow down. The bowlers executed perfectly, especially Hazlewood and the spinners”.
Ruturaj Gaikwad (CSK Captain): “Losing early wickets and fielding errors hurt us. We’ll regroup for the next game”.
Josh Hazlewood: “The energy from the fans drove us. Our plan to hit hard lengths paid off”.

Implications for IPL 2025

RCB’s victory catapults them to the top of the table with two consecutive wins, boosting their net run rate. For CSK, the loss exposes vulnerabilities in batting depth and fielding. With Jadeja becoming the first IPL player to achieve 3,000 runs and 100 wickets, CSK must leverage his all-round prowess in upcoming matches.

Conclusion: A New Chapter in the Rivalry

RCB’s historic win at Chepauk signals a shift in the IPL landscape. Their blend of aggressive batting, disciplined bowling, and sharp fielding makes them title contenders. For CSK, this defeat is a wake-up call to address middle-order fragility and tactical decisions. As the season progresses, both teams will draw lessons, but March 28, 2025, will be remembered as the night RCB conquered Chennai’s fortress.

Also Read:

For Hindi Updates: Click Here