In a historic encounter at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on March 28, 2025, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) registered a stunning 50-run win against Chennai Super Kings (CSK), their second win at this stadium since 2008. The win has taken RCB to the top spot in the IPL 2025 points table with two consecutive wins.
RCB innings: A combination of aggression and strategy
Batting first, RCB adopted aggressive stroke play and a well-thought-out strategy. Opener Phil Salt sent a message by scoring 32 runs off 16 balls in the first half-dozen shots, which shows his ability. Although he came on the field briefly, fellow opener Virat Kohli targeted the CSK spinners by scoring 31 runs off 31 balls.
Captain Rajat Patidar held the middle order with 51 runs off 32 balls. His innings were crucial in stabilizing RCB after losing early wickets. Liam Livingstone’s brief but impressive knock included a long six before he was dismissed by Noor Ahmed, who emerged as CSK’s standout bowler with figures of 3/21.
The innings ended with a fiery knock from Tim David, who smashed three sixes in Sam Curran’s last over, helping RCB post a strong total of 196/7. This tough score was a reflection of RCB’s strong batting depth and their ability to pick up the momentum in the death overs.
CSK chase: Early setbacks and middle-order struggles
Chasing a target of 197 runs, CSK faced early problems in the face of RCB’s disciplined bowling. Josh Hazlewood’s brilliant opening spell saw the dismissals of Rahul Tripathi and skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad early, leaving CSK struggling at 30/3 in the powerplay.
Rachin Ravindra tried to handle the innings with 41 off 31 balls, but a lack of meaningful partnerships halted CSK’s progress. All-rounder Sam Curran’s aggressive play was brief as he was dismissed by Livingstone, and the subsequent batsmen found it difficult to get going in front of RCB’s varied bowling attack.
RCB bowling: Accuracy and control
RCB bowlers executed their strategy with precision, keeping the CSK batting order in check to a great extent. Hazelwood’s 3/21 played a vital role in dismantling the top order, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s experience built up the pressure, dismissing Deepak Hooda. Yash Dayal’s double blow in the middle overs also weakened CSK’s chase, helping RCB maintain the lead throughout the innings.
With the chase faltering, MS Dhoni displayed a memorable display of his finishing ability. Dhoni remained unbeaten on 30 off 16 balls, including two sixes and a four in the final over. Although their efforts brought back memories of their best performances, they failed to change the outcome of the match, as CSK finished their innings at 146/8.
Post-match thoughts: Result analysis
CSK coach Stephen Fleming was disappointed with the team’s failure to read the Chepauk pitch properly, which he feels led to their defeat. He highlighted the difficulty they have had in reading pitches in recent times, which has undermined their home strength.
On the other hand, RCB captain Rajat Patidar praised his team’s all-round performance and stressed the importance of ending a 17-year drought of not winning at Chepauk. He credited the disciplined performance of the bowlers and the tough target set by the batsmen.
Statistical highlights and records
RCB’s historic win: This win is the second instance of RCB defeating CSK at Chepauk, the first of which happened during the first IPL season in 2008.
CSK’s home struggles: The 50-run defeat is CSK’s biggest run loss on home ground, reflecting their struggle in capitalising on the home advantage.
MS Dhoni’s milestone: Although the team lost, Dhoni’s unbeaten 30 contributed to his record of game-changing cameos, although it could not guide CSK to victory.
Looking ahead: Implications for IPL 2025
RCB’s consistent wins have put them at the forefront of the early leaders in IPL 2025, boosting the team’s morale and confidence. The combination of experienced players and youngsters seems to be a winning formula for the team.
For CSK, this defeat requires self-introspection, especially about their plans in home conditions. Sorting out issues related to pitch reading and strengthening the middle-order strength will be crucial in progressing their campaign.
Conclusion: A memorable match
The 2025 RCB vs CSK match will go down in IPL history as a match in which records were broken and new histories were created.
