Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) narrowly edged out Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by 2 runs in a last over thriller at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. It was the 52nd match of IPL 2025. Kohli and Bethell gave RCB a flying start, both scoring half-centuries. Pathirana and Noor Ahmad bowled well in the death overs and slowed down RCB’s scoring rate. However, the real storm came in the form of Romario Shepherd, who smashed a half-century in just 14 balls, helping RCB post a total of 213 runs.

Ayush Mhatre and Shaik Rasheed gave Chennai Super Kings a strong start in the chase. After Rasheed’s dismissal, Jadeja held one end and supported Mhatre. CSK looked to be cruising toward victory, but the game turned in the 17th over when they lost Mhatre and Brevis. In the final over, Yash Dayal dismissed MS Dhoni and restricted Shivam Dube to a single when CSK needed a boundary off the last ball.

RCB Start Aggressively

CSK won the toss and chose to bowl first. Virat Kohli and Jacob Bethell opened for RCB. Bethell immediately set the tone with three consecutive boundaries off Khaleel Ahmed in the first over.

In the second over, Anshul Kamboj kept things tight, conceding just three runs. However, RCB picked up the pace in the third over. Bethell smashed a six, and Kohli followed with two back-to-back sixes. RCB raced to 35/0 in 3 overs.

Powerplay Belongs to RCB

Bethell continued to dominate in the fourth over with two more boundaries. Jadeja dropped his catch after a collision with Pathirana. In the next over, Bethell brought up RCB's 50 with a boundary. He followed it with a six and another four to end the over.

Kohli then joined the party, hitting back-to-back sixes and a boundary off Kamboj. After 6 overs, RCB reached 71/0. Bethell was on 42 off 23 balls, and Kohli was on 29 off 13.

Bethell, Kohli Slam Fifties

Jadeja bowled a tight seventh over, giving away only 2 runs. Sam Curran came in next and gave away a boundary and a six.

Bethell reached his half-century in the ninth over off 28 balls. But in the 10th over, Pathirana struck and removed Bethell for 55. Devdutt Padikkal came in at No. 3. At halfway, RCB were 97/1, with Kohli on 42.

Kohli responded with a six and two boundaries off Jadeja in the 11th over. He brought up his half-century in just 29 balls. Curran got his wicket in the next over. Kohli departed after a brilliant 62 off 33.

Middle Overs Slow Down

Rajat Patidar entered and struck a boundary off Noor Ahmad, but the bowlers tightened up. In the 14th over, Padikkal hit a four and six off Curran. Noor followed with a tight over, giving away just 4 runs. RCB were 144/2 after 15 overs.

Pathirana then dismissed Padikkal at the start of the 16th. Jitesh Sharma hit a boundary to end the over. Noor struck again in the 17th over, removing Jitesh for 7. RCB were now 153/4. Pathirana got Patidar in the next over. Romario Shepherd walked in and took a single. RCB stood at 159/5 after 18 overs.

Romario’s Stormy Finish

Khaleel bowled the 19th over. Shepherd exploded with 4 sixes and 2 boundaries, including a six on a no-ball. RCB got 33 runs in the over.

Pathirana bowled the final over. Shepherd kept going and smashed 2 sixes and 2 boundaries, reaching his half-century in just 14 balls. He remained unbeaten on 53 off 14, while Tim David added 2 off 3. RCB finished strong at 213/5 in 20 overs.

Mhatre Leads CSK’s Aggressive Reply

Chasing 214, Ayush Mhatre and Shaik Rasheed opened for CSK. Krunal Pandya bowled the first over, giving away 8 runs. Bhuvneshwar and Yash Dayal followed. Rasheed hit a boundary and a six in the third over as CSK moved to 23/0.

Mhatre took charge in the fourth over, smashing 5 fours and a six. He scored 26 runs off Bhuvneshwar. CSK reached 50 in the fifth over, but Pandya struck and removed Rasheed for 14. Sam Curran came in and hit a four but fell to Ngidi in the sixth over. After the powerplay, CSK were 58/2.

Mhatre and Jadeja Steady the Chase

Mhatre hit a six in the 7th over. Jadeja added two boundaries in the next over. Mhatre completed his half-century off 25 balls. In the 10th over, he smashed two sixes and a four off Shepherd. CSK reached 106/2 at the halfway mark.

Jadeja struck a six and a four in the 11th over, and the pair completed their 50-run partnership. Dayal and Suyash bowled tight overs, but Mhatre and Jadeja kept the scoreboard ticking. After 13 overs, CSK were 140/2.

Jadeja Joins the Fifty Club

Ngidi gave away 10 runs in the 14th. Jadeja completed his half-century in the 15th over off 29 balls. Mhatre smashed a six to end the over and also brought up the 100-run stand. CSK were 160/2 after 15 overs.

Dayal bowled the 16th, and RCB dropped both Mhatre and Jadeja. Ngidi returned and turned the game. He dismissed Mhatre for 94 and then removed Brevis on the next ball. Dhoni walked in and took a single on the hat-trick ball. Jadeja smacked a six to close the over. CSK were 179/4 after 17 overs.

Final Over Drama

Suyash bowled the 18th and conceded only 6 runs. Bhuvneshwar gave away a boundary and a six in the 19th as CSK reached 199/4.

Yash Dayal bowled the final over. Jadeja took a single, bringing CSK's total to 200. Dayal then dismissed MS Dhoni. Shivam Dube, the impact player, hit a six off a no-ball but could only manage a single on the next delivery. Jadeja took a single on the fifth ball. With 4 runs needed off the final ball, Dube managed only a single. RCB held their nerve under pressure and sealed a thrilling 2-run win.

Brief Scorecard