Good morning! If the loudest thing at your place last night wasn’t the crowd but the plans you made for that big-screen outing, we get it. Here’s Cricbuzz Pulse: a little extra banter, plus a quick two-minute sweep of the IPL storyline.
Last night in five lines: RCB, DC and the chase that slipped
RCB managed to remember how to lose at home again, falling to DC at the Chinnaswamy for the second season in a row.
- Phil Salt struck 63 to lift RCB to 175/8, but the closing overs didn’t quite go their way, with the innings stalling badly at the end. Axar Patel did not bowl the 19th over this time.
- KL Rahul and Tristan Stubbs steadied the chase calmly, and David Miller sealed the finish for DC.
- In Hyderabad, SRH posted 194, and at one stage it looked like CSK might be set for a comfortable chase at 111/3.
- Then wickets fell in clusters and CSK were undone by sharper death bowling, with SRH winning by 10 runs.
- The most striking part for CSK: they have now lost another run-chase after getting to 112/3 while chasing 195. Despite win probability sitting at 69%, they finished short, managing only 30/2 in the next five overs.
CSK’s bigger slide: the numbers behind the late misses
That latest chase feels like part of a longer trend rather than an isolated slip.
- Since 2024, CSK have the second-worst record in successful chases: 6 wins in 16.
- From 2020 onwards, they have lost 16 of their 18 chases involving totals of 175 or more.
Pulse awards: redemption, holding roles and “he’s-human-after-all”
A few performances deserved the spotlight beyond the scoreboard.
- “He’s-human-after-all” — KL Rahul, for taking Josh Hazlewood apart at the Chinnaswamy and reminding everyone that even the very best can be made to look mortal.
- “Keeping-a-brave-face” — SRH pace bowling coach Varun Aaron, for staying composed on air while Praful Hinge was shown travelling to all parts of Uppal in the background.
- “Redemption-arc” — David Miller, for finishing the job this time after letting one slip earlier against GT.
- “Once-bitten-twice-not-shy” — Abhishek Sharma, for taking on Matthew Short’s off-spin and clearing the ropes with confidence.
- “Strike-rate-is-overrated” — Heinrich Klaasen, for saying he “does not care about SR” because he’s focused on the match situation (and the press).
Talking point, injury alert and the chatter around the league
SRH’s early burst, then the crunch
SRH still appear to be starting quickly, but Travis Head’s dip is starting to show.
- Returns and strike rate are down compared to 2024, and the scoring burden is shifting to the rest of the side.
- The bigger concern: clustered wickets—seen in five of six matches—stall momentum and force resets for a team that prefers higher-risk cricket.
- That pattern has pushed Heinrich Klaasen into more of a holding role early on.
Injury alert and return watch
- Axar Patel had to retire hurt with cramps, a reminder of just how punishing the heat can be in Bengaluru.
- Rishabh Pant, who was hurt by a Josh Hazlewood delivery in the previous match, will be monitored for his recovery ahead of the PBKS game later in the evening.
- Mike Hussey confirmed that Ayush Mhatre has a hamstring tear and said, “it looks pretty bad unfortunately”.
- There is still no clarity on the return of MSD.
What players and figures said
- Ishan Kishan admitted SRH were “20 runs short” but said he was thrilled to see their “bunch of young bowlers” execute their plans well.
- Eshan Malinga, who was named PoTM, discussed the importance of reverse swing. The reminder here: in IPL, bowlers can use spit to shine the ball, but that is not allowed in international cricket.
- David Miller admitted he was “a bit disappointed” about not being able to finish against GT and added that the loss “played at the back of his mind.”
- Tristan Stubbs, PoTM for RCB-DC, described the Chinnaswamy pitch as “little bit slow, a little bit low” on the day.
- Rajat Patidar called the surface “tacky” at the start.
- KL Rahul said the bat celebration where he drew a circle on the ground last year was “one-time thing only” and he’s not planning to repeat it.
Stat Snack and the latest kit chatter
- Stat Snack: Among the 63 batters who have scored at least 500 runs in successful IPL chases, David Miller has the highest average.
- What’s the latest gossip? Taking a cue from LSG, teams are reportedly looking at a shift to red in their kits. The logic is simple: red, orange and pink are all sitting at the top of the points table right now.
Tonight’s watchlist and a cheeky prediction
Here’s what to keep an eye on as the schedule continues.
- Kolkata Knight Riders host Rajasthan Royals as they chase their first win of the season.
- Later in the evening, Punjab Kings host Lucknow Super Giants in New Chandigarh.
Reckless prediction: Eden Gardens will be quarter full.
