Chennai: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) ended their long-standing drought at MA Chidambaram Stadium on Friday, securing a commanding 50-run victory over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and breaking a 17-year jinx. The emphatic win saw RCB post 196 for 7 in 20 overs before restricting CSK to a below-par total, thanks to disciplined bowling.
Rajat Patidar played a pivotal role in RCB’s triumph, top-scoring with a 51-run knock off 32 deliveries. Phil Salt (32 off 16) and Devdutt Padikkal (27 off 14) provided valuable contributions at the top, while Tim David’s late onslaught (22 not out off 8 balls, including three consecutive sixes) propelled RCB to a formidable total. For CSK, Noor Ahmad was the pick of the bowlers, taking 3 for 36 in his four-over spell.
Chasing 197, CSK never found their footing against RCB’s clinical bowling attack. Josh Hazlewood led the charge with impressive figures of 3 for 21, while Yash Dayal and Liam Livingstone chipped in with two wickets each. Despite a surface that made stroke-making difficult, CSK’s batting lineup faltered under pressure, with fielding lapses compounding their troubles.
Reflecting on the victory, Player of the Match Rajat Patidar said, “It was a good total on this surface because the ball was stopping a bit, making it tough for batters to hit freely. Winning in Chennai is always special because of the incredible support from the fans. Our goal was clear—target 200, as that would be difficult to chase. The bowlers executed their plans well, and Hazlewood’s early breakthroughs changed the game.”
CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad admitted that fielding errors played a major role in their defeat. “I feel 170 was a par score on this wicket. Chasing 20 extra runs made things difficult, forcing us to be more aggressive in the powerplay, and it didn’t work today. The new ball was sticking a bit, and bad fielding cost us. We need to improve significantly in the fielding department before our next match in Guwahati,” he stated.
The victory marks a significant moment for RCB, as they finally break their long-standing curse in Chennai and gain crucial momentum in the tournament. With both teams now looking ahead, CSK will aim for a stronger performance in their upcoming fixtures, while RCB will seek to build on this historic win.
