Tim David walked in at 90/2 in the powerplay and changed the entire complexion of RCB's innings. His 70 off just 25 balls—struck at 280—came when Chennai's bowlers looked in control. That assault on the middle overs, particularly against Shivam Dube's left-arm spin, forced CSK to abandon their length plans and bowl fuller. RCB milked 250 from a position that looked headed towards 210-220.
CSK's reply crumbled at the death. Sarfaraz Khan's 50 off 25 kept them in the hunt at halfway, but Jamie Overton's 19th-over spell—conceding just 8 runs with a wicket—tightened the noose when the target demanded acceleration. RCB's death bowling, tighter than their first innings, denied CSK the 15-20 runs that might have made it a chase. By the time Mahendra Singh Dhoni took guard in the final over, the mathematics were already brutal.
Padikkal's unbeaten 50 off 29 deserves mention too. His partnership with David added 80 runs in under 10 overs and set the platform. Chennai never recovered from that middle-overs blitz. David's onslaught, Overton's composure, and Padikkal's ballast—that combination killed the contest in RCB's favour.