RCB Finally Seal Home Victory As Royals Choke Yet Again – IPL 2025 Match Recap
 |
| Virat Kohli
celebrating half-century with Josh Hazlewood after match-winning performance against Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2025 at Bengaluru. @IPL |
Powerplay: Kohli and Padikkal Lay a Strong Foundation for RCB
RCB got off to a dream start as openers Virat Kohli and Phil Salt capitalized on every scoring opportunity. Archer’s opening over had good bounce but also five wides, gifting RCB early runs. Fazalhaq Farooqi was unlucky early as Riyan Parag dropped Salt’s catch. Kohli then took control, hitting boundaries at will. RCB reached 59/0 by the end of the Powerplay, their best start at home this season.
Middle Overs: Kohli-Padikkal Power Partnership Shifts Momentum
Wanindu Hasaranga drew first blood by dismissing Salt early in the middle overs. Despite a brief slowdown, Padikkal found his rhythm with timely boundaries. Kohli brought up another IPL half-century, even managing back-to-back streaky boundaries off Sandeep Sharma. The duo hit five sixes in just two overs to put RCB on course for a massive total.
Death Overs: Royals Fight Back but RCB Cross 200
Royals could have brought back Archer earlier to curb the scoring but finally dismissed Kohli when he mistimed a drive. Sandeep Sharma then struck twice in the same over to remove Padikkal and Patidar. Despite the collapse, Jitesh Sharma and Tim David added vital runs in the end. RCB ended with 205/5, their first 200+ score at home this season.
RR’s Chase: Jaiswal Sets the Stage on Fire
Rajasthan Royals began their chase with an explosive Powerplay. Yashasvi Jaiswal hit Bhuvneshwar Kumar for a six on the first ball, followed by a flurry of boundaries against Yash Dayal and Hazlewood. Even 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi chipped in with a six before Bhuvneshwar bowled him. Jaiswal's 19-ball 49 gave Royals a blazing start as they reached 72/2 in six overs.
Middle Overs: RCB Regain Control with Smart Bowling
After losing Jaiswal, Nitish Rana and Riyan Parag kept the scoreboard ticking. They attacked Romario Shepherd for 15 runs in one over. But Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma applied the brakes. Parag fell trying to go big, and Rana soon followed. Dhruv Jurel hit a six to end the phase with RR needing 58 off 30 balls.
Death Overs: Hazlewood Orchestrates Royals' Collapse
Jurel continued his heroics, smashing Krunal for a huge six. Hazlewood returned and immediately dismissed Hetmyer to get RCB back in the game. Jurel then thrashed Bhuvneshwar for 22 runs in the 18th over, bringing the equation down to 18 off 12 balls.
However, Hazlewood’s penultimate over changed everything. He bowled three dot balls to Jurel, then dismissed him with a fine edge. Archer fell on the next delivery, leaving RR stunned. Only one run came from the over, as RCB sealed control. Yash Dayal finished things off, with Dubey falling first ball. Royals ended on 194/9.
Turning Point: Hazlewood’s Penultimate Over
The 19th over was the game-changer. With RR needing 18 off 12 balls and Jurel in form, Hazlewood conceded just one run and took two crucial wickets. His exceptional control under pressure broke Royals' back and ensured RCB’s victory.
Star Performers of the Match:
What's Next for RCB and RR?
RCB finally have momentum on their side with a home win. They now head to Delhi to face another confident side in what promises to be a high-octane clash on Sunday. Rajasthan Royals, on the other hand, return home to host Gujarat Titans. With yet another close loss under their belt, the Royals must regroup quickly and find ways to close out games.
Final Thoughts: RCB Triumph, Royals Stumble Again
Once again, Rajasthan Royals showed promise but couldn’t finish the job. Their inability to handle pressure in tight finishes continues to hurt them. RCB, however, executed a perfect plan in the death overs to finally give their home crowd something to cheer about. With the league heating up, every point now counts and both teams will look to build momentum heading into the business end of IPL 2025.
Post a Comment