By BD Narayankar

Bengaluru, May 2 (UNI) A night of astonishing power-hitting, nerve-wracking drama, and crucial controversies saw Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) clinch a heart-stopping win over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by a slender margin in Match 52 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Saturday.

The game pivoted around two heroic efforts — Romario Shepherd’s unbelievable 14-ball 50, the second-fastest in IPL history, and Yash Dayal’s composure under pressure at the death, including the pivotal dismissal of MS Dhoni that broke millions of CSK hearts.

Chasing a daunting target of 214, CSK’s young sensation Ayush Mhatre played an innings for the ages, smashing 94 off just 48 deliveries. His fearless strokeplay, including nine boundaries and five sixes, had the yellow army dreaming. Partnering with Shaik Rasheed, he gave CSK the dream start, before Lungi Ngidi’s double-wicket over swung the match back RCB’s way.

Mhatre’s departure — caught at deep mid-wicket off a slower ball — and Dewald Brevis' controversial LBW decision off a high full-toss with no visible DRS timer escalated tensions. HawkEye later revealed the delivery was missing leg stump, sparking outrage among CSK supporters. Even so, with Jadeja at the crease and Dhoni arriving to a deafening roar, the contest was far from over.

Ravindra Jadeja rolled back the years with a sublime 77 off 45 balls, mixing deft placement with brutal power. He raised his 50 with a sword celebration and thumped a 109-metre six onto the stadium roof, igniting hopes of a miraculous win. Dhoni added fuel to the fire, launching Bhuvneshwar Kumar for a massive six with 29 needed off the final 12 balls.

However, Yash Dayal – who had famously silenced Dhoni at this venue last season – returned to haunt CSK again. He trapped the CSK skipper LBW with a pinpoint low full toss, sparking a stunned silence across the stadium. Dhoni used up CSK's final review, only to see ball-tracking confirm the worst.

The chaos didn’t end there. On the fourth ball of the 19th over, Dayal bowled a high full-toss to Shivam Dube, who dispatched it for six and immediately reviewed for height. With Patidar drying the ball and players debating the dew, the delivery was declared a no-ball by 3cm — giving CSK an unexpected lifeline.

Despite the tension, Dayal kept his nerve and saw off the final over without further damage, sealing a famous victory for RCB — one built on Shepherd’s destruction and defended with nerves of steel.

Earlier, RCB’s innings was launched with precision and aggression. Asked to bat first, openers Jacob Bethell and Virat Kohli stitched a whirlwind 97-run stand, both reaching 50s. Kohli struck 62 off 33 balls in vintage style, while Bethell dazzled with a 55 that included a reverse-swept boundary and a 99-metre six off Noor Ahmad.

RCB stumbled briefly as Pathirana scalped three key wickets — Bethell, Devdutt Padikkal (17), and Rajat Patidar (11) — and CSK pulled things back. Kohli was dismissed attempting an uppercut, mistiming a slower bouncer into the deep.

But the final flourish belonged to Shepherd, who walked in during the 17th over and turned the game on its head. With astonishing hand speed and raw power, he clobbered 33 runs off Khaleel Ahmed’s 18th over and then dismantled Pathirana with 20 runs in the 20th. His unbeaten 53 off 14 balls included six towering sixes and four boundaries, lifting RCB to a commanding 213/5.

CSK’s fielding lapses — including a mid-pitch collision between Jadeja and Pathirana that resulted in a dropped catch — further compounded their misery.

In the end, despite a gallant chase and brilliant individual performances, CSK were left asking, “What if?” — What if Mhatre hadn’t mistimed that shot? What if the DRS timer had been visible? What if the dew had been more effectively managed?

But for now, RCB march on, led by Shepherd’s firepower and Dayal’s resolve, delivering a game that will be talked about long after the final ball was bowled.

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