Bengaluru: In a thrilling encounter at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Thursday, April 10, 2025, the Delhi Capitals continued their unbeaten streak in the IPL 2025 by defeating the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) by six wickets. The Capitals chased down a target of 164 runs, led by a magnificent unbeaten innings of 93 runs from KL Rahul, who played a pivotal role in rescuing his team from a precarious position.
Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel won the toss and opted to bowl first, a decision that set the tone for the match. The Capitals entered the game as the only unbeaten team in the tournament, having won all three of their previous matches and sitting second on the points table. Meanwhile, RCB had also made a strong start to the season, winning three of their four matches and looking to capitalize on their home advantage.
RCB's innings began explosively, with openers Phil Salt and Virat Kohli putting on a brisk 61 runs in just 3.4 overs. However, a mix-up while attempting a single resulted in the unfortunate run-out of Salt, who scored 37 runs off 17 balls. Kohli, who contributed 22 runs, was soon dismissed as well, falling victim to the disciplined Delhi bowling attack.
As RCB's innings progressed, they struggled to maintain momentum against the Capitals' spinners. Rajat Patidar, the RCB captain, managed to score 25 runs before being caught by KL Rahul off Kuldeep Yadav's bowling. The Delhi spinners, particularly Kuldeep Yadav and Vipraj Nigam, were instrumental in containing the RCB batsmen, taking two wickets each and maintaining an impressive economy rate. Kuldeep finished with figures of 2 for 17 in his four overs, while Nigam took 2 for 18.
Despite the early fireworks, RCB's innings fizzled out, and they ended with a total of 163 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in their 20 overs. Tim David's late blitz of 37 runs off 20 balls provided some much-needed firepower, pushing RCB past the 150-run mark. However, it was evident that the Delhi bowlers had done their job well, restricting RCB to a chaseable total.
Chasing a target of 164, the Delhi Capitals faced early setbacks as they lost three wickets for just 30 runs, putting them in a difficult position. Faf du Plessis, who returned to the side after replacing Sameer Rizvi, fell for just 2 runs, caught by Rajat Patidar off Yash Dayal's bowling. Jake Fraser-McGurk also departed early, contributing only 7 runs, while Axar Patel's dismissal for 11 runs left the Capitals reeling.
However, KL Rahul's calm and composed approach steadied the ship. He anchored the innings, showcasing his class and shot-making ability. Rahul's innings included several boundaries, and he reached his half-century with a series of well-timed shots. He was ably supported by Tristan Stubbs, who contributed 30 runs, helping to build a crucial partnership that turned the tide in Delhi's favor.
As the innings progressed, Rahul took charge of the chase, hitting a six to seal the victory for the Capitals. His unbeaten 93 runs came off just 53 deliveries and included 8 fours and 4 sixes. The Delhi Capitals reached their target in 17.5 overs, finishing at 169 for 4. With this win, they moved up to second place on the points table, remaining unbeaten after four matches.
In contrast, RCB found themselves in third place with three wins from five matches. The loss highlighted the need for their batting lineup to capitalize on strong starts and build more substantial partnerships throughout their innings.
Overall, the match showcased the resilience and depth of the Delhi Capitals, who continue to impress in IPL 2025. They will look to maintain their unbeaten run as the tournament progresses, while RCB will need to regroup and address their batting inconsistencies in upcoming matches.
