Josh Hazlewood’s fiery spell and Rajat Patidar’s half-century help RCB seal first win at CSK’s home since 2008 and climb to top of IPL 2025 points table.
Chennai, March 29: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) finally shattered their long-standing Chepauk jinx with a commanding 50-run win over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Friday, powered by Josh Hazlewood’s 3/21, Yash Dayal’s 2/18, and a composed fifty from captain Rajat Patidar. With this win, RCB not only claimed two back-to-back victories but also reached the top of the IPL 2025 points table.
Batting first, RCB posted a competitive 196/7, riding on Patidar’s 51 off 32 balls, explosive cameos from Phil Salt (32 off 16) and *Tim David (22 off 8)**. Although nearly every RCB batter got a start, only Patidar carried on to make a significant impact. Noor Ahmad was once again CSK’s standout bowler, picking up 3/36, including the prized scalp of Virat Kohli (31 off 30).
CSK, chasing 197, stumbled early under scoreboard pressure. Hazlewood dealt an early double blow, dismissing Rahul Tripathi (5) and skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad (0) in the second over. CSK never really recovered, slumping to 146/8 despite a late flourish from MS Dhoni, who remained unbeaten on 30 off 16 with two sixes and three boundaries.
RCB Bowlers Dominate:
The RCB bowling unit was relentless. Hazlewood and Dayal led the charge with disciplined pace, while Liam Livingstone (2/28) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1/24) kept the pressure on throughout. CSK’s top and middle-order collapsed in the face of tight lines and scoreboard pressure.
Key Moments from RCB’s Innings:
- Salt’s aggressive start with 32 off 16 set the tone.
- Kohli found rhythm but fell to Noor after a 30-ball 31.
- Patidar anchored the middle, bringing up his 8th IPL fifty.
- Tim David smashed three sixes in one over to close the innings in style.
Key Moments from CSK’s Chase:
- Early collapse to 8/2 in 2 overs.
- Rachin Ravindra top-scored with 41 but lacked support.
- Shivam Dube and Ashwin tried to stabilize but couldn’t keep pace.
- Dhoni’s late hitting wasn’t enough to rescue the chase.
With this win, RCB not only broke their 17-year drought at Chepauk but also sent a clear message that they are serious contenders for IPL 2025. CSK, meanwhile, will have to regroup quickly ahead of their next fixture.