RCB vs CSK Highlights, IPL 2025: RCB defeat CSK by 2 runs in nail-biting IPL 2025 thriller

A hard length on middle and leg, it holds a bit off the surface. Kohli stands tall and punches it smoothly towards extra cover.

Curran is greeted with a boundary! A back-of-a-length delivery with too much width, and Bethell plays it late, using an open bat face to glide it past backward point for four!

Short outside off, Bethell waits patiently and cuts it to deep point for a single.

Fuller and flatter on the stumps, Kohli comes forward and nudges it gently to long off for a single.

Pitched up on middle and leg, Kohli leans forward and flicks it to deep mid-wicket for a single — that wraps up the powerplay.

Full on middle and off, Kohli shuffles outside leg to make room and drills it firmly towards extra cover. But a sharp dive to the left keeps it to just a dot ball — excellent fielding!

Short and angling into middle and leg, Kohli tries to glance it to the leg side but misses — a rare mistimed shot from him. The ball crashes into his thigh pad.

Four more! CSK are leaking runs all over the park! Fired in full just outside leg, and Kohli charges down the pitch, hammering it past mid-on with ease!

And Kohli punishes him first ball! The bowler tries to follow him down leg, but it lands right in the slot. Kohli uses his trademark wrist work to whip it over deep square leg for a big six!

Oh dear – that’s a dreadful delivery! A real buffet ball. It’s a waist-high full toss with plenty of width, and Bethell happily smashes it between extra cover and mid-off for four!

Tossed up full outside off, and Bethell goes for the drive down the ground. But he doesn’t middle it—gets it off the inside half of the bat and it rolls towards mid-wicket.

Watch that white ball fly! Short on middle, and Bethell jumps all over it. He rocks back and absolutely launches it over deep mid-wicket — a massive 99-metre six!

Bethell finds the boundary, and Noor feels the heat too! It’s a full googly outside off, and Bethell kneels down and powers it past mid-wicket for four!

Virat Kohli hits a boundary, though CSK did put some effort to stop but failed at the attempt.

It goes straight up, and there’s a horrible collision between two CSK fielders! A real mix-up under the high ball—nasty moment in the field.

Back of a length just outside off, Kohli taps it into the off side and looks at his partner. A quick call, and they sprint through for a sharp single.

What a beautiful shot! Full on middle and off, Bethell steps forward, presents the full face of the bat, and drives it straight past the bowler — a top-class on-drive!

Two Sixes in row from Virat Kohli, presses forward, snaps his wrists into action and clips it cleanly over the deep square leg fence!

Virat Kohli again proves the title of King Kohli, delivers a smooth SIX, all thanks to the right timing.

“Fetch that!” says Jacob Bethell! It’s a slightly short ball outside off, and he reacts quickly. He spots the length early, stands tall, and smashes it over deep mid-wicket for a six!

Back of a length outside off, with a hint of away swing. Kohli stays back in his crease and softly taps it into the off side.

Back of a length outside off – Kohli steps forward, gently taps it to mid-off, and quickly sprints through for a single.

Good length delivery, moving slightly into middle stump. Bethell leans half forward and blocks it, but he didn’t seem ready for that bit of swing.

Third four in a row – Bethell is off to a fast start! It’s a half-volley outside off stump, and he takes full advantage. With a slightly open bat face, he drives the ball perfectly between cover point and backward point!

Bethell shot a swift and smooth boundary, all thanks to Khaleel Ahmed, great start for RCB

RCB open the innings with Bethell and Virat Kohli.

MS Dhoni, Captain of CSK, wins the toss and opts to bowl at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

RCB predicted XI: Phil Salt/Jacob Bethell, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood

Impact sub: Suyash Sharma

CSK predicted XI: Shaik Rasheed, Ayush Mhatre, Sam Curran, Ravindra Jadeja, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Deepak Hooda, MS Dhoni (c&wk), Matheesha Pathirana, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed.

Impact sub: Anshul Kamboj

CSK has endured a disappointing IPL season, highlighted by several negative records and an early exit from the playoff race. Coach Stephen Fleming initially stood by the team’s reliance on seasoned players and expressed skepticism about the aggressive approach of younger batsmen. However, CSK’s underwhelming results—especially in contrast to the success of teams backing uncapped talent—indicate that a strategic rethink may be necessary moving forward.