RCB Break 17-Year Chepauk Hoodoo with Commanding Victory Over CSK

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) delivered a breathtaking performance to snap their 17-year losing streak at Chepauk, overpowering Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in their own fortress. This triumph not only handed CSK their heaviest defeat at home in terms of runs but also marked RCB’s second consecutive win to kick off the season. Electing to bat first, RCB posted an imposing total of 196/7, fueled by aggressive batting and a late flourish, before their bowlers dismantled CSK’s chase, restricting them to 146/8—a 50-run victory sealed early in the Powerplay.

CSK VS RCB HIGHLIGHTS

Where Was the Match Won?

The match tilted decisively in RCB’s favor during the Powerplay phase of CSK’s innings. While Phil Salt’s rapid 32 had given RCB a robust start earlier, CSK found no such hero to anchor their pursuit of 197. Instead, they crumbled under pressure, losing three quick wickets in the opening overs. Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar exploited the new ball brilliantly, leaving CSK reeling at 30/3 by the end of the Powerplay. This early collapse set an insurmountable tone for the chase, and despite a late cameo from MS Dhoni, CSK never regained momentum, ultimately falling 50 runs short.

Royal Challengers Bangalore: Batting Breakdown

RCB’s innings was a blend of explosive starts, steady consolidation, and a fiery finish, culminating in a total that proved too steep for CSK.

• Powerplay: Salt Sets the Stage
  Score: 56/1 (Run Rate: 9.3, 4s/6s: 6/2)
  With conditions expected to favor bowlers later, RCB maximized the new ball. Phil Salt launched an onslaught, scoring a brisk 32, peppering boundaries off Khaleel Ahmed and welcoming R Ashwin with a lofted six over square leg. However, Virat Kohli struggled to find fluency, managing his first boundary off a Noor Ahmad full toss before being stumped by MS Dhoni in the same over. Devdutt Padikkal stepped up, smashing Sam Curran for a six to close the Powerplay on a high.
• Middle Overs: Patidar Punishes CSK
  Score: 82/2 (Run Rate: 9.1, 4s/6s: 6/4)
  Padikkal continued his aggression into the middle phase, silencing the Chepauk crowd with two fours and a six off Ravindra Jadeja. His cameo ended when Ruturaj Gaikwad took a sharp catch, but CSK’s fielders faltered thereafter, dropping Rajat Patidar multiple times. Patidar made them pay, crafting a vital 51. Meanwhile, Kohli, freed up after a helmet blow from Matheesha Pathirana, struck a six and a four but fell to Noor Ahmad, caught at deep midwicket. Patidar kept the momentum, attacking Jadeja with a flurry of boundaries to set up a grand finish.
• Death Overs: A Rollercoaster Finish
  Score: 58/4 (Run Rate: 11.6, 4s/6s: 3/6)
  The final overs were eventful. Liam Livingstone and Dinesh Karthik smashed sixes off Noor Ahmad, though Livingstone was bowled in between. Khaleel Ahmed cut Karthik’s stint short, and Pathirana’s return saw him dismiss Patidar and another batsman. Hopes of breaching 200 faded until Tim David unleashed three towering sixes off Curran in the last over, lifting RCB to 196/7—just four runs shy of a double-century.

Chennai Super Kings: Batting Collapse

CSK’s chase unraveled early and never recovered, with RCB’s bowlers dominating across all phases.

• Powerplay: Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Strike
  Score: 30/3 (Run Rate: 5, 4s/6s: 4/0)
  Josh Hazlewood drew first blood, claiming two wickets—Rahul Tripathi, caught off a mistimed pull, and Gaikwad, nabbed near the boundary off a short ball—reducing CSK to 8/2. Bhuvneshwar Kumar compounded the misery, dismissing Deepak Hooda to make it 30/3. Promoted ahead of Shivam Dube, Hooda faltered, leaving Rachin Ravindra and Sam Curran with a daunting task.
• Middle Overs: Spinners Tighten the Noose
  Score: 68/3 (Run Rate: 7.55, 4s/6s: 6/1)
  With no dew to aid batting, RCB’s spinners suffocated CSK. Curran attempted a counterattack but miscued to Livingstone. Dube, arriving at the crease, smashed Suyash Sharma for a six and a four but was outdone by the leg-spinner’s guile in the next over. Yash Dayal then struck twice in one over, removing Dube and Ravindra, pushing CSK toward defeat on a sluggish pitch.
• Death Overs: Dhoni’s Lone Fight
  Score: 48/2 (Run Rate: 9.6, 4s/6s: 5/3)
  The Chepauk faithful found their voice only when Dhoni ignited a late spark. He struck two boundaries off Hazlewood and hammered two massive sixes off Krunal Pandya in the final over, finishing unbeaten on 30 off 16. Yet, his heroics merely narrowed the margin of a defeat already sealed.

Brief Scores

• Royal Challengers Bangalore: 196/7 in 20 overs (Rajat Patidar 51, Phil Salt 32; Noor Ahmad 3/36, Matheesha Pathirana 2/36)
• Chennai Super Kings: 146/8 in 20 overs (Rachin Ravindra 41, MS Dhoni 30*; Josh Hazlewood 3/21, Yash Dayal 2/18)
• Result: RCB won by 50 runs

What’s Next for Both Teams?

CSK face an urgent need to address their batting woes, with little time to dwell as they head to Guwahati to take on Rajasthan Royals, who are yet to win this season. For RCB, this emphatic victory caps two impressive away triumphs. They now return home to host Gujarat Titans on April 2, aiming to sustain their early-season surge.

This reimagined account captures RCB’s historic triumph, spotlighting key moments and performances while offering a fresh, detailed narrative of the match.