Rajat Patidar Leads RCB to Historic Win, Ends 17-Year Wait to Defeat CSK at Chepauk

Royal Challengers Bengaluru finally broke their 17-year jinx at Chepauk, securing a dominant 50-run win over Chennai Super Kings. It was a statement victory, not only ending their long wait for a win at CSK’s fortress but also handing the five-time champions their biggest home defeat in IPL history.

Heading into the match, all eyes were on RCB’s ability to counter CSK’s renowned spin attack over 12 overs. But as it turned out, the real question was how CSK would cope with RCB’s pace attack. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood made the ball talk, exploiting seam movement and swing to perfection. Their combined figures of 7-0-41-4 made it clear – CSK’s batting had no answers. Before that, RCB’s batters put on an impressive display on a tricky surface. Khaleel Ahmed, much like Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar, extracted movement and extra bounce, something CSK’s bowlers lacked. However, Rajat Patidar was the star with the bat, making the most of a dropped catch when he was on 17 before going on to smash 51 off 32 balls. His knock, laced with four boundaries and three sixes, earned him the Player of the Match award and propelled RCB to a competitive 196. 

In response, CSK crumbled under the pressure. They could only manage 146 in their 20 overs, with Hazlewood leading the charge with a three-wicket haul. Yash Dayal and Liam Livingstone chipped in with two wickets each, ensuring there was no late fightback from the hosts. 

This was RCB’s first victory at Chepauk since May 21, 2008, a staggering 6,155 days ago. Back then, Rahul Dravid was the captain when they edged out CSK by 14 runs. Since then, RCB had endured eight consecutive losses at the venue, with captains like Anil Kumble, Daniel Vettori, Virat Kohli, and Faf du Plessis all failing to get over the line. The 2011 IPL final loss to CSK at this very ground only added to the pain.  

With this commanding win, Patidar became only the second RCB captain after Dravid to defeat CSK in Chennai. It was also the biggest margin of victory by any team against CSK at Chepauk. Moreover, the 50-run loss marked CSK’s third-heaviest defeat in IPL history, following a 60-run thrashing by Mumbai Indians in 2013 and a 54-run setback against Punjab Kings in 2022. Interestingly, both of those defeats came in Mumbai, making this home humiliation even more significant. For RCB, this win wasn’t just about breaking a streak – it was about making a statement. They finally conquered their Chepauk demons, and they did it in emphatic style. 

Also Read: MS Dhoni Breaks IPL Record, Becomes CSK's Top Run-Getter at 43