In a high-voltage IPL 2025 match, Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Chennai Super Kings became a batting show in the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, with RCB declaring a strong score of 213 for 5. CSK also attempted to make this successful with the help of Ayush Mhatre’s 94 and Jadeja’s 77*, but fell short by 2 runs due to a savior over bowled by Yash Dayal.
Shepherd’s 14-Ball Fifty Turns the Game Around
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Romario Shepherd was the match-winner during the closing overs. Returning at 157 for 5 in the 18th over, he threw the game topsy-turvy with an explosive 53 in 14 balls, where 4 were fours and 6 were sixes. The decade comprised ten boundary-run-making shots off 14 balls, making it as powerful a comeback in IPL 2025 comes.
This knock is currently the second-quickest fifty in IPL history, only behind Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 13-ball achievement. Shepherd finished his innings with a massive six over wide long-off off the last ball of the innings, bowled by Matheesha Pathirana.
RCB Smash 54 Runs in Final Two Overs
RCB piled on an incredible 54 runs in the final two overs, with most of the damage being done by Shepherd. Khaleel Ahmed was the unfortunate recipient of his power-hitting in the 19th over, giving away 33 runs, including 4 sixes, 2 fours, and a no-ball, making it one of the costliest overs of IPL 2025.
In the 20th over, Pathirana, after a disciplined performance in the first half, conceded 2 fours and 2 sixes, helping RCB reach the 200-run mark with ease.
Kohli and Bethell Lay the Foundation for RCB
Earlier in the innings, Jacob Bethell and Virat Kohli provided RCB with a dream start. The duo scored 71 runs in the powerplay, RCB’s highest home powerplay score this season. Bethell, dropped on 27, made the most of it to score 55 off 33 balls, scoring his first IPL fifty in just his second game.
Kohli, in majestic touch, completed his half-century in 29 balls and continued to score 62 off 33 before being dismissed by a well-targeted slower bouncer from Sam Curran. His purpose and elegant strokeplay assisted RCB in gaining early momentum.
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CSK’s Mid-Innings Fightback Led by Overseas Bowlers
CSK recovered in the middle overs by Matheesha Pathirana, Noor Ahmad, and Sam Curran, who tightened the screws post-powerplay. Pathirana, whose changed bowling action has been in the spotlight this season, bowled with precision and variations, even picking up the key wicket of Bethell with help from a brilliant catch by Dewald Brevis. Even though there was a brief recovery, CSK’s failure to restrict Shepherd in the last overs proved costly.
CSK’s strong fightback
The two batsmen of the top 4 shone with the bat for CSK, which brought CSK near to the desired total, but in the end fell short by 2 runs. 17-year-old batsman Ayush Mhatre smashed a swashbuckling knock of 94 runs in 48 balls, which was supported by Ravindra Jadeja’s 77-run knock. After the fall of Ayush’s wicket, the flow of runs went down due to great toe crushing yorkers by Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Yash Dayal in the death overs.
Suyash Sharma bowled a 6-run 18th over, which built pressure on Jadeja and Dhoni on the pitch, leaving them with 15 runs in the last over.
Roller Coaster last over of RCB
BALL 1- 1 Run, Yash Dayal to Dhoni
BALL 2- 1 Run, Yash Dayal to Jadeja
BALL 3- Out, Yash Dayal to Dhoni
BALL 4- No-Ball and 6, Yash Dayal to Shubham Dube
BALL 5- 1 Run, Yash Dayal to Shubham Dube
BALL 6- 1 Run, Yash Dayal to Jadeja
BALL 7- 1 Run, Yash Dayal to Shubham Dube
ALSO READ: Most Expensive Over of IPL 2025: Romario Shepherd Smashes 33 Runs
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