On Saturday, March 28, 2025, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) finally ended their winless streak in Chepauk, Chennai, after winning by 50 runs against Chennai Super Kings CSK). It has been 17 years since RCB has won any matches at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, as the last time was on May 21, 2008, also against CSK.
This win came after 9 matches against the same franchise (CSK), and others like Mumbai Indians (MI) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
What’s With the MA Chidambaram Stadium that Makes RCB Struggle?
The MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chepauk, Chennai, is one of the oldest cricket stadiums in India. It was established in 1916, and has always been known for its spin-friendly conditions. That’s arguably one of the struggles that Royal Challengers Bengaluru have had throughout the years.
Chepauk is also simply where Chennai Super Kings can easily dominate a match because of home advantage. That’s why whenever RCB is playing a match on that venue, fans, bettors, and even odds-on sites like https://www.10crics.com/cricket/ always consider them the underdogs. In fact, before Match 8 of IPL 2025, CSK were favored to win with odds of 1.76 against RCB’s 2.14.
Here’s a look at some of the IPL moments that proved RCB’s struggle on this venue:
- 2011 IPL Final: Despite a strong season, RCB’s batting lineup faltered against CSK’s spinners, and they lost by 58 runs and the IPL title.
- 2019 Match 39: This is one of the most memorable RCB matches against CSK on the same venue. The spin trio of Harbhajan Singh, Imran Tahir, and Ravindra Jadeja dismantled RCB’s batting order, and they were bowled out for just 70 runs.
- 2015 Playoff: For this match, RCB faced Mumbai Indians (MI) at Chepauk. Despite having a strong squad, they failed to chase a modest target, and the slow pitch played a significant role in their defeat.
Over the years, RCB has repeatedly struggled against CSK at this venue. Here’s an overview of all their matches at the MA Chidambaram Stadium:
- 2008: RCB defeated CSK by 14 runs, marking their only win at this venue until 2025.
- 2010: RCB lost to CSK by 5 wickets.
- 2011: RCB faced CSK twice, losing by 21 runs and 58 runs respectively.
- 2012: RCB lost to CSK by 5 wickets.
- 2013: RCB lost to CSK by 4 wickets.
- 2015: RCB played against Mumbai Indians (MI) in the playoffs but couldn’t secure a win.
- 2019: RCB suffered a crushing defeat against CSK, being bowled out for just 70 runs (their lowest total at this venue).
- 2024: RCB lost to CSK by 6 wickets.
Is it a Sign RCB that Might Win This Year?
So, all that considered, RCB’s recent win against CSK has been a long time coming. Some fans are now starting to wonder if this is a good omen for the team. Is it the year that they finally win an IPL title?
Before the recent match, the latest betting odds for IPL 2025 suggest that RCB is not yet the outright favorite to win the tournament, but things seem to have turned around for the team after the victory in Chepauk.
As of now, they’re alongside favorites to win like Sunrisers Hyderabad (9/2) and Mumbai Indians (13/2). RCB now has one of the best odds, ranging from 4/1 to 9/2 across different bookmakers. It’s now teams like Rajasthan Royals, Gujarat Titans, and Kolkata Knight Riders that have the highest odds of least likely to win.
Now, aside from their recent Match 8 win, RCB seems to just really have a balanced squad this season. The inclusion of players like Suyash Sharma, Krunal Pandya, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar demonstrates their focus on building a more adaptable lineup.
However, if the recent CSK match will be the basis of what seems to be the game-changer for RCB this year, it’s not exactly the spinning department. For that match, Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar stole the spotlight after taking four crucial wickets between them and exploiting early movement. The pitch offered some assistance to seamers, which RCB has effectively taken advantage of.
That said, RCB may have to continue to leverage their seam attack. Rotating the strike, minimizing dot balls, and occasionally taking on spinners will be crucial. Sharma and Pandya must keep their lines tight and provide breakthroughs, especially in the middle overs.
