In a pulsating clash at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) secured a thrilling two-run win over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Match 52 of IPL 2025, climbing to the top of the points table.
RCB, led by a scintillating 62 off 33 balls from Virat Kohli, set the tone early. Jacob Bethell’s 55 and a power-packed finish by Romario Shepherd (53 off 14 balls) catapulted the hosts to a formidable 213/5. Shepherd’s explosive knock, featuring six towering sixes, proved decisive in the final tally.
CSK responded with an equally fierce counterattack. Ayush Mhatre’s 94 off 48 balls and Ravindra Jadeja’s unbeaten 77 off 45 kept them ahead of the required rate. At 172/2 in the 17th over, the match seemed to be CSK’s to lose. However, Lungi Ngidi’s triple strike triggered a collapse, bringing the equation down to 15 runs needed off the last over.
Yash Dayal, tasked with the final over, displayed incredible nerve. Despite a no-ball six, he dismissed MS Dhoni lbw and successfully restricted CSK to 211/5, handing RCB a dramatic win.
Post-Match Reactions:
- MS Dhoni (CSK Captain): “We fell short in execution, especially in the bowling department. Romario Shepherd’s innings was the difference.”
- Rajat Patidar (RCB Captain): “Our bowlers showed great resilience under pressure. We’re aiming for a strong finish in the tournament.”
- Romario Shepherd (Player of the Match): “Focused on power-hitting drills and holding my shape. Glad I could contribute in a big way.”
𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 a power-packed finish and special victory 👏❤️
For his magnificent innings, Romario Shepherd is adjudged the Player of the Match 🔝
Scorecard ▶ https://t.co/I4Eij3ZNlN#TATAIPL | #RCBvCSK | @RCBTweets pic.twitter.com/uSOVopOG4N
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 3, 2025
RCB’s victory solidifies their top standing as the tournament heads into the business end.
Latest Summary of IPL 2025 points table:
- Top Teams: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) leads the standings with 16 points, followed by Mumbai Indians (MI) and Gujarat Titans (GT), who each have 14 points.
- Middle of the Pack: Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Delhi Capitals (DC) are close behind with 13 and 12 points, respectively. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have 10 and 9 points.
- Struggling Teams: Rajasthan Royals (RR), Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are at the bottom, with CSK having just 4 points.
- Recent Form: MI is on a winning streak with five consecutive wins, while CSK has struggled with four consecutive losses.
