May 4, 2025: In one of the most electrifying contests of IPL 2025, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) edged out Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in a nail-biting last-over thriller at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. With this victory, RCB not only boosted their playoff hopes but also sent a strong message to the rest of the league.
Batting first, RCB put up an imposing total of 213/5 on the board. Virat Kohli led the charge with a fluent 62, while young Jacob Bethell impressed with a quickfire 55. However, it was Romario Shepherd who stole the show, smashing an unbeaten 53 off just 14 deliveries to give RCB the late flourish.
CSK, in response, mounted a valiant chase. Teen sensation Ayush Mhatre dazzled with a brilliant 94, and Ravindra Jadeja kept Chennai in the hunt with an unbeaten 77. But the Yellow Army fell just three runs short, unable to get past RCB’s calculated death bowling.
Speaking on JioHotstar after the game, former India cricketer and analyst Aakash Chopra praised RCB’s resilience and their growing chances of making the playoffs.
“It has never happened that ever since we’ve got the 14-match league, there are teams with 16 points that did not make it to the play-offs,” Chopra noted. “At this point in time, of course, five teams can finish on 18, but 16 should be enough in the end. They’re now eyeing the one and two spot and not really the qualification.”
Chopra also applauded RCB’s squad depth, especially their ability to absorb the absence of key players like Phil Salt and Josh Hazlewood.
“If there’s no Phil Salt, I’ve got Jacob Bethell. If I don’t have Josh Hazlewood, I’ll have Lungi Ngidi, who will do the same job—maybe even better,” he said.
Ngidi made an immediate impact with a game-changing sixth over, taking two wickets while conceding just eight runs. Alongside him, Yash Dayal held his nerve in the final over, defending 15 runs against seasoned finishers like Jadeja.
“This is when you start believing that the stars are aligning for me,” Chopra added.
With their latest win, RCB continue their late-season surge and look increasingly poised for a top-two finish in the league stage—a spot that brings the added advantage of an extra shot at the final.