Final result
Royal Challengers Bangalore won by 2 runs
Player of the match: R Shepherd
Result · Indian Premier League
Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Chennai Super Kings
Result · Indian Premier League
H2H · RCB 14–21 CSKVenue par · 196Chase success · 55%POTM · R Shepherd
Match preview & overview
RCB edge CSK by 2 runs in a high-scoring Chinnaswamy thriller
Royal Challengers Bangalore beat Chennai Super Kings by 2 runs at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, on 3 May 2025. RCB posted 213/5 from their 20 overs, driven by a powerplay of 71 without loss. CSK's chase was remarkable in its own right: 102 runs without a wicket in the middle overs hauled them back into serious contention, but 51 from 3 wickets in the death overs left them on 211/5 at the close. R Shepherd took the player-of-the-match award. The result kept RCB's season on track and deepened a difficult run for CSK, who have now lost four of their last five matches.
The margin of 2 runs is about as close as T20 cricket gets. CSK needed 3 runs from the final over of the chase and could not quite find them. Their middle-overs phase, which produced an extraordinary 102 runs at no cost, was undone by the pressure of a stiff target in the final stages. RCB's death bowling held firm when it mattered, and Shepherd's contribution in that phase was enough to separate the sides.
Pitch report & venue insights
M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru — 142-match sample
Aggregate conditions from 2001–2026. Numbers that tend to decide matches at this ground — par score, chase success, powerplay averages and toss bias.
142
T20 matches hosted
196
Avg 1st-innings score
177
Avg 2nd-innings score
55%
Chase success rate
45
Avg powerplay runs
80%
Toss-field rate
Head-to-head record
Chennai Super Kings lead the series 21–14 from 35 completed matches
Seasons 2007–2026
Series standing
Royal Challengers Bangalore
Chennai Super Kings35
Total meetings
0
No results
10
In last 10
Recent encounters
Last 102026RCB won by 43 runs
2025RCB won by 2 runs
2025RCB won by 50 runs
2024RCB won by 27 runs
2024CSK won by 6 wickets
2023CSK won by 8 runs
2022RCB won by 13 runs
2022CSK won by 23 runs
2021CSK won by 6 wickets
2021CSK won by 69 runs
Key talking points
Moments the match hinged on
Headline angle
RCB's powerplay gave them the platform
Royal Challengers Bangalore raced to 71 runs without loss in the powerplay, well above the venue's average of 43. That blazing start set up a first-innings total of 213/5, which proved just enough on a ground where the average first-innings score across 142 matches is 196.
Angle 02
CSK's middle overs threatened to steal it
Angle 03
Chinnaswamy's toss bias worked as expected
Angle 04
Shepherd takes player-of-the-match honours
Angle 05
RCB arrest CSK's head-to-head dominance
Key players
Players who decided it
Royal Challengers Bangalore
R Shepherd
Royal Challengers Bangalore
RG Sharma
Chennai Super Kings
R Ashwin
Chennai Super Kings
MJ Henry
Betting & analytical angles
Angles the data surfaced
- Top batter markets may be more interesting than outright result lines given how many middle-overs runs CSK scored for no wicket: that innings profile suggests their middle-order is in good touch.
- Powerplay run-line markets are worth examining in the context of RCB's 71-run powerplay, which was significantly above the ground's average of 43 and may be difficult to replicate consistently.
- Death-overs markets could be relevant: both sides' death-overs batting phases (69 and 51 respectively) underperformed relative to the middle overs, and that pattern at Chinnaswamy appears in line with wider venue trends.
- Given the two-run margin, player-of-the-match markets at this venue may carry broader appeal than in clearer results, as individual contributions in tight finishes tend to be decisive.
For editorial context only. Not a forecast and not betting advice. 18+ only, please gamble responsibly.
Frequently asked
Questions about Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Chennai Super Kings
Who won the RCB vs CSK IPL match on 3 May 2025?
Royal Challengers Bangalore won the match by 2 runs. RCB posted 213/5 batting first, and Chennai Super Kings fell just short with 211/5 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
Who was player of the match in RCB vs CSK on 3 May 2025?
R Shepherd was awarded player of the match. His contribution was considered decisive in a contest that came down to a two-run margin.
What was the head-to-head record between RCB and CSK before this match?
The two sides had met 34 times before this fixture, with Chennai Super Kings leading 21 wins to 14. RCB's victory on 3 May brought their tally to 15, and they have now won three of the last five meetings.
Who won the toss and what did they decide?
Chennai Super Kings won the toss and elected to field, consistent with the Chinnaswamy Stadium pattern where 76% of toss winners choose to bowl first. CSK came close to converting that decision into a win, but fell 2 runs short.
Where can I watch IPL matches in the UK?
IPL matches are broadcast in the UK on Sky Sports Cricket, with streaming available via Sky Go and NOW TV. Coverage typically begins shortly before the first ball, which is usually bowled in the late afternoon or early evening UK time depending on daylight saving.
What is the average score at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium?
Across 142 IPL matches at Chinnaswamy, the average first-innings score is 196. The average second-innings score is 177, and chasing sides win approximately 55% of matches at the ground.
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Photo credits (2)
- Rohit Sharma — photo by Prime Minister's Office, GODL-India · source
- Ravichandran Ashwin — photo by Dee03, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source