Royal Challengers Bengaluru gave their home crowd plenty to cheer as Josh Hazlewood , Virat Kohli , Krinal Pandya played pivotal roles in their 11-run over repeatedly choking Rajasthan Royals in a Tata IPL 2025 encounter in Bengaluru.
Earlier , RR stand-in Skipper Riyan Parag won the toss and opted to bowl first . And RCB openers Phil Salt and Virat Kohli were off to a flier after reading the pitch early on . The duo put on 61 for the first wicket in 6. 4 overs. RR fielding has been sloppy in this season and it has hurt them big along with poor death overs bowling . Salt was dropped By Riyan Parag but he did not seize the moment and was out first for 26 ( 23 balls , 4 fours) .
In- form Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal further added RR’s misery with their batting . Kohli in excellent form reached another fifty scoring an impactful 70 ( 42 balls, 8 fours 2 sixes). Padikkal not to be left behind stoked an aggressive 50 ( 27 balls, 4 fours, 3 sixes). RCB were on the charge . Skipper Rajat Patidar fell early out for 1.
RCB were helped by cameos from Jitesh Sharma 20 ( 10 balls, 4 fours) not out . Big Aussie Tim David who has been a fantastic finisher for RCB this season chipped in with 23 ( 15 balls , 2 fours, 1 six) . RCB reaching an imposing 205/ 5 in their 20 overs.
RR Bowling : Jofra Archer bowled with pace in his 1/ 33 ( 4 overs) , Fazalhaq Farooqi 0/ 30 ( 3 overs), Tushar Deshpande 0/ 26 ( 2 overs) , Sandeep Sharma 2/ 45 ( 4 overs) , Wanindu Hasaranga 1/ 30 ( 4 overs), Riyan Parag 0/ 30 ( 3 overs)
In reply RR , began in aggressive fashion , with openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and 14- year old Vaibhav Suryavanshi. RR racing to 52/ 1 in 4. 2 overs. Vaibhav Suryavanshi was first out for 16 ( 12 balls , 2 sixes) . The chase was truly on . Yashasvi Jaiswal was in punishing mood and blazed away to 49 ( 19 balls, 7 fours, 3 sixes) but when RR needed him to stay he holed out. RR 72/ 2 in 7. 2 overs.
RR Skipper Riyan Parag too showed the right intent and threatened to score big but fell for 22 ( 10 balls, 2 fours, 2 sixes). At the run of play RR lost Nitish Rana for 28 ( 22 balls, 3 fours, 1 six) . RR were when Rana fell were 133/ 4 in 13. 3 overs. Just when RR need some partnership they lost Shimron Hetmyer ( 12) and Shubham Dubey ( 11). The chase which looked comfortable suddenly looked tricky. RR remember had lost two previous games one by super over and one by 2 runs.
Another loss was on the cards. Dhruv Jurel battled hard for his 47 ( 34 balls 3 fours, 3 sixes) but fell to wily Josh Hazlewood. Hazlewood was outstanding as he bagged wickets towards the end and well supported by Krunal Pandya .
Jofra Archer ( 0) , Wanindu Hasaranga run-out 1 added to RR misery . Tushar Deshpande not out 1 and Fazalhaq Farooqi not out 2 . RR losing once again a match which it should have won . RR eventually reaching 194/ 9 in their 20 overs.
With 7 losses out off 9 matches RR chances of reaching qualifiers is now truly over. RR need to introspect, poor fielding, batting and expensive death overs bowling. The areas which has hurt them big. Riyan Parag as captain hardly looks inspiring. Injury to Sanju Samson has made it a season to forget.
RCB Bowling : Bhuvneshwar Kumar 1/ 50 ( 4 overs) , Yash Dayal 1/ 33 ( 3 overs), Josh Hazlewood brilliant 4/ 33 ( 4 overs) , Romario Shepherd 0/ 15 ( 1 over) , Suyash Sharma 0/ 31 ( 4 overs) , Krunal Pandya 2/ 31 ( 4 overs)
Match: IPL 2025, 42nd Match
Venue: Bengaluru | Date: April 24, 2025
