Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) broke their 16-year jinx in Chennai by beating Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by 50 runs. This was CSK’s biggest defeat at home. The chase lacked excitement, with most of it revolving around the anticipation of MS Dhoni’s batting. He eventually came in at No. 9, only the second time in his career.
RCB’s focus was on handling CSK’s spinners, but the spotlight shifted to how CSK would manage RCB’s seamers. Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled seven overs between them, giving away just 41 runs and taking four wickets. CSK struggled against the seam and swing on offer.
Earlier, RCB’s batters dominated CSK’s bowlers on a tricky pitch. Rajat Patidar led the charge, scoring 51 off 32 balls after surviving a dropped catch at 17. Phil Salt gave RCB a flying start, hitting R Ashwin for a six on the first ball. Though Noor Ahmad dismissed Salt for 32, Devdutt Padikkal attacked Ravindra Jadeja, adding quick runs. When Ashwin dismissed Padikkal for 27, CSK hoped to regain control, but Patidar kept the momentum going.
Patidar targeted Noor and Pathirana, ensuring that Kohli could play his anchor role. He survived three half-chances before falling in the death overs. Jitesh Sharma played a delightful shot off Noor, and Tim David smashed three sixes in the final over, helping RCB post 196 for 7.
CSK’s chase started poorly. Hazlewood dismissed Rahul Tripathi and Ruturaj Gaikwad in his first over, while Bhuvneshwar removed Deepak Hooda. CSK lost three wickets in the powerplay, and the chase became a slow walk toward an inevitable defeat. Rachin Ravindra and Shivam Dube struggled to accelerate as the required rate kept climbing.
Dhoni came out with 4.4 overs left and entertained the crowd with a few big hits. However, it was too late to avoid a record defeat at home for CSK.
