RCB's victory marked their sixth win in a row, taking them to 16 points and strengthening their claim to a playoff berth

That was a dramatic finish—yet again! Yash Dayal seems to have carved out a reputation as CSK’s final-over nemesis. In a high-pressure situation, with 14 runs to defend against MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja on a dewy Chinnaswamy pitch, Dayal held his nerve just like he did in 2024. His composure under pressure and execution of yorkers were key in sealing the win for RCB, who now sit at the top of the IPL 2025 table with 16 points. That was vintage last-over IPL drama, and RCB fans got a thriller to remember. Yash Dayal and Suyash Sharma showed immense composure when it mattered most. Suyash’s tight 18th over, conceding just six runs against Jadeja and Dhoni, turned the tide in RCB’s favor after a tense setup. Then came Dayal—under immense pressure, against one of the game’s greatest finishers and in damp conditions that made control difficult. Despite not landing perfect yorkers, Dayal stuck to his strategy of low full tosses. He dismissed Dhoni on the third ball, and even after a waist-high full toss went for six, he didn’t flinch. His courage to persist with the plan, even with a free hit and six needed off three, sealed the deal. Jadeja’s inside edge for a single and Dube’s failure to find the boundary capped off a clinical death bowling effort. RCB’s batting masterclass was set up beautifully by Jacob Bethell and Virat Kohli, and then supercharged by Romario Shepherd’s explosive finishing. Jacob Bethell, a late inclusion due to Phil Salt's illness, grabbed the opportunity with both hands. His aggressive start—taking Khaleel Ahmed for three boundaries in the first over—set the tone, and his 28-ball fifty gave RCB momentum in the powerplay. The missed catch (thanks to a collision between Pathirana and Jadeja) was a turning point, and Bethell capitalized well before falling for 55 in just his second IPL innings. Kohli, in vintage form this season, played the anchor-aggressor role perfectly, notching up his 7th fifty of the season in 29 balls. He showed great intent before falling for 62 off 33, just when he looked poised to push deeper. Romario Shepherd, though, stole the show at the end. His 14-ball 50, now tied for the second-fastest in IPL history, turned a good total into a daunting one. His clean power hitting at the death ensured RCB had a mountain of 213—just enough to outlast CSK. RCB’s Batting Brilliance Powers Them Past CSK Royal Challengers Bengaluru's win over Chennai Super Kings was built on a batting masterclass that blended top-order stability with lower-order fireworks. Jacob Bethell and Virat Kohli laid a solid foundation, while Romario Shepherd's late blitz rocketed them to a match-winning total. Jacob Bethell, drafted in late due to Phil Salt’s illness, seized his opportunity in style. The left-hander burst out of the blocks, peppering Khaleel Ahmed for three consecutive boundaries in the opening over. He reached a fluent 28-ball fifty, providing RCB with their highest powerplay score at home this season. A dropped catch—caused by a collision between Matheesha Pathirana and Ravindra Jadeja—allowed Bethell to extend his stay before he fell for 55, courtesy of a stunning catch by Dewald Brevis. Virat Kohli, in sublime form this season, complemented Bethell perfectly. Playing the role of anchor-aggressor, he brought up his seventh half-century in 11 innings off just 29 balls. Kohli looked set for a bigger score before a slower bouncer from Sam Curran ended his innings on 62 off 33 deliveries. Romario Shepherd, however, was the game-changer. Walking in late, he unleashed a brutal assault in the death overs, smashing a 14-ball fifty—the joint second-fastest in IPL history. His clean, calculated hitting propelled RCB to 213, a total just out of CSK's reach despite a valiant chase.