New Delhi. The Royal Challengers Bangalore triumphed over the Chennai Super Kings by a narrow margin of 2 runs, thanks to some impressive bowling from Yash Dayal in the final over. This win earned RCB 16 points from 11 matches, placing them at the top of the points table, making them the first team to reach sixteen points in IPL 2025. In the last over, CSK required 15 runs but lost Dhoni’s wicket, managing to score only 12 runs and ultimately fell short by 2 runs.
In their chase for a target of 214 runs, CSK ended up with 211 runs for the loss of 5 wickets. Ayush Mhatre was the standout performer, scoring 94 runs, while Ravindra Jadeja contributed an unbeaten 77. Lungi Angidi was the most effective bowler for RCB, taking 3 wickets.
Ayush Mhatre achieved his half-century in just 25 balls and was given a life when Rajat Patidar dropped a catch while he was on 91 runs, courtesy of a delivery from Yash Dayal. Mhatre and Vaibhav Suryavanshi, both making their IPL debuts, opened the innings together after being part of the India Under-19 team. In their pursuit of 214 runs, they formed a partnership of 51 runs for the first wicket, with Sheikh Rashid scoring 14 runs off 11 balls before he was dismissed. Following this, Sam Curran fell for just 7 runs after being caught by Lungi Angidi, leaving Ayush to build a significant partnership with Ravindra Jadeja, which surpassed 100 runs.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s explosive opening partnership, a remarkable feat at just 17 years old, took on world-class bowlers.
53 runs off 14 balls… Caribbean power showcased in the IPL, just shy of Yashasvi Jaiswal’s record.
Prior to this, RCB had posted a total of 213 runs for the loss of 5 wickets, bolstered by half-centuries from Virat Kohli and Jacob Bethel, along with a quick-fire 53 not out from Romario Shepherd off just 14 balls. Chennai’s captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and opted to bowl, a decision that backfired as Kohli and Bethel put together a partnership of 97 runs in just 9.5 overs for the first wicket. Kohli scored 62 runs off 33 balls, while Bethel added 55 runs off 33 deliveries. The Chennai bowlers struggled to find their rhythm, making it easier for RCB to score. Shepherd’s explosive innings included four fours and six sixes, marking the second fastest half-century in IPL history.
The record for the fastest half-century in the IPL belongs to Yashasvi Jaiswal (13 balls) in 2023, while KL Rahul (2018) and Pat Cummins (2022) both achieved their fifties in 14 balls. Khalil, who has bowled the most dot balls in this IPL, hit a spectacular six over fine leg. He followed it up with a full delivery, but Kohli responded with a six over square leg. Bethel struck Khalil for three consecutive fours in the first over and was also fortunate to receive a lifeline when Ravindra Jadeja and Mathisha Pathirana collided while attempting to catch a ball from fast bowler Anshul Kamboj.
At that moment, Bethel was on 27 runs and reached his half-century with a reverse scoop off Jadeja. Kohli also completed his fifty while scoring against Jadeja. Pathirana eventually broke this partnership when Dewald Bravis took a stunning catch to dismiss Bethel, leaving RCB at 121 runs for 2 wickets in the 12th over. The Chennai bowlers managed to contain the runs, conceding only 37 runs between the 12th and 18th overs. Devdutt Padikkal and captain Rajat Patidar were dismissed cheaply, but Shepherd made a significant impact, scoring 33 runs with four sixes and two fours in the 19th over. He and Tim David formed a rapid partnership of 50 runs in just 14 balls, with David only contributing 2 runs.
