Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) emerged on the right side of a capricious, roller-coaster Indian Premier League 2025 match after pipping Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by two runs at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday.
Chasing 214, CSK needed 15 off the last over with Ravindra Jadeja and M.S. Dhoni at the crease. But Yash Dayal –the hero in the same fixture last year in Bengaluru – dismissed Dhoni, survived a monstrous six from Impact Player Shivam Dube off a no-ball to carry his side home.
For significant periods, CSK had the chase under control. The teenaged talent of Ayush Mhatre blossomed (94, 48b, 9×4, 5×6) and the 17-year-old combined for an excellent 114-run stand off 64 balls for the third wicket with Jadeja (77, 45b, 8×4, 2×6).
But with 43 needed from 24 balls, Lungi Ngidi dismissed Mhatre and Dewald Brevis off back-to-back deliveries in the 17th over to bring RCB right back in. Jadeja was dropped twice, including by the usually reliable Virat Kohli in the 19th over off Bhuvneshwar Kumar, but RCB held on.
CSK was on course when Jadeja and Mhatre (R) added 114-run third-wicket partnership.
| Photo Credit:
MURALI KUMAR K/The Hindu
CSK was on course when Jadeja and Mhatre (R) added 114-run third-wicket partnership.
| Photo Credit:
MURALI KUMAR K/The Hindu
Earlier, after losing yet another toss at home, the RCB innings went through a boom-bust-boom cycle. Jacob Bethell (55, 33b, 8×4, 2×6) and Virat Kohli (62, 33b, 5×4, 5×6) put on 97 for the opening wicket at more than 10 an over.
Kohli’s 62nd IPL fifty had his trademark flicks and drives while the promising Bethell, who replaced Phil Salt for a second game running, brought up his maiden IPL fifty (55, 33b, 8×4, 2×6).
But left-arm unorthodox bowler Noor Ahmad (4-0-26-1) and Matheesha Pathirana (4-0-36-3) brought CSK back by limiting RCB to 159 for five after 18 overs.
When all hopes of a competitive score for RCB seemed to rest on Tim David’s bludgeoning blade, welcomed as he was by a thunderous applause from the crowd, it was Romario Shepherd who stole the show with a stunning 14-ball unbeaten 53 (4×4, 6×4).
The Guyanese plundered 32 runs off an already-expensive Khaleel Ahmed in the 19th over before smashing Pathirana for 20 in the last. The 30-year-old did not middle every ball but swung the bat like an almighty axe, and was his brute power that carried the ball long distances. By the looks of it, it might just have carried RCB into the Playoffs too.
