Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) finally broke their Chennai curse in emphatic fashion, defeating Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at home for the first time since the inaugural IPL season. The 50-run victory marked CSK’s heaviest home defeat. The match was so one-sided that much of CSK’s innings revolved around speculation on whether and when MS Dhoni would bat. He eventually came in at No. 9—only the second time in his career.
The pre-match discussion centered on how RCB would handle 12 overs of spin, but the game flipped the narrative: could CSK counter eight overs of conventional seam and swing from Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood? The answer was clear, as the duo combined for figures of 7-0-41-4, dismantling CSK’s batting lineup.
Before that, RCB’s batters dominated CSK’s attack on a pitch that wasn’t entirely easy to bat on. Like Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar, Khaleel Ahmed extracted seam movement and extra bounce, but CSK lacked similar firepower. Rajat Patidar led RCB’s charge with an aggressive approach, making the most of a dropped catch on 17 to score 51 off 32 balls. R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja bowled just five overs between them, conceding 59 runs.
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Salt, Padikkal Dominate CSK’s Bowling Attack
Khaleel Ahmed found some seam movement and uneven bounce in the opening over, but CSK seemed unprepared for such conditions. Lacking quick bowlers capable of hitting a good length and extracting bounce, they opted to start with R Ashwin. However, his very first delivery went astray, allowing Phil Salt to pull it for a six. The over yielded 16 runs, prompting the early introduction of Noor Ahmad.
Noor, en route to claiming the Purple Cap, combined with MS Dhoni for a lightning-fast stumping to dismiss Salt for a brisk 32 off 16 balls. However, Devdutt Padikkal ensured CSK found no respite. The left-hander took the attack to Ravindra Jadeja, unsettling him with a mix of sweeps and aggressive charges down the track, smashing 15 runs off Jadeja’s first over.
Patidar Derails CSK’s Game Plan
After R Ashwin dismissed Devdutt Padikkal for a quickfire 27 off 14 balls, CSK hoped to regain control. However, Rajat Patidar’s presence disrupted their strategy, preventing them from using spin against Virat Kohli, who struggled to maintain even a run-a-ball strike rate. Patidar capitalized on Noor Ahmad’s overpitched delivery with a six, while Kohli, facing Matheesha Pathirana for the first time, took 16 runs off his second over, pushing RCB to 109 for 2 in 11 overs.
Jadeja, like Ashwin earlier, nearly got his revenge when he induced a mis-hit from Patidar, but Deepak Hooda dropped a straightforward chance at long-off. Patidar survived three more half-chances in the next two overs, while Kohli eventually perished. The mounting pressure on Liam Livingstone led to his dismissal, reducing RCB to 145 for 4 in the 16th over.
RCB Finish with a Flourish
Despite losing wickets, RCB maintained their aggressive intent. Jitesh Sharma announced himself in style, smashing a stunning inside-out drive off Noor Ahmad’s wrong’un for six on just his second ball. In the following over, Rajat Patidar played a sublime pick-up shot off a slower delivery from Matheesha Pathirana. Their brisk 27-run partnership in just 13 balls gave RCB the momentum heading into the death overs.
However, both batters fell before the finish, with Pathirana even delivering a frugal 19th over that yielded just a single run. But Tim David ensured RCB ended on a high, hammering three sixes in the final over bowled by Sam Curran. The late flourish took RCB’s total well beyond what CSK had considered a par score, with Curran conceding 47 runs in his four overs across two matches.
Fast-Bowling Masterclass
In a short but dominant spell, Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar showcased their effectiveness when conditions offered even the slightest assistance. Every delivery in the powerplay was targeted within the crucial 6-10m length zone—Bhuvneshwar consistently probing the 6-8m region for swing, while Hazlewood attacked the 8-10m mark for uneven bounce and seam movement.
Hazlewood struck early, dismissing Rahul Tripathi and Ruturaj Gaikwad in his first over with steep bounce, while Bhuvneshwar added to the pressure by nicking off Deepak Hooda for his 73rd powerplay wicket.
A Slow March to Defeat
With three early wickets lost in the powerplay, CSK’s chase turned into a sluggish, inevitable downfall. Rachin Ravindra and Shivam Dube found little to work with as RCB’s spinners kept things tight, exposing how tricky the pitch was—despite RCB’s earlier dominance with the bat. As the required rate climbed, CSK were forced into risky shots, but the conditions didn’t allow for easy hitting.
MS Dhoni kept fans guessing by coming in after both Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin, finally walking out at No. 9 with 4.4 overs remaining. While he managed a few trademark hits in the final two overs, it wasn’t enough to prevent CSK from suffering their heaviest home defeat.
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FAQs
When was the last time RCB defeated CSK in Chennai before this match?
RCB last won against CSK in Chennai during the inaugural IPL season in 2008.
What was CSK’s biggest home defeat in IPL history?
CSK suffered their largest home defeat, losing to RCB by 50 runs.
Why did MS Dhoni bat at No. 9 against RCB?
Dhoni came in late, after Jadeja and Ashwin, eventually batting at No. 9 with 4.4 overs left.
Who were RCB’s standout performers with the ball?
Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar dominated, sharing four wickets and exploiting the pitch conditions.
How did RCB finish strongly despite losing wickets in the death overs?
Tim David’s explosive final-over hitting, including three sixes off Sam Curran, pushed RCB past a par total.
