In a high-octane IPL 2025 clash at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) delivered a batting masterclass against arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings (CSK), racking up a massive 213/5 in their 20 overs. The innings was anchored by a sublime 62-run knock from the ever-reliable Virat Kohli and turbocharged by Romario Shepherd’s late blitzkrieg, which saw him smash 53 off just 14 balls.
After CSK captain opted to bowl first, RCB openers looked ready for the challenge. Youngster Jacob Bethell continued his impressive form with a powerful 55 off 33 balls, laced with 8 fours and 2 sixes. He laid the foundation before falling to Matheesha Pathirana in the 10th over.
Virat Kohli, at his fluent best, unleashed a flurry of strokes, punishing the bowlers with his precise timing and raw power. His 62 came off just 33 balls, featuring 5 boundaries and 5 towering sixes, much to the delight of the packed Bengaluru crowd.
Devdutt Padikkal (17 off 15), skipper Rajat Patidar (11 off 15), and wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma (7 off 8) could not capitalize on their starts, but the late flourish came courtesy of Romario Shepherd. Walking in at No. 7, Shepherd turned the game on its head with an astonishing strike rate of 378.57, blasting 4 fours and 6 sixes in his unbeaten cameo, propelling RCB well past the 200-run mark.
Despite the flat pitch, CSK’s bowlers struggled to find rhythm. Khaleel Ahmed had a forgettable outing, conceding 65 runs in his 3 overs – the most expensive spell of the season so far. Pathirana, however, was the silver lining for CSK, picking up 3 wickets for 36 runs in his 4 overs. Noor Ahmad also kept things tidy with 1/26.
Here’s how the fall of wickets unfolded:
- 97/1: J. Bethell (9.5 ov)
- 121/2: V. Kohli (11.5 ov)
- 144/3: D. Padikkal (15.1 ov)
- 154/4: J. Sharma (16.5 ov)
- 157/5: R. Patidar (17.4 ov)
With RCB putting up a towering total of 213/5, CSK will need a herculean chase to keep their playoff hopes alive. All eyes will be on Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shivam Dube, and MS Dhoni to pull off what would be one of the most memorable comebacks in IPL history.
