RCB vs CSK Highlights, IPL 2025: MS Dhoni’s failure completes Yash Dayal’s redemption

RCB vs CSK Highlights, IPL 2025: MS Dhoni’s failure completes Yash Dayal’s redemption (BCCI Photo)

RCB vs CSK Highlights, IPL 2025: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) defeated five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by 2 runs in a thrilling Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday. Chasing a stiff 214-run target, CSK managed 211/5, as RCB completed a league double over CSK for the first time in IPL history.

Here are the six factors that enabled RCB to move to the top of the points table:

Virat Kohli reclaims the Orange Cap

Virat Kohli and Jacob Bethell added 97 runs for the opening wicket (BCCI Photo)

Virat Kohli continued his scintillating form and smashed a 28-ball fifty – his 7th in 11 innings this season, and in the process he also breached the 500-run mark. In addition, Kohli also reclaimed the Orange Cap from Sai Sudharsan.

This fifty was Kohli’s 10th against CSK in IPL which is the most by any batsman in the history of the league. This is the second time that Virat has scored 4 consecutive fifties in the IPL. The last time he had done so was in 2016. With 1146 runs, Kohli is the highest run-scorer against CSK in the IPL – the most by any player against any team in the league.

Kohli smashed 5 sixes and 5 fours in his 33-ball 62 before he was dismissed by Sam Curran. 2 of those 5 sixes by Kohli came in one over bowled by Khaleel Ahmed.

Jacob Bethell’s maiden IPL fifty

RCB got off to a flying start thanks to Jacob Bethell and Kohli. Bethell started the onslaught by smashing 3 consecutive fours in Khaleel Ahmed’s first over. Bethell outplayed Kohli and showed why he is touted to be a future star for England by reaching his maiden IPL fifty off 28 balls.

After the 111-run partnership between Kohli and Padikkal in Sharjah in 2021, the 97-run partnership between Kohli and Bethell is the second-highest opening partnership for RCB against CSK. Bethell slammed 2 sixes and 8 fours in his 55-run knock that came off 33 balls, before he was dismissed by Matheesha Pathirana.

Romario Shepherd’s blitzkrieg knock

Romario Shepherd smashes joint second-fastest IPL fifty (BCCI Photo)

Romario Shepherd strode out to the middle with just 14 balls remaining in the innings and hammered an unbeaten 53 off 14 balls, taking Khaleel and Pathirana to the cleaners. Shepherd smacked 4 sixes and 3 fours in the penultimate over bowled by Khaleel, who conceded 33 runs off the over – the most expensive of the season. Khaleel ended up conceding 65 runs in his 3 overs – his worst bowling figures ever in an IPL match.

In the last over of the RCB innings bowled by Pathirana, Shepherd smashed 2 fours and 2 sixes to stay unbeaten on a 14-ball 53 – the joint second fastest fifty in IPL as RCB ended at 213/5.

Ayush Mhatre misses maiden IPL hundred

Ayush Mhatre smashed 94 off 48 balls against RCB (BCCI Photo)

CSK opener Ayush Mhatre deserved a hundred but that was not to be. But the 17-year-old put up a scintillating show with the bat to lead the CSK run chase. Mhatre reached his maiden IPL fifty off 25 balls becoming the third youngest batsman to get to the mark in the history of the tournament. In an exhibition of exquisite strokeplay, Mhatre spared no RCB bowlers and hit the ball to all parts of the Chinnaswamy. His knock featured 5 sixes and 9 fours before getting out for 94 off 48 balls.

Ravindra Jadeja’s unbeaten knock goes in vain

Ravindra Jadeja and Ayush Mhatre added 114 runs for the third wicket (BCCI Photo)

Veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja smashed an unbeaten 77 off 45 balls, laced with 2 sixes and 8 fours. Jadeja’s 114-run stand with Mhatre for the third wicket was the third highest partnership for CSK against RCB for any wicket. Jadeja reached his fifty off 29 balls, but quick dismissals at the other end made it too much to handle for the veteran as he couldn’t take his team over the finish line.

Dhoni’s failure and Dayal’s redemption:

With CSK at 172/4, MS Dhoni came ahead of Shivam Dube after Lungi Ngidi dismissed Mhatre and Dewald Brevis off successive deliveries. As Dhoni arrived at the crease, the umpire checked his bat and the gauge did not go smoothly the first time. Dhoni then himself took the gauge and passed it through. The gauge was getting stuck at one point but Dhoni manages to pass it to the satisfaction of the umpire.

Dhoni hit a six off Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the penultimate over to roll back the clock. With 15 runs needed off the last over, Yash Dayal was handed the ball. Dayal trapped Dhoni plumb in front of the wicket on the third ball of the over and in walked Dube as the impact sub with CSK needing 13 runs off 3 balls.

Dayal, going for a yorker, bowled a full toss over Dube’s waist which the left-handed batter gleefully smashed it over the mid-wicket boundary for a six. And to add to RCB’s woes, the delivery was also adjudged a no-ball.

The memories of IPL 2023 quickly flashed by when Kolkata Knight Riders’ Rinku Singh famously hit five consecutive sixes off Yash Dayal, who was playing for Gujarat Titans at that time, to win the match for KKR. But Dayal held his nerves this time and conceded three singles off the next three deliveries to win the match for RCB and complete his redemption.