Josh Hazlewood provided the key early breakthrough, and Rajat Patidar's first half-century as captain drove Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a record-breaking win against Chennai Super Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
This victory in Match 8 of the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) was RCB's first victory at CSK's home venue in 17 years.
RCB had last won at Chepauk in the first season of the IPL way back in 2008 but had lost on each of their subsequent visits. But on Friday, a complete team effort led them to dominate CSK by 50 runs, inflicting the five-time champions' biggest defeat at this ground.
Patidar (51) took advantage of two early reprieves at 17, converting those opportunities into a shower of boundaries and reaching his half-century in only 30 deliveries. His fall shortly thereafter might have wrecked RCB's innings, but Tim David sealed the deal with three successive sixes in the last over to take the total to near 200.
RCB's innings was marked by good contributions—Phil Salt (32 off 16), Virat Kohli (31 off 30), Devdutt Padikkal (27 off 14), and Tim David's 22 off 8 balls not out—guaranteeing a fighting total as both sides fought for momentum.
With the ball, Hazlewood established the tone for RCB's bowling, sending Rahul Tripathi (5) back to the pavilion in the second over after getting him to play a mistimed pull which was caught behind. He got his second wicket four balls later, returning CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad (0) to the pavilion with a skied catch to deep fine leg.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Yash Dayal maintained the pressure, scalping wickets at periodic intervals. Deepak Hooda (4), Sam Curran (8), and Rachin Ravindra (41 off 31) all were lost cheaply, leaving CSK struggling at 75/5 after the 12th over. Ravindra was poised for a more substantial score but couldn't make the most of it as RCB's disciplined bowling attack changed their pace at will on a surface where the ball lingered a bit in the second half.
Shivam Dube (19 off 15), Ravindra Jadeja (25 off 19), and Ravichandran Ashwin tried to cut loose but could not make a notable contribution. MS Dhoni contributed some late fireworks, hitting two sixes in the last over to finish unbeaten on 30 off 16 balls. His innings helped him overtake Suresh Raina's total to become CSK's leading run-getter in IPL history with 4,699 runs. However, apart from Dhoni’s cameo, his stumping of Phil Salt, and Noor Ahmad’s three-wicket haul, there were few positives for CSK in this match.
For RCB, Hazlewood finished with impressive figures of 3/21, while Yash Dayal (2/18) and Liam Livingstone (2/28) ensured CSK never recovered.
Earlier, RCB, following a dramatic toss decision, got off to a fiery start, mainly due to Phil Salt's belligerent attitude. The English opener welcomed Khaleel Ahmed with back-to-back boundaries in the first over before sending Ravichandran Ashwin for four more successive hits. Salt's onslaught ended when MS Dhoni effected a lightning-fast stumping off Noor Ahmad, removing Salt after a 16-ball 32, which consisted of five fours and a six.
Padikkal and Kohli seemed to be in good touch but were sent packing before they could capitalize. Patidar too seemed to be in trouble early on but was dropped twice—once by Deepak Hooda off Jadeja and then by Rahul Tripathi off Noor Ahmad. He made CSK pay dearly, hitting a six and a four off Jadeja and making the boundary against both Pathirana and Khaleel before being eventually caught by Sam Curran off Pathirana.
RCB lost Jitesh Sharma, Krunal Pandya, and Liam Livingstone in their pursuit of early runs, but Tim David's late rampage—comprising a hat-trick of sixes off Sam Curran—provided them with a solid finish.
For CSK, Noor Ahmad was in good form again, following his 4/18 against Mumbai Indians with a spell of 3/36. Matheesha Pathirana also impressed with the death overs, taking two wickets off an over.
Brief Scores:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru – 196/7 in 20 overs (Rajat Patidar 51, Phil Salt 32, Tim David 22*; Noor Ahmad 3/36, Matheesha Pathirana 2/36)
Chennai Super Kings – 146/8 in 20 overs (Rachin Ravindra 41, MS Dhoni 30*; Josh Hazlewood 3/21, Yash Dayal 2/18, Liam Livingstone 2/28)
Result: RCB won by 50 runs.
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