• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

CSK vs RCB, IPL 2025: The magical spinner Noor Ahmad's excellent bowling display at Chepauk Stadium proved to be a game-changer, as it halted Royal Challengers Bengaluru's outstanding start and helped CSK to restrict their opponents to 196/7in their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 match on Friday.

Ahmad's magical spell helped CSK regain control and confine RCB's scoring, eventually turning the tide of the first innings of the match in their favour at home ground.

However, Tim David's last over the carnage of three consecutive sixes powered RCB to a competitive total of 196/7.

Invited to bat, RCB captain Rajat Patidar top-scored with 51 off 32 deliveries while openers Phil Salt (32 off 16 balls), Virat Kohli (31 off 30 balls) and David (22 not out off 8 balls) were the other notable contributors. 

ALSO READ: CSK vs RCB, IPL 2025: Virat Kohli Gets Down To Business, Smashes Consecutive Sixes In Nets | Watch

For CSK, Ahmad (3/36) was the pick of the bowlers while Matheesha Pathirana (2/36), veteran Ravichandran Ashwin (1/22) and pacer Khaleel Ahmed (1/28) chipped in with wickets.

Patidar was dropped thrice by CSK fielders but he made most of the reprieves to score 51 off 32 balls (4x4s, 3x6s), providing his side a much-needed impetus in the middle-overs, while David's late burst made up for a mid-phase slump.

Early fireworks form Phil Salt (32 off 16 balls, 5x4s, 1x6s) and Devdutt Padikkal (27 off 14 balls, 2x4s, 2x6s) had masked Virat Kohli's (31, 30 balls) struggle but their dismissals left RCB in doldrums.

Despite aggressive knocks from Salt and Padikkal, RCB appeared to be struggling for momentum as Kohli's failure to accelerate — he had crawled to 14 off 20 balls by the ninth over — troubled the visiting side.

However, an eventful 11th over of the innings saw Kohli and RCB getting some sort of move-on after the India batter was hit flush on the helmet by a lifter from Matheesha Pathirana (2/36).

Kohli attempted a pull but was beaten by the pace and the skiddy nature of the surface. He looked a bit surprised, but responded with a pulled six and a loft over midwicket for a four.

In the next over, RCB had luck favouring them when Deepak Hooda spilled a regulation catch at long-on off Ravindra Jadeja to give a reprieve to Patidar.

He got another lifeline when Rahul Tripathi failed to grab a tough chance for which he had to move several paces forward at deep cover off left-arm wrist spinner Noor Ahmad.

Amid all this, the Afghan spinner got the bigger prize in the form of Kohli's wicket, getting the struggling RCB batter caught at deep midwicket.

ALSO READ: IPL 2025, CSK vs RCB: MS Dhoni Pulls Off Another Stunning Stumping, Removes Phil Salt With Lightening-Fast Hands | Watch

Patidar got another lifeline when an outside edge off Noor was spilled by Khaleel Ahmed as he reacted a tad late at short third man, but from there on the RCB skipper took charge.

The right-handed Patidar thereon connected well to make the biggest impact with the bat in RCB's innings. However, a late slump saw RCB lose their way again with all-rounders Liam Livingstone (12) and Krunal Pandya (0) falling in quick succession.

But David (22 not out off 8 balls, 1x4s, 3x6s) smacked three sixes on the trot in the final over bowled by Sam Curran to give his side a boost.