Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Chennai Super Kings by 43 runs in their IPL encounter on Sunday, but the difference is just a scratch on the surface of how the contest unfolded. It was a game shaped by decisive phases and the most telling came in a short but commanding burst from Rajat Patidar that pushed CSK completely out of reach.
Sent into bat, RCB built their innings with intent before unleashing a wave that proved impossible to stop. Devdutt Padikkal anchored the early stage with a fluent 29-ball 50, while Phil Salt added a brisk 30-ball 46 at the top. Together, they ensured that RCB had a solid platform, but what followed turned a strong unit into a dismal one.
IPL 2026, RCB vs CSK: Scorecard | Highlighting
Patidar along with Tim David added 99 runs in just 36 balls to lift RCB to 250 for three, their highest total of the season so far.
When Patidar arrived at the crease, RCB were well placed but not completely in command. Salt’s dismissal offered CSK a small opening and Padikkal was still settling into his rhythm. For a brief passage, the contest was even, with CSK still in the game if they can string together some disciplined overs.
However, this balance did not last long. As Kevin Pietersen noted on the Star Sports post-match show, “Virat and Phil Salt, it took a while for Patidar to get going and play the way he played and he just went to 6.6 for me so easily, which was the turning point of the game.”
PATIDAR SHIFTS THE MOMENTUM
Patidar’s innings stood out not only for its aggression but also for the control and clarity he brought to the middle overs. He faced 19 balls and made just two dots, a detail that underscores how tirelessly he kept the scoreboard moving. There was no phase where the pressure eased and that constant scoring ensured that CSK were always on the back foot.
His 6 sixes and a boundary showcased his ability to dominate, but the real impact came from how he strung the innings together. Even with the boundaries not flowing, Patidar ensured that singles were played, the strike spun and the bowlers were denied any opportunity to build pressure.
Pietersen also highlighted the method behind the knock, saying: “I thought the way he adapted to the conditions, the way he played, the way he got that acceleration.” It was an innings built on awareness where the Patidar read the situation accurately and adjusted his approach accordingly.
This awareness became even more apparent during his partnership with Tim David. When David came in, he was struggling with 3 balls off 6 and CSK had a real opportunity to apply pressure during this phase. In many such situations, the incoming batsman is forced to take risks early on, but Patidar ensured that did not happen.
His calculated attack on Khaleel Ahmed in the 16th over, which yielded 18 runs, proved to be the defining moment of the innings. It decisively shifted the momentum in RCB’s favor and ensured that the pressure on CSK remained firm.
DAVID COMPLETES THE DAMAGE
With Patidar dictating the tempo, David could relax into his innings without being forced into rash decisions. By the time he found his rhythm, the game had already tilted heavily in RCB’s favour. As Pietersen noted, reflecting on the target, “Tim David’s innings was great. It was amazing. There were a lot of 6s,” but that late surge came with the freedom created earlier in the innings.
David finished with 70 off 25 balls and launched a powerful attack in the final overs that ensured RCB reached an almost unattainable total. His innings was destructive, but so was the foundation Patidar laid during that crucial middle phase.
What stood out about Patidar’s approach was his understanding of the bigger picture. As captain, he could take complete control or aim for a bigger personal score, especially given the pace. He also had the option to take more risks to bring another power forward into the game.
Instead, he showed restraint and awareness, pacing his shifts in a way that allowed David to settle in and eventually take over. This balance between aggression and control ensured that RCB maximized their scores without losing structure.
So it’s no surprise that Pietersen concluded: “A lot of credit has to go to him, a lot.”
In reply, CSK always chased the game. Sarfaraz Khan played a composed knock of 50 while Prashant Veer contributed 43 but the required rate remained steep throughout the innings. They were eventually bowled out for 207 in 19.4 overs, falling short of the target.
RCB’s bowlers shared the wickets with Bhuvneshwar Kumar returning figures of 3 for 41 while Jacob Duffy, Krunal Pandya and Abhinandan Singh took two wickets each.
KRUNAL’S MAGIC TURN THE SCREW
While Patidar’s innings defined the contest, Krunal Pandya’s spell in the middle overs played a key role in ensuring that CSK never posed a serious challenge. Introduced just after the over, Krunal made an immediate impact by dismissing Sarfaraz Khan, who looked CSK’s most assured batsman.
He followed it up with the wicket of Kartik Sharma in the same over, effectively halting any momentum CSK were trying to build. From there, he smartly adapted his approach, opting for short pitched deliveries rather than conventional lengths.
The change in tactics unsettled the batsmen, especially Shivam Dube, who struggled to find any rhythm against the onslaught of bouncers. It was a spell that combined awareness with execution and strengthened RCB’s control at a critical stage of the chase.
Eventually, the result read as a 43 run winbut the difference between the two sides arose precisely at these decisive moments. Patidar’s 19-ball masterclass ensured RCB stormed ahead while Krunal’s strike ensured there was no going back for CSK.
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Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
06 April 2026 05:00 IST
