Dominant RCB stun CSK at Chepauk.

When put to bat, RCB scored a solid 196 before easily defending the total as their bowlers onto the pitch to cause CSK to suffer their largest home run loss. Royal Challengers Bengaluru ended a 17-year drought in Chepauk with a spectacular performance, defeating Chennai Super Kings at home to begin the season with consecutive victories.

The game was won where?

in the PowerPlay itself. Phil Salt‘s quickfire 32 gave RCB the lead, but CSK couldn’t find anyone to match his valiant efforts, particularly during a 197-run chase. Instead, they lost three early wickets in those first overs because they were under a lot of strain. They trailed by 50 runs after that and simply never bounced back.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Powerplay: Salt establishes the framework

56/1 is the phase score. [RR: 9.3, 6/2 for 4s/6s]

Teams must capitalise in the first six overs against the new ball when sticky conditions are anticipated. Salt picked Khaleel Ahmed for a few boundaries and left with a purpose from the beginning. As RCB got off to a fantastic start, Salt welcomed the experienced spinner with a six over backward square leg and followed it up with two more fours in the same over, making CSK’s decision to bring in R Ashwin from the other end a huge failure. Virat Kohli had a difficult time and required a full throw from Noor Ahmad to eventually get his maiden boundary, while Salt kept finding the boundary. However, MS Dhoni’s deft hands again led to a stumping in the same over, and Noor provided CSK a much-needed breakthrough. Sam Curran was then whipped over the ropes for a six by Devdutt Padikkal, capping off the PowerPlay in style.

Patidar makes CSK pay in the middle overs.

82/2 is the phase score. [RR: 9.1, 6/4 for 4s/6s]

For a short while after the PowerPlay, Padikkal was the unexpected star, taking Ravindra Jadeja for a few fours and a six to quiet the Chepauk crowd. Ruturaj Gaikwad made a great catch to send him back after he threatened to do more harm. Some of the other fielders, however, did not support Gaikwad’s effort as they kept giving Rajat Patidar chances. Before that, the returning Matheesha Pathirana hit Kohli on the helmet as he hammered the Sri Lankan pacer for a six and a four, causing him to eventually break free. However, he was unable to maintain that speed and slog-swept Noor to the guy at deep mid-wicket. In order to increase RCB’s run rate and position them for a thrilling finish, Patidar pursued Jadeja in the very next over, making CSK pay with a barrage of boundaries.

Death Overs: A thrilling conclusion

58/4 is the phase score. [RR: 11.6, 3/6 for 4s/6s]

Liam Livingstone and Jitesh Sharma each struck sixes in Noor’s last over, but the Englishman was bowled in between the two hits, setting up an exciting finish to the innings. Jitesh’s brief appearance was then cut short by Khaleel, and when Pathirana returned for his last over, he kept leaking boundaries before making amends in his final over by taking out Patidar and Krunal Pandya. RCB’s dreams of finishing with a total of at least 200 were dashed by that brief span. But Tim David gave his team a strong finish at the conclusion of the innings by hitting three sixes off Curran, and RCB finished the innings with a total that was only four runs shy of 200.

Chennai Super Kings

PowerPlay: Bhuvneshwar and Hazlewood put CSK under pressure

Phase Score: 30/3 [RR: 5, 4s/6s: 4/0]

This offence was greatly bolstered by Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s return, particularly during the PowerPlay when RCB injured CSK to gain early control. Josh Hazlewood, however, was the first to make an impact with a double-wicket over that put CSK on the defensive right away. Seemingly out of touch, Rahul Tripathi made a weak pull that was ill-timed and easily caught. The worse blow, however, came when Gaikwad misplayed a short ball and was caught close to the boundary, bringing CSK down to 8 for 2. After being promoted before impact substitute Shivam Dube, Deepak Hooda appeared incredibly unsteady and ultimately gave Bhuvneshwar his first wicket of the year by nicking one behind. Rachin Ravindra was once again responsible for saving CSK, along with Curran, who was also despatched before Dube.

CSK gets a taste of their own medicine in the middle overs.

Phase Score: 68 out of 3. [RR: 7.55, 6/1 for 4s/6s]

The home team was still being strangled by RCB’s spinners after the PowerPlay, even though there was no visible dew. Given that the necessary rate was still increasing, something had to give. In an effort to escape, Curran made a mistake by leaving Livingstone, which ultimately led Dube to the centre. He immediately threatened to make an impact by hitting Suyash Sharma for a six and a four, but the legspinner turned things around with a superb over to put more pressure on CSK. As a result, Yash Dayal was rewarded by dismissing both Dube and Ravindra in the same over in identical way, bringing CSK closer to a crushing loss. The track’s languid tempo made sure CSK never gained any traction.

Death overs: Dhoni narrows the loss margin

48/2 is the phase score. [RR: 9.6, 5/3 for 4s/6s]

Only a brief appearance by Dhoni could lift the spirits of the home supporters, who had been hushed for the majority of the evening. The former captain complied, hitting the boundary twice against Hazlewood before hitting Krunal for two huge sixes in his last over. To stay undefeated at 30 from just 16 balls, he also hit the last ball to the boundary. But even with Dhoni’s cameo, which only served to narrow the loss margin, the evening still belonged to RCB.

Brief scores: Chennai Super Kings 146/8 in 20 overs (Rachin Ravindra 41, MS Dhoni 30*; Josh Hazlewood 3/21, Yash Dayal 2/18) were defeated by 50 runs by Royal Challengers Bengaluru 196/7 in 20 overs (Rajat Patidar 51, Phil Salt 32; Noor Ahmed 3/36, Matheesha Pathirana 2/36).

What will the teams do next?

With their current batting lineup, CSK has a lot to think about. However, they don’t have much time on their hands as they now need to defeat the winless Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati in less than 48 hours. After achieving two remarkable away victories, the high-flying RCB will finally return home. On April 2, the Gujarat Titans will visit.