Picture Credit: BCCI/IPL
On Saturday, May 3, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) defeated Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by two runs, to register a win in match number 52 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. After fifties from Jacob Bethell, Virat Kohli and Romario Shepherd which helped the hosts put 213/5 in 20 overs, they defended the score and registered a commending win.
For the unversed, the captain of CSK, MS Dhoni, won the toss and decided to bowl first. The CSK skipper’s decision did not pay any dividents as Jacob Bethell and Virat Kohli unleashed their prowess ad stitched a 97-run stand for the opening wicket. However, the England international was dismissed by Matheesha Pathirana, departing after having score 55 off 33 deliveries, Sam Curran cut short Kohli’s inning as the batting stalwart departed scoring 62 off 33.
Although, wickets kept falling at crucial intervals thereafter, Romario Shepherd changed the scenario, playing a quickfire knock of 53* off 14 deliveries. The West Indies all-rounder breached the 50-run mark off just 14 deliveries, making him the joint-second fastest to score a half century in IPL history, striking at the rate of 378.57.
On the back of Shepherd’s unbeaten 53-run knock, RCB posted 213 runs at the loss of five wickets in their stipulated 20 overs. For the visitors, Pathirana scalped three wickets, Noor Ahmad and Sam Curran took a wicket apiece.
Ayush Mhatre’s 94 and Ravindra Jadeja’s 76 goes in vain as RCB defend 213 runs
In the run chase, Ayush Mhatre and Shaik Rasheed started the innings for CSK, stitching 51-run stand for the first wicket. However, Krunal Pandya got the first breakthrough, dismissing Rasheed up top, Lungi Ngidi sent back Sam Curran in the following over to give back-back jolts to CSK.
However, Ayush Mhatre and new batter in Ravindra Jadeja looked good as the duo added fifty plus scores, but it wasn’t enough as the side fell short by mere two runs. With Jadeja batting at 75* off 43 deliveries, and CSK needing 15 runs off the final over, Yash Dayal restricted the visitors to 211, handing them a two run defeat. Lungi Ngidi was the star performer for the Bengaluru-based franchise, picking three wickets, Krunal Pandya and Yash Dayal picked one each.
With a win, RCB jumped to the top of the table and are close to confirming a spot in the final four with 16 points to their name. On the other hand, CSK, who became the first team to get eliminated from IPL 2025, continue to reel at the bottom-most spot with nine losses and two wins from 11 games.
