IPL 2025: Patidar Calls Hazlewood's Early Strikes a Game-Changer After RCB Defeats CSK
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Synopsis
In a thrilling IPL match, RCB captain Rajat Patidar credited Josh Hazlewood's early wickets as decisive in their victory over CSK at Chepauk. This win marks RCB's first triumph at CSK's home since 2008 and highlights the team's strong start to the season.
Key Takeaways
- Josh Hazlewood's early wickets were crucial for RCB.
- RCB achieved their first win at Chepauk since 2008.
- Rajat Patidar played a vital role with a half-century.
- CSK struggled to recover from early setbacks.
- RCB's bowlers were instrumental in their success.
Chennai, March 29 (NationPress) Captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Rajat Patidar, praised Josh Hazlewood's early double strikes in Chennai Super Kings' innings as a “game changer”, enabling his team to conquer Fortress Chepauk for the first time since 2008 in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Friday.
"Reflecting on this match, we achieved a commendable total on this surface where the ball tended to stop, making it challenging for batters to score boundaries. Playing in Chepauk is always special due to the immense support from the fans," he remarked.
Following Patidar's significant half-century, despite being dropped thrice, which propelled RCB to a competitive score of 196/7 in 20 overs, Hazlewood dismissed Rahul Tripathi and Ruturaj Gaikwad in his initial over, giving his team a strong start. CSK struggled to recover from those early setbacks and soon found themselves at 75/5, with Yash Dayal and Liam Livingstone adding to CSK's troubles.
Ultimately, CSK could only muster 146/8, with Ravindra Jadeja and MS Dhoni hitting a few big shots in the death overs when defeat seemed inevitable. They faced a 50-run loss, marking their most significant defeat at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. This victory marked RCB's first win at CSK's home ground since the league's inaugural season in 2008.
This was also the first occasion in IPL history that RCB has won their first two matches, with Patidar attributing this success to his bowlers.
Commenting on Hazlewood's early wickets, Patidar stated, "It was game-changing as we secured two or three wickets in the first six overs. It was impressive how they maintained a hard length, given that the ball wasn’t coming onto the bat easily."
He also commended his spinners, particularly highlighting Livingstone's performance. Patidar, who rotated his bowlers frequently, noted, "This pitch was quite beneficial for spinners, so I was mindful of using them early. Especially, Livingstone's four overs were remarkable."
The RCB captain emphasized that his innings was pivotal in the overall outcome, stating he aimed to stay at the crease for as long as possible.
"I felt it was crucial since we were aiming for 200, which would be difficult to chase. My intention was clear: to maximize every ball while I was at the crease," he added.
CSK will now hurry to Guwahati for a match against Rajasthan Royals on Sunday, while RCB will head back home to prepare for their encounter with Gujarat Titans on April 2 at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium.
