RCB Breaks 17-Year Chepauk Jinx with Dominant 50-Run Victory Over CSK in IPL 2025 Clash

 The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) scripted history on March 28, 2025, defeating the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by 50 runs at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, marking their first win at Chepauk since the inaugural IPL season in 2008. This high-stakes IPL 2025 clash saw RCB dominate both batting and bowling departments, with standout performances from skipper Rajat Patidar, pace spearhead Josh Hazlewood, and finisher Tim David. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the match, key highlights, and what this means for both teams in the tournament.

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Match Overview: RCB’s Batting Firepower Meets CSK’s Spin Challenge

Toss and Team Changes

CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad won the toss and elected to bowl first, banking on Chepauk’s spin-friendly reputation. CSK brought back Matheesha Pathirana for Nathan Ellis, while RCB debuted veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, replacing Rasikh Salam.

RCB’s Innings: Patidar’s Masterclass and Tim David’s Late Surge

RCB posted a formidable 196/7 in 20 overs, anchored by Rajat Patidar’s 51 off 32 balls. Opener Phil Salt set the tone with a blistering 32 off 16, including a six off Ravichandran Ashwin’s first ball. Despite CSK’s spin trio—Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Noor Ahmad—taking 5 wickets collectively, RCB’s middle order thrived. Tim David’s explosive 22* off 8 (3 sixes) in the final over against Sam Curran propelled RCB past 190.

Key Moments:

• Powerplay Dominance: RCB raced to 56/1 in 6 overs, capitalizing on CSK’s fielding lapses, including two dropped catches of Patidar.

• Noor Ahmad’s Impact: The Afghan spinner dismissed Salt, Virat Kohli (31 off 30), and Liam Livingstone, finishing with 3/36.
• Death Over Blitz: David’s 20-run final over against Curran sealed RCB’s momentum.

CSK’s Chase Derailed by Hazlewood’s Pace and RCB’s Spin Stranglehold

Chasing 197, CSK crumbled to 146/8, with Josh Hazlewood (3/21) and Yash Dayal (2/18) dismantling the top order. Only Rachin Ravindra (41 off 31) and MS Dhoni (30* off 16) offered resistance, but the required run rate spiraled out of control early.

Turning Points:

1. Powerplay Collapse: Hazlewood removed Rahul Tripathi (5) and Gaikwad (0) in his first over, reducing CSK to 8/2. Bhuvneshwar Kumar then dismissed Deepak Hooda (4), leaving CSK at 26/3 in 4.4 overs.
2. Dayal’s Double Strike: The left-armer claimed Rachin Ravindra and Shivam Dube (19 off 15) in the 13th over, killing CSK’s revival hopes.
3. Dhoni’s Late Flourish: The CSK legend walked in at No. 9, smashing 16 runs off Krunal Pandya’s final over, but the effort was too little, too late.

Stats Alert:

• CSK’s 50-run loss is their heaviest defeat at Chepauk in IPL history.
• RCB’s spinners (Livingstone, Suyansh Sharma) conceded just 60 runs in 8 overs, stifling CSK’s middle order.

Post-Match Reactions: Captains and Players Reflect

Rajat Patidar (RCB Captain, Player of the Match)

• On Batting Strategy: “We targeted 200 because the pitch was two-paced. My role was to maximize every ball, and the dropped chances helped.”
• Praise for Bowlers: “Hazlewood’s powerplay wickets were game-changing. Livingstone’s spin control was outstanding.”

Josh Hazlewood (RCB Pacer)

• On Conditions: “We hit the 8-10 meter length consistently. The fielding energy lifted us.”

Ruturaj Gaikwad (CSK Captain)

• Self-Criticism: “170 was par, but fielding lapses cost us 20 extra runs. The pitch turned sticky, making batting tougher.”
• On Dhoni’s Position: “We wanted new batters to face spinners. Dhoni’s promotion wasn’t planned.

IPL 2025 Standings and What’s Next

With this win, RCB climbed to 1st place (4 points, NRR +2.26), while CSK slipped to 7th (2 points, NRR -1.01).

Upcoming Fixtures:

• CSK: Face Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati on April 2.
• RCB: Host Gujarat Titans on April 4 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Conclusion

RCB’s Chepauk triumph signals a shift in their IPL narrative, blending aggressive batting with disciplined bowling. For CSK, addressing fielding errors and middle-order fragility will be critical ahead of their next match. With Tim David’s finishing prowess and Hazlewood’s lethal pace, RCB fans dare to dream: Could 2025 finally be their year?

Keyword-Rich Takeaways:

• RCB vs CSK scorecard: RCB 196/7 (Patidar 51, David 22*) beat CSK 146/8 (Ravindra 41, Hazlewood 3/21).
• IPL live score: Follow real-time updates on Star Sports or JioHotstar.
• Who won yesterday’s IPL match: RCB defeated CSK by 50 runs.