RCB vs CSK, 8th Match at Chennai, IPL, Mar 28 2025 - Ball by Ball Commentary

11.35pm Right then, a historic win for RCB. A 50-run win for RCB. They will be absolutely chuffed. CSK meanwhile have to aim for a better performance when they go to Guwahati to take on bottom-placed Rajasthan Royals. RCB have gotten off to a flyer in IPL 2025. Could this be... ah, no, I won't say it. That will be all from us tonight. Join us tomorrow to see Mumbai Indians take on Gujarat Titans. On behalf of Ekanth, Vairavan and everyone else at ESPNcricinfo, this is Abhimanyu signing off. Goodnight, and happy weekend!

11.30pm Time for the presentation.

Rajat Patidar, who is also the Player of the Match: "If I talk about this match, it was a good total on this surface because ball was stopping a bit and it wasn't easy for batters to hit fours and sixes. [On winning in Chennai] It's always special playing in Chepauk because of the fans, the way they support their teams. [On his innings] I think it was very important because we were targeting 200 because that wouldn't be easy to chase. My goal was clear that as long as I was there, I would maximise every ball. [On bowling changes] This track was pretty helpful for spinners so I was just keeping it in my mind that I could use my spinners at the early stage. Especially Livingstone, the way he came in and bowled four overs was incredible. [On Hazlewood] It was game-changing because we got two-three wickets in first six overs. Amazing to see how they kept it on the hard length because the ball wasn't coming on to the bat easily."

Interesting that CSK suffered their biggest defeat at home, and Gaikwad says he's happy it wasn't a big defeat! Also, unreal stuff from Patidar. Today, how RCB went against spin was always going to be crucial, and Patidar delivered with the bat. He was offered lives, but he made the most of them. The other batters also ensured the momentum never slowed down too much, despite Kohli's struggles. It was a proper team effort with the bat. And then even with the ball, there were barely any loose deliveries till the game was all but in the bag. Bowling changes were on point as well.

Mustafa Moudi : "What Pietersen, Kumble, Vettori, Kohli, Du Plessis - Couldnt do, Patidar did it - Beating Chennai in Chennai. And Captain led from the Front. Take a bow !!"

Josh Hazlewood: "Feeling nice and fresh. As a group tonight we were outstanding. Improved from our last game against KKR. Made good use of the conditions and did well as a pace and spin unit. I think with this wicket here you get a little bit of up and down, a little two paced, so the fuller ball is easier to face so just hitting that 8-10m length. The energy was great, the effort from the fielding group was excellent, saving runs and taking catches. It really lifts us up as bowlers. Any time you get injured you can feel down, but if you use that time nicely and get some nice time in the gym, it's a nice position to be in. I think having a left-armer is crucial. Every team in the competition has a left-arm quick and his changes of pace was excellent today and he is a class act."

Ruturaj Gaikwad: "I still feel 170 was a par score on this wicket. It wasn't that easy to bat. Bad fielding cost us. When you're chasing 170, you have a little more time, but when you're chasing 20 runs extra you have to bat differently in the powerplay and it didn't happen today. It got a little slower, it got a little sticky. The new ball was sticking a bit. Don't know how it happened. Rahul backed his shot, I backed mine as well, sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't. But as I said when you have a par score in mind and you are chasing 20 extra you always want to stay ahead. So that was just the thinking. But at the end we didn't lose by a big margin, it was just 50 runs. Definitely a different scenario when you have three world class spinners in the team. You want new batters to face them. It didn't happen this time, we dropped catches and boundaries kept coming and they kept going and the momentum didn't stop till the last over. There's a long flight to Guwahati but we just have to turn up mentally and see which are the areas we can improve. I feel the fielding has to improve a lot and we have to come back stronger in the fielding department."

11.15pm What a comprehensive display from RCB at the Chepauk! That's some way to win your first game at the ground since 2008! Patidar, Salt, David, Padikkal and Jitesh starred with the bat. Then, they were on top with the ball from the very start, with Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar bossing the powerplay. From there, CSK could never take off and a double-wicket over from Dayal that saw CSK lose Ravindra and Dube effectively ended the chase. There will be questions about Dhoni coming to bat as No. 9, even below Ashwin, even as he finishes unbeaten on 30 off 16 to become CSK's highest run-scorer in the IPL. For RCB, it's two thumping wins that will not only see them cement their spot at the top of the table, but also ensure another NRR boost.

In a bit of comedy, I suppose, there is a change of balls as Krunal Pandya gears up to bowl the final over

Noor Ahmad at No. 10

Deep: "Can't overstate the importance of two big wins early in the piece for RCB. The NRR boost would be incredibly valuable when the inevitable losses arrive."

Vikas: "To be fair, I think Salt and Patidar played blinders to ensure RCB get to where they did in first innings. Pitch wasn't easy to bat on, evident with Kohli's struggles as well."

So, mathematically, this match is done and RCB have won it. Just the margin needs to be decided. Unless of course there's a flurry of wides and no-balls. Anyway, here's Hazlewood's final over.

3000 runs in the IPL for Jadeja! First to score 3000 runs and get 100 wickets in the IPL

Abhash: "@Abhimanyu dhoni didn't bat against mi, correct your facts!!" He did face two dot balls!

And here's Suyash