Dayal wins it for RCB again! Up against the five-time champions, Dayal shows that he is a champion to be reckoned with too. Under extreme pressure, and under extreme duress, RCB pull a win out of the fire, and they are going absolutely bonkers. It was proper carnage at the Chinnaswamy and after 40 overs of high-octane cricket, RCB stand atop the team that has caused them so much pain in the past! Full toss just outside off. Dube clears his front leg and swings for the hills. Cannot get under it and cannot find the gap either. Drilled straight to long on and that will be just a single. Spare a thought for CSK. They came so close, but in the end, fell short. A truly remarkable game of cricket, and one that those at the ground will reminisce and rejoice in years to come!
RCB vs CSK, 52nd Match at Bengaluru, IPL, May 03 2025 - Ball by Ball Commentary
11:55pm And...breathe. A rip-roaring game of cricket, and one that could have massive implications, especially for RCB and their trophy-charge. We hope you enjoyed our coverage and we will be back to do it all over again tomorrow, with two games lined up. Until then, from Sudeep and myself (Shashwat), this is goodbye!
Romario Shepherd, Player of the Match: I had my opportunity today, was waiting for it for a long time. Wanted to give the team a good finish. (On where his power come from) My base and the way I swing. Even today, I was just trying to hold my shape and took it from there. (Does he train for these shots) DK came and gave us some specific work and tonight, it paid off for the team. I was not thinking about the score. Just taking it ball by ball, and wanted to hit each ball for four or six. Was trying to stay relaxed, hold my base and hit. (On if he is more of a batter or a bowler) I try to keep it 50-50, but did not come off with the ball (laughs). Bad day with the ball (for me), but we got over the line with the boys (Dayal, Bhuvneshwar and Ngidi) pulling us out of the mud.
Rajat Patidar, RCB captain: It was a tight game. Credit goes to their batters, the way they batted, it was really nice to see. The way the bowlers have shown their (ability), it was incredible. He (Dayal) is the main bowler of our team, a death-overs specialist. It was a clear-cut message to give him the last over. Last year as well, he did the same thing for the team and he did it again (tonight). I had confidence in Suyash also. He has been bowling good overs for RCB. The decision was 50-50 at the moment and I backed my bowler, and the way he bowled, it was really good. (On Shepherd's sixes) That was not easy to go straightaway and hit those big sixes. He has the power and the skill, just enjoying his long sixes from the dugout. The way Lungi (bowled), he is a very experienced bowler. I have good confidence in him. As a team, it is a positive to be on the top. We are not aiming for qualification, and these three matches are crucial. (On if there will be a party tonight) A little bit but we will do it at the end.
MS Dhoni, CSK captain: I felt I should have converted a couple of more shots, and ease the pressure, so I will take the blame for it. Shepherd in the death overs was excellent - whatever we were bowling, he was able to hit it for maximum runs. We need to practice more yorkers. More often than not, when the batters start to connect, you have to rely (on the yorkers). If you cannot nail the yorker, the low full toss is the next best (option). Someone like Pathirana, he has the pace, he can bowl the bouncer as well, and if he misses (the yorker), the batter has a chance to hit it. Not all batters are comfortable playing that (the paddle) shot. Something the batters need to practice in the modern era. But most of our batters are not comfortable playing it. Jadeja plays that shot but he was backing his shots (down the ground) more. Batting was an area where we were slightly behind. But today, as a department, feel the batting did very well.
Dinesh Karthik, RCB team mentor: It will take a humongous effort to stop them scoring the runs that were left in the last over. But Yash being Yash, he delivered. Sometimes games like this uplift the mood and I am glad it happened that way. We had good batters (towards the end), Jitesh, David and Romario. It was not an easy pitch to start on. It has been really hard to start on initially, so maybe take a few balls but when you get set, make sure you hit strong shots. He (Yash Dayal) is right up there with some of the best in India. Yash is again someone who is very diligent. He will come to meetings with a piece of paper. In the same game, one year ago, he did it for us and tonight, he did it again for us. Suyash is that kind of leg-spinner who, under pressure, wants to deliver. He is the kind of spinner India are looking for as well. Because he has bowled so well, Krunal has reaped the benefits.
11:25pm Incredible is probably one of the most-used words to describe the IPL. But make no mistake, This was incredible. A game that ebbed, flowed, and then ebbed again and then flowed again. One moment, Shepherd was ripping CSK to shreds; the next moment, Mhatre was truly announcing himself on the grandest stage, with Jadeja showing off his wares as a No.4 batter.
But in the end, it all came down to three men - Dhoni, Jadeja and Dayal. All of them have been in this situation before. Dhoni and Jadeja more often than Dayal, and as recently as last year at this venue. And just like 2024, Dayal got the job done. There was a hiccup when he bowled a high full toss to Dube, but he soon recovered. And he recovered to deliver three knockout blows, despite Jadeja and Dube trying their best.
Four needed off the last ball. This has been a proper thriller. Surely Dayal goes for the yorker again?
zipped in very full on off. Jadeja looks to go downtown but can only find the inside edge and then the front pad. Rolls away harmlessly into the off side
All eyes on Jadeja now. 5 off 2. Dayal has held his nerve against this very opposition at this very venue in the past. Two more good balls, and he will have done so again
full toss just outside off. Dube swings at it with all his might and scuffs it down the ground to long off. Just a single, and the onus shifts back onto Jadeja
6 off 3 now. With a Free hit to come
that is a high full toss and Dube smashes it out of sight! Borderline waist-high full toss outside off and Dube cannot believe what has been dished out. After scratching his eyes, he thumps it over deep mid wicket. No ball not given, and Dube has reviewed this. This could be touch-and-go! Dube's waist is measured at 1.11m, and Ball Tracking shows the ball to be passing him at 1.14m. That will be a No ball - oh dearie me!
13 off 3. Advantage RCB now. Dube is the new batter in. He is CSK's Impact Player, remember
massive lbw shout, and the finger goes up! No MS Dhoni magic at the Chinnaswamy tonight! Low full toss slanting into leg stump. Dhoni has a massive swipe at it but does not get any bat on it. Gets rapped on the pads and the finger goes up. Dhoni has reviewed this but it could be more in hope than anything else. The impact is in line and Ball Tracking has the ball crashing into leg stump. A monumental moment in this game, and Dayal has outwitted Dhoni two years in a row at the Chinnaswamy!
13 off 4. Pressure on CSK and Dhoni now
full toss on middle and leg and Jadeja cannot put it away. Drags it towards deep mid wicket and this over has begun with two singles off two balls
14 off 5. CSK would love a boundary early in the over
low full toss on middle and leg. Dhoni cannot get under this and scuffs it down the ground to long on. Throws his head back in disappointment soon after
Right. It has all come down to this. 15 runs needed off six balls. RCB give away 13 or less, and they go to the top of the table. CSK get 15, and their hoodoo of not chasing 180-plus scores will cease to exist. Dayal to bowl. Over the wicket
low full toss slanting into off stump. Dhoni tugs at this a little and drags it towards deep mid wicket. Just a single to finish the over
Dhoni with a phenomenal hit over extra cover! And that is vintage Dhoni! Back of a length wide outside off. Dhoni picks the line early, stands up tall and creams it over the deep cover fence!
Despite a boundary off the first ball, this over has only gone for seven. 22 off 8 now
into the blockhole on middle and off. Jadeja cannot get under this either and squirms it towards long off
low full toss just outside off. Dhoni cannot get under it and muscles it towards deep mid wicket. Just a single
24 off 10. Dhoni on strike
full toss on the pads. Jadeja swings at it and misses, with the ball rolling off his front pad into the off side. Given as runs. Maybe Jadeja got something on it, after all
Kohli drops an absolute soda now, and RCB eyes cannot believe what they have just witnessed! Full on midde and off. Jadeja bends his back knee to get under it and arrows it straight to Kohli. The ball goes through his hands and not sure what happened there. Another pure moment of drama!
29 off 12. Bhuvneshwar to bowl the penultimate over. RCB with the momentum from the previous over, CSK with oodles of experience.
Ddn: "Bhuvi will be crucial here. He's been leaking runs and needs to be effective here"
fired in full just outside off. Jadeja flicks it down the ground towards long on and settles for a single. Just six off the over and that could be a game-changing over
just safe! Not sure that carried! Back of a length outside off. Jadeja has a massive mow at it and cuts across it too much. David rushes in from long off, dives forward but cannot make it stick. Might not have carried too. Suyash is disappointed, as are those in RCB colours at the ground
shortens the length after sensing Dhoni advance. Dhoni chops it into the off side and that will be just another single
Just two off three so far. What does Dhoni do now? Does he look for the big hit, or does he get Jadeja back on strike? 33 off 15
shortish outside off. Jadeja opens up his stance and flat-bats it towards long off
back of a length just outside off. Skids off the surface and Jadeja hacks it back to the bowler
Krunal is off the field, by the way, and is holding his left leg. Over the wicket
back of a length outside off. Dhoni goes back and taps it towards deep cover. Jadeja back on strike to the leg-spinner
With Dhoni out in the middle, spin comes on, and Suyash has been tasked with bowling the 18th. CSK need 35 off 18
excellent slower ball to finish off. Dips devilishly just outside off and Jadeja, looking to sweep it away, is beaten all ends up. Lucky for him that was not on the stumps...
Over 20 • CSK 211/5
Powered by Smart Stats