Royal Challengers Bengaluru handed Chennai Super Kings a humbling 50-run defeat at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on March 28, 2025, and with that emphatic win, RCB not only remained at the top of the IPL 2025 points table, but also dented CSK’s net run rate significantly.
The clash, billed as a marquee contest between two of the league’s most followed teams, ended with a one-sided affair in RCB’s favour. CSK’s famed Chepauk fortress crumbled under the pressure of a powerful RCB performance across departments.
RCB Set the Tone with the Bat
After losing the toss, RCB batted first and posted a commanding 196/7 on the board, thanks to a well-paced knock by Rajat Patidar, explosive cameos from Tim David and Liam Livingstone, and a handy start from Virat Kohli and Phil Salt.
RCB’s innings began with Salt and Kohli finding early boundaries despite a probing spell from Khaleel Ahmed and Sam Curran. Salt took on Ravichandran Ashwin in the second over, smashing a six and a four, while Kohli settled into his rhythm and continued accumulating.
The first breakthrough came via the brilliance of MS Dhoni, who affected a trademark lightning-fast stumping to dismiss Salt off Noor Ahmad’s bowling. Kohli then formed a 50+ partnership with Devdutt Padikkal before Ashwin removed the latter with a sharp catch by Ruturaj Gaikwad.
Kohli, in the process, became the highest run-scorer against CSK in IPL history, surpassing Shikhar Dhawan.
The middle overs saw Patidar take charge. He mixed caution with aggression, launching Jadeja and Noor Ahmad for boundaries and sixes. Livingstone, too, joined the party with a powerful six before Noor cleaned him up with a beauty, completing his three-wicket haul and moving to the top of the Purple Cap standings.
In the final overs, Tim David delivered the finishing blow, smashing three sixes in a row off Curran in the 20th over to take RCB to a daunting 196.
CSK Collapse Under Pressure
Chasing 197, CSK faltered early. Josh Hazlewood struck twice in his opening over, removing Rahul Tripathi and Ruturaj Gaikwad in quick succession. The pressure of the scoreboard showed immediately, with the home side stuttering to 26/3 inside five overs.
Sam Curran and Rachin Ravindra attempted to stabilize the innings, but Livingstone and Yash Dayal made sure CSK never gained momentum. Livingstone dismissed Curran, while Dayal removed both Shivam Dube and Rachin Ravindra in quick succession.
At 81/6, the match had almost slipped out of CSK’s grasp.
Ravindra Jadeja and Ashwin added some late resistance. Jadeja smashed a six and a few boundaries, crossing the 3000-run milestone in IPL during his knock, but it came in a losing cause. Ashwin chipped in with a couple of neat strokes before falling to Livingstone.
When Jadeja departed for 41(31), the writing was on the wall. The crowd at Chepauk finally found something to cheer as Dhoni launched two vintage sixes in the 20th over, but it was far too little, too late. CSK ended their innings at 146/8, conceding a massive 50-run loss.
Standout Performances
- Rajat Patidar led RCB’s charge with a classy knock in the middle overs, crafting an innings full of intelligent shot selection and timely boundaries.
- Noor Ahmad emerged as the game-changer, picking up key wickets and finishing with figures that saw him climb to the top of the Purple Cap leaderboard.
- Josh Hazlewood and Yash Dayal bowled with discipline and penetration, never allowing CSK to find any rhythm in the powerplay or middle overs.
- Tim David’s death-over hitting tilted the match heavily in RCB’s favour and deflated CSK before their chase began.
Points Table Update After CSK vs RCB – March 28, 2025
| Rank | Team | Matches | Wins | Losses | Points | NRR |
| 1 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 4 | 4 | 0 | 8 | +1.785 |
| 2 | Rajasthan Royals | 4 | 3 | 1 | 6 | +0.812 |
| 3 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | +0.331 |
| 4 | Lucknow Super Giants | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | +0.122 |
| 5 | Chennai Super Kings | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | -0.491 |
| 6 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -0.227 |
| 7 | Mumbai Indians | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -0.559 |
| 8 | Gujarat Titans | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -0.670 |
| 9 | Delhi Capitals | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | -0.812 |
| 10 | Punjab Kings | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -1.235 |
Note: CSK dropped to 5th place after the loss. Their Net Run Rate (NRR) took a significant hit due to the heavy margin of defeat.
What’s Next for CSK and RCB?
RCB now rides high on confidence with four wins from four matches, looking like a well-oiled machine with both their batting and bowling units firing. Their next match will offer them a chance to further solidify their position at the top.
CSK, on the other hand, must go back to the drawing board. Their top order continues to underperform, and the dependency on their middle and lower order has begun to weigh heavily on results. With the net run rate sliding, CSK needs quick wins to bounce back in the playoff race.
Final Takeaway
On a night that started with high expectations for Chennai fans, Royal Challengers Bengaluru asserted their dominance and silenced Chepauk with an all-round masterclass. From the top-order fireworks to disciplined bowling and sharp fielding, RCB executed their plans flawlessly.
For CSK, the silver lining remains Dhoni’s late flourish and Jadeja’s milestone, but the franchise must recover quickly if they want to stay relevant in the playoff hunt. As the season heats up, every match now carries added weight — and after tonight, RCB sits tall at the top, while CSK faces questions they must answer fast.
