In a thrilling encounter at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) secured a narrow 11-run victory over Rajasthan Royals (RR) on April 24, 2025, marking their first home win of the IPL 2025 season. The match showcased a spectacular performance from RCB's bowlers, particularly Josh Hazlewood, who claimed four wickets, turning the tide in RCB's favor during the crucial final overs.
RCB set a challenging target of 206 runs, thanks to half-centuries from Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal, who put together a formidable partnership of 95 runs. Kohli's innings of 70 runs off 42 balls and Padikkal's 50 off 27 balls were instrumental in propelling RCB to a total of 205/5 in their allotted 20 overs. The duo's aggressive batting was complemented by late contributions from Tim David (23) and Jitesh Sharma (20), ensuring RCB crossed the 200-run mark.
In response, Rajasthan Royals got off to a brisk start with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who put on a 52-run opening partnership. Jaiswal's explosive knock of 49 runs off just 19 balls included a flurry of boundaries that had the RCB bowlers under pressure. However, the Royals' chase faltered as they lost wickets at crucial moments. Riyan Parag, who captained the side in the absence of Sanju Samson, contributed 22 runs, while Dhruv Jurel's 47 runs kept RR in contention until the end.
As the match approached its climax, RR needed just 26 runs from the last two overs with four wickets in hand. However, Hazlewood's exceptional bowling in the final overs saw him take two wickets in consecutive deliveries, dismissing Jurel and Jofra Archer, leaving the Royals reeling. Despite a valiant effort, RR could only manage 194 runs, falling short of the target and suffering their fifth consecutive defeat of the season.
RCB's victory not only ended their three-match losing streak at home but also propelled them to third place in the IPL 2025 points table, with six wins from nine matches. Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals remain at the bottom of the table, struggling with just two wins in nine matches.
The match began with Rajasthan winning the toss and opting to bowl first, a decision that initially seemed promising as they restricted RCB in the early overs. However, Kohli and Padikkal's aggressive batting quickly turned the tide. RCB managed to score 59 runs in the powerplay without losing a wicket, a crucial statistic that set the tone for their innings.
Despite losing Phil Salt early in the innings, Kohli and Padikkal took charge, with Kohli reaching his fifth fifty of the season, moving him up to second place in the orange cap race with 392 runs. The partnership was vital as it allowed RCB to build a solid foundation, especially after a shaky start. RCB's innings ended at 205/5, a total that would prove to be just enough.
In the second innings, RR's chase started brightly, but as wickets fell, the pressure mounted. The turning point came when Hazlewood dismissed Jaiswal, who was looking set for a big score. Following this, Krunal Pandya struck with timely wickets, further tightening RCB's grip on the match.
Josh Hazlewood's performance was nothing short of spectacular, finishing with figures of 4 for 33 in his four overs. His ability to take wickets at crucial junctures was a key factor in RCB's win. After the match, Hazlewood expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to play T20 cricket and credited his teammates for their support, stating, "We bowled well as a unit and shared information quickly, which helped us execute our plans effectively."
RCB's captain Rajat Patidar praised the team's resilience, saying, "It was a much-needed win, and I credit our bowlers for their courage in the final overs. We knew wickets were the only way to stop them, and we executed our plans well."
On the other hand, Rajasthan's captain Riyan Parag acknowledged the team's struggles, stating, "We did well with the ball but should have executed our batting better. We need to take responsibility and play for pride in the remaining matches." With this defeat, RR's playoff hopes are hanging by a thread, and they will need to regroup quickly if they wish to salvage their season.
Looking ahead, RCB will next face off against Delhi Capitals, while Rajasthan Royals will have to find a way to turn their fortunes around in their upcoming matches. As the IPL 2025 season progresses, every match becomes crucial, especially for teams like Rajasthan, who are desperate for points.
