3 Areas Where Rajat Patidar's RCB Outplayed Ruturaj Gaiwkad's CSK In IPL 2025 Match 8

Rajat Patidar and Ruturaj Gaikwad after RCB vs CSK match [Source: iplt20.com]

Royal Challengers Bengaluru's comprehensive 50-run victory over Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2025 showcased a masterclass in tactical cricket. By analyzing the match data, we can identify three critical areas where RCB's strategic approach created a decisive advantage.

1. Disciplined Powerplay Bowling

RCB's exceptional powerplay bowling laid the foundation for their victory. RCB's bowlers maintained a remarkable economy rate of just 4.83 compared to CSK's 8.67, while capturing three crucial wickets versus CSK's single dismissal.

RCB's bowlers executed a precise plan targeting the stumps and outside off-stump line with good and short-of-good lengths, resulting in a remarkable 55.56% dot ball percentage. Josh Hazlewood's matchup against Ruturaj Gaikwad (4 balls, 0 runs, 1 wicket) exemplified this disciplined approach, completely neutralizing CSK's captain early in the innings.

Phase wise bowling comparsion of RCB vs CSK [Source: OneCricket]

2. Strategic Bowling Matchups

RCB's intelligent deployment of bowlers against specific batsmen demonstrated superior tactical awareness. Analysis of key matchups (minimum 3 legal deliveries) reveals how RCB's bowlers consistently outperformed their CSK counterparts in creating pressure through economical bowling.

Josh Hazlewood's matchup mastery was evident with his perfect economy of 0.00 against both Ruturaj Gaikwad (4 balls, 0 runs, 1 wicket) and Deepak Hooda (3 balls, 0 runs). The RCB spinners also showed brilliant control as they limited the scoring opportunties of the CSK batters in the middle overs.

In contrast, CSK's bowlers struggled to maintain the same level of control, particularly against RCB's middle order. While Khaleel Ahmed did manage to keep Virat Kohli quiet (3 balls, 0 runs), CSK's spinners couldn't contain Rajat Patidar, with Noor Ahmad conceding 12 runs from 9 deliveries without taking his wicket.

Spin vs Pace Bowling Distribution of RCB vs CSK [Source: OneCricket]

3. Tactical Mid-Innings Dominance

The critical middle overs (7-14) showcased RCB's superior approach to this often-decisive phase. RCB battters accumulated 78 runs from bat against CSK's bowling during this phase, with a well-balanced approach of strike rotation (35.09% dot balls) and boundary-hitting (17.54% boundary percentage).

In stark contrast, when RCB bowled during the middle overs, they implemented a spin-heavy strategy that stifled CSK's batters. This calculated approach yielded dividends through specific matchups against CSK's right-handed batters.

Despite CSK having a marginally lower dot percentage, RCB's superior boundary-hitting capability (17.54% vs 12.96%) and higher overall scoring rate in this phase established a winning position that proved insurmountable for CSK in the latter stages of the match.

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