The clash between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium saw an entertaining moment between Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja. The RCB batter, in good spirits, approached Ravindra Jadeja and playfully danced beside him, adding a lighthearted touch to the intense contest.
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However, the match itself was all business for RCB that delivered a convincing 50-run victory to claim its second win of the season. A standout performance by fast bowler Josh Hazlewood played a crucial role in their triumph.
Chasing a target of 197, CSK struggled to build momentum, despite a late effort from MS Dhoni who smashed 30 runs off 16 balls while batting lower in the order. Josh Hazlewood led Bengaluru’s charge with an impressive 3/21, while skipper Rajat Patidar contributed significantly with a quickfire 51 off 32 deliveries, ensuring a strong total of 196/7 for RCB.
Bengaluru’s innings was built on steady contributions from the top order, with Phil Salt and Virat Kohli both making valuable contributions in the thirties. Chennai, in contrast, faltered early, losing key wickets to Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Within the powerplay, Josh Hazlewood dismissed Rahul Tripathi and Ruturaj Gaikwad in the same over, while Deepak Hooda fell to Bhuvneshwar Kumar shortly after, leaving the home side struggling at 26/3.
The middle order attempted a fightback with Ravindra Jadeja and Shivam Dube adding some crucial runs but Chennai ultimately managed only 146/8. Yash Dayal and Liam Livingstone chipped in with wickets, keeping the pressure on the hosts throughout the innings.
Reflecting on the match, Rajat Patidar emphasised the importance of building a competitive total, stating that a 200-run target would have been difficult to chase in Chennai. He credited Josh Hazlewood’s early breakthroughs as a defining moment in the match.
Virat Kohli who scored 31 off 30 deliveries was dismissed by Afghanistan’s Noor Ahmad who stood out among Chennai’s bowlers with figures of 3/36. Devdutt Padikkal and Tim David also made significant contributions, with the latter accelerating the run rate with a quick 22 off just eight balls.
The CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad acknowledged that the pitch wasn’t easy for batting but pointed to fielding lapses as a costly factor in their defeat. With this commanding win, RCB strengthened their position in the tournament, while CSK was left searching for answers after a tough outing at home.
