CSK vs RCB: How Yash Dayal’s final-over heroics had denied MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings sixth IPL title

As the IPL 2025 season heats up, all eyes will be on the high-stakes clash between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium, also known as Chepauk, on Friday, 28 March. RCB are on a quest to break their 17-year winless streak at CSK’s fortress, having managed only one victory at this venue since 2008. Virat Kohli remains the sole survivor in RCB from that historic win.

CSK, renowned for their home advantage and spin-friendly conditions, boast a formidable bowling lineup that includes seasoned spinners like Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, and newcomer Noor Ahmad. With their impressive performances, they put up a strong showing against the Mumbai Indians in their season opener last week. RCB will look to counter CSK’s bowling strength with batters like Kohli, Phil Salt, Rajat Patidar, Liam Livingstone, and Jitesh Sharma, just like they did in their opening game against Kolkata Knight Riders.

How RCB shocked CSK the last time they met

The last time these two teams faced off was a memorable clash leading up to the IPL 2024 playoffs, where Yash Dayal’s heroics in the final over helped RCB seal a crucial win. Needing 16 runs from the last six balls to qualify based on superior net run rate, MS Dhoni launched a massive six behind the wicket. The pressure mounted significantly on Dayal as the tide turned heavily in favour of CSK.

However, Dayal made a remarkable comeback by dismissing Dhoni with a clever slower ball on the very next delivery. After that, he bowled a dot ball, and Shardul Thakur managed to take a single off the fourth ball, bringing Ravindra Jadeja to the crease. CSK now required 10 runs off just 2 balls to qualify for the playoffs, a scenario Jadeja had successfully navigated in the previous season, hitting a six and a four to secure the fifth IPL title for his team.

This time, however, Dayal had other plans, delivering two consecutive dot balls that sealed RCB’s playoff spot while sending the defending champions home.

Batting first, RCB posted a total of 218/5, with Kohli scoring 47 off 29 balls and skipper Faf du Plessis contributing 54 off 39. The duo established a steady platform, but it was current captain Rajat Patidar who added flair to the innings, scoring 41 off just 23 deliveries. Cameron Green’s explosive knock of 38 runs from 17 balls helped RCB accelerate in the final overs.

Chasing the target, CSK got off to a disastrous start, losing skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad for a duck in the very first over from Glenn Maxwell. The innings never really recovered from that early blow despite a valiant effort from Rachin Ravindra, who scored 61 runs off 37 balls. Ajinkya Rahane contributed with 33 runs, but the CSK middle order faltered against RCB’s bowlers.