RCB Breaks Chepauk Curse with Dominant Show Against CSK
When was the last time RCB celebrated a win at Chepauk? You’d have to go back to 2008. For 17 long years, the tough Chennai pitch and the roaring home crowd usually meant heartbreak for Bengaluru’s boys. But the 2025 IPL script flipped. On a humid Chennai night, Royal Challengers Bengaluru marched into MA Chidambaram Stadium and broke their losing streak in style, leaving the Chennai Super Kings stunned and the home crowd silent.
RCB’s captain stuck to his guns after losing the toss, with CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad inviting them to bat. And that’s when Phil Salt set the tone—right from ball one. He thumped a massive six, followed by a flurry of boundaries. His 32 off just 16 balls was packed with intent. It wasn’t just about muscle, but timing and reading the bowler’s length. Before CSK could regroup, Salt had given RCB the fast start every team dreams about on a tricky surface.
Then came Rajat Patidar, cool and unflappable. As wickets tumbled at the other end, he played the mature hand, anchoring the innings and reaching his half-century with a calm that belied the high-stakes moment. His calculated boundaries and sharp running turned ones into twos, making life tough for the CSK outfielders. RCB’s innings wasn’t just about singles and doubles. The crowd counted several balls sailing over the ropes, with the batters cashing in on anything short and wide. The total RCB posted wasn’t disclosed, but the range of big hits suggested a tall chase for the home side.
Josh Hazlewood's Fiery Spell Cripples CSK’s Chase
If RCB’s batting started with a bang, their bowling started with an explosion. Josh Hazlewood bowled a spell that Chepauk won’t soon forget. Three wickets in his opening over, each ball rising off just the right length and exploiting the pitch’s awkward bounce. Suddenly, CSK’s reliable top order was in tatters. The game felt done and dusted even before the Chennai crowd found their voice.
Chennai’s middle order scrambled to repair the damage, but the net kept tightening. Every time a partnership seemed to be brewing, RCB’s bowlers—buoyed by Hazlewood’s blitz—found an answer. Dot balls piled up, and so did the pressure. Yet, with the clock ticking, one familiar figure refused to throw in the towel. MS Dhoni, with his trademark calm, put up a late fight. He sent the final over for 16 runs, giving fans a brief whiff of hope, but the mountain to climb was always steep.
The scoreboard told a clear story—CSK were outplayed in all departments. RCB’s electric fielding, sharp catches, and smart bowling changes made sure the hosts found no escape routes. When the last wicket fell, players in red hugged each other, knowing they had banished a long-standing hoodoo at this ground. The 50-run margin said it all: this was no fluke.
The win has pushed RCB to the top of the table. With back-to-back victories, they suddenly look like the team to beat. Their mix of firebrand openers, experienced campaigners, and aggressive bowlers has given them early momentum in this IPL season. For CSK, it’s back to the drawing board. At Chepauk, the fortress has finally been breached—and RCB fans have every reason to celebrate.
