Picture : IPL / X
Impressive Knocks by Krunal Pandya, Virat Kohli and finish by Tim David helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Delhi Capitals by 6 wickets in a Tata IPL 2025 encounter at the Arun Jaitkey Stadium, New Delhi.
Earlier RCB Skipper Rajat Patidar won the toss and opted to bowl first . RCB bowlers bowled a tight line and length and did not give DC batters any room at all and the scores said it all – Abishek Porel 28 ( 11 balls, 2 fours 2 sixes) , Faf du Plessis 22 ( 26 balls 3 fours) , Karun Nair ( 4). K L Rahul struggled with his timing and played an unlike innings 41 ( 39 balls, 3 fours) , Skipper Axar Patel 15.
Thanks to Tristan Stubbs who broke the shackles 34 ( 18 balls, 5 fours 1 six) DC reached a somewhat below par total. , Ashutosh Sharma fell for ( 2), Vipraj Nigam run- out 0 . Mitchell Starc not out 0 , and Dushmantha Chameera not out 0. DC finally reaching 162/ 8 in their 20 overs.
RCB Bowling : Bhuvneshwar Kumar 3/ 33 ( 4 overs) , Yash Dayal 1/ 42 ( 4 overs) ,Josh Hazlewood 2/ 36 ( 4 overs) , Suyash Sharma 0/ 22 ( 4 overs) , Krunal Pandya 1/ 28 ( 4 overs)
In reply, RCB were off to a shaky start. Debutant RCB Opener Jacob Bethell began well but soon after trying too much fell for 12 to Axar Patel . In- form Devdutt Padikkal played on delivery from DC Skipper Axar Patel for 0. Axar Patel before this match had taken only 1 wicket this season. RCB Skipper Rajat Patidar was run-out to a brilliant throw by Karun Nair for 6. RCB chase was wobbling with the total at 26/ 3 in 4 overs .
But RCB blasted their way back thanks to a superb 119 run stand between Krunal Pandya and Virat Kohli. The duo took the game away from DC. Virat Kohli in sensational form and master when it comes to chases hit a classy 51 ( 47 balls , 4 fours). Kohli fell when RCB were 18 runs away.
However, Krunal Pandya played the game changing innings an unbeaten 73 ( 47 Balls, 5 fours, 4 sixes) . It was krunal’s maiden fifty of the season. Be it batting, bowling ( Bagging key wickets/ breaking partnerships) and fielding, Krunal had added value to the RCB team with his all- round ability.
Needing 18 off 12. Krunal was dropped by Abhishek Porel on 54 off Mitchell Starc and that proved costly for DC at the end .
RCB finished off the match in style with the brute power of Tim David. David has been a finisher for RCB as he smashed an unbeaten 19 ( 5 balls , 3 fours, 1 six) to see RCB home by six wickets. Their sixth consecutive win this season. RCB reaching 165/ 4 in 18. 3 overs.
DC Bowling : Axar Patel 2/ 19 ( 4 overs), Mitchell Starc 0/ 31 ( 3 overs) , Mukesh Kumar was taken to cleaners 0/ 51 ( 3. 3 overs) , Vipraj Nigam 0/ 12 ( 1 over) , Dushmantha Chameera 1/ 24 ( 3 overs), Kuldeep Yadav 0/ 28 ( 4 overs)
Match: IPL 2025, 46th Match
Venue: Delhi | Date: April 27, 2025
