Nearly 12 months after a thrilling encounter at Chinnaswamy that intensified the RCB-CSK rivalry, the 2025 fixture at the same venue came down to a dramatic Dhoni-vs-Dayal showdown with just six balls remaining. Under pressure, Dayal once again outsmarted the veteran, survived a no-ball six from Shivam Dube, and defended four off the last ball to secure an unforgettable victory for his team.
Before the tension built to those final six balls, Romario Shepherd’s explosive knock had positioned RCB in a strong spot during the first half. Meanwhile, Ayush Mhatre’s remarkable performance nearly turned the tide, bringing CSK close to a last-minute victory. However, RCB managed to complete their first-ever league double over CSK in the IPL.
The game was ultimately decided in the final stages of both innings. Shepherd’s blistering knock helped RCB finish with about 30 more runs than they seemed headed for. With composed bowling from Lungi Ngidi, Suyash Sharma, and Dayal, RCB held their nerve and denied CSK the crucial points.
Death-Overs Comparison:
| Parameters | RCB | CSK |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 69/3 | 51/3 |
| Run-rate | 13.8 | 10.2 |
| 4s/6s | 5/5 | 2/3 |
Table of contents
Kohli and Bethell’s Explosive Start
MS Dhoni expected a tacky pitch to bowl first on, but the conditions didn’t play out as anticipated. Khaleel Ahmed was quickly taken apart, conceding three fours in his first over and three sixes in his second as Jacob Bethell and Virat Kohli blasted off from the start. The only moment of respite for CSK came when Bethell mistimed a big hit early on, leading to a miscommunication between Matheesha Pathirana and Ravindra Jadeja. Both players went for the catch and collided, spilling the ball.
After some physio attention for Pathirana and a field replacement, Kohli picked up the momentum once again, driving a crisp back-foot shot through covers. CSK’s inconsistent bowling continued throughout, with Bethell smashing Noor Ahmad for 14 runs in an over, while Kohli capped off an extraordinary PowerPlay by collecting 11 runs off Anshul Kamboj.
Explosive Fifties from Kohli and Bethell
Jadeja briefly halted the onslaught with a two-run over in the seventh, but Sam Curran faced a battering in the following over. Bethell welcomed him with a four, and Kohli saw through the change of pace, launching him over deep mid-wicket for a big hit. Jadeja managed to extract some grip off the surface, slowing down the free-flowing openers, and then Pathirana struck, claiming a wicket with a stunning catch from Dewald Brewis. Running in from deep square leg, Brewis dived forward and scooped up the ball just inches off the ground.
After Bethell’s departure for 55 off 33, Kohli responded by targeting Jadeja, blasting him for 17 runs in an over and pushing RCB past the 100-run mark in just 11 overs. However, Kohli’s innings ended when he fell to a slower bouncer from Curran, guiding the ball to Khaleel at short third. Despite his departure, Kohli’s 50-plus score marked his seventh of the season. Noor Ahmad then tightened the screws, delivering two economical overs, sandwiched by a 12-run over from Curran, as RCB continued to push for a high total.
Romario Shepherd’s Unbelievable 14-Ball 53*
Romario Shepherd put an end to all the progress CSK had made in the first half of the death overs, where it seemed they could restrict RCB to a total around 180. With his mind-blowing onslaught, Shepherd blasted a 14-ball 53*, the joint second-fastest in IPL history. He smashed six sixes off the last 12 balls, leading RCB to a formidable total of 213/5.
Pathirana had earlier dismissed Devdutt Padikkal and Jitesh Sharma, while Noor Ahmad took out the second Jitesh Sharma as RCB went from a solid 144/2 in 15 overs to a precarious 159/5 in 18 overs. But then Shepherd took charge, beginning with a brutal 33-run penultimate over off Khaleel, where the West Indian cleared the boundary with ease. Tim David cleverly rotated the strike to Shepherd on the first ball of the final over, allowing him to launch two fours and two sixes. Shepherd’s explosive 14-ball cameo helped him put together a 57-run partnership for the sixth wicket, with David contributing just two runs. Shepherd’s violent onslaught snatched the momentum firmly away from CSK.
Ayush Mhatre Sparks CSK’s Charge
Chasing big scores has not been CSK’s strength this season, but their young openers made it clear they were ready to change that narrative on this night. Shaik Rasheed set the tone early, pulling Dayal for a six and a four in the third over.
Ayush Mhatre then took charge with an outstanding knock, targeting veteran Bhuvneshwar Kumar and smashing him for five fours and a six in the fifth over. Krunal Pandya and Lungi Ngidi, however, regained control for RCB, closing out the PowerPlay by dismissing Rasheed and Sam Curran while allowing just nine runs.
Mhatre and Jadeja Keep RCB on Edge
Krunal and Ngidi aimed to build on their strong start, but Mhatre and Jadeja had other plans, with Mhatre hitting a top-edged six off the spinner and Jadeja striking two fours off the pacer. Mhatre reached his half-century off 25 balls against Suyash Sharma before taking Shepherd to task in the 10th over, blasting two sixes and a four. This attack helped CSK cross the 100-run mark in just 10 overs, keeping them on track for the steep chase.
Dayal bowled one tight over, but the duo of Mhatre and Jadeja capitalized on the rest, elevating the chase and applying pressure on RCB. Suyash and Ngidi leaked runs, and even Bhuvneshwar’s third over couldn’t slow down the momentum. Mhatre slammed another six off the veteran pacer, while in the same over, Jadeja reached his half-century off 29 balls. Heading into the death overs, CSK needed 54 runs off 30 balls, with the chase firmly in their grasp.
Yash Dayal Delivers Under Pressure
Ngidi added an extra layer of drama to the already tense chase. After Patidar dropped Mhatre off Dayal, Ngidi made a costly mistake, putting down a sitter at third man, which gave Jadeja a reprieve in the 16th over. However, Ngidi redeemed himself almost immediately in the 17th over, when he bowled a slower one to dismiss Mhatre for an outstanding 48-ball 94. The very next delivery saw Ngidi’s LBW appeal against Dewald Brevis upheld, further denting CSK’s chances.
Things took a turn for the worse for the chasing side when Brevis failed to use DRS in time, and replays showed that the original decision would have been overturned. Suyash Sharma then bowled a brilliant over under pressure to both Jadeja and MS Dhoni, giving away just six runs, leaving the pair with 29 to get off 12 balls. Jadeja’s four and Dhoni’s six off Bhuvneshwar in the 19th over reduced the target to 15 off 6 balls.
In the final over, the momentum swung dramatically. Dayal dismissed Dhoni but conceded a six off a waist-high no-ball to Shivam Dube, leaving CSK needing 6 runs off 3 balls. Dayal, however, composed himself and delivered three excellent full-length balls, which the CSK batters couldn’t capitalize on, sealing the win for RCB.
Brief Scores
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: 213/5 in 20 overs (Virat Kohli 62, Jacob Bethell 55, Romario Shepherd 53*; Matheesha Pathirana 3-36)
Chennai Super Kings: 211/5 in 20 overs (Ayush Mhatre 94, Ravindra Jadeja 77; Lungi Ngidi 3-30)
Result: Royal Challengers Bengaluru won by 2 runs.
What’s Next?
Royal Challengers Bengaluru will travel to Lucknow to take on Lucknow Super Giants on May 9. Chennai Super Kings will head west to face Kolkata Knight Riders on May 7.
Read More: IPL 2025: KKR vs RR Preview, Prediction, Starting XI and Where To Watch The Match LIVE
FAQs
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) won by 2 runs against Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
Virat Kohli scored 62 runs for RCB in their total of 213/5.
Ayush Mhatre scored a brilliant 94 runs off 48 balls for CSK.
Matheesha Pathirana took 3 wickets for 36 runs for CSK.
RCB will play Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on May 9, 2025.
