RCB Clinch 11-Run Victory Over Rajasthan Royals at Home
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) finally broke their home jinx in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 with a thrilling 11-run win over Rajasthan Royals (RR) on Thursday. The victory, powered by half-centuries from Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal, helped RCB rise to third place on the points table with 12 points from nine games, behind Gujarat Titans and Delhi Capitals only on net run rate.
Put in to bat first at their home ground, Bengaluru put on a commanding total of 205/5 in 20 overs. Kohli led the charge with a stylish 70 off 42 balls, smashing eight fours and two sixes. His partner, Padikkal, matched the tempo with a quickfire 50 off just 27 deliveries, including three sixes. The duo put up a 95-run partnership off just 51 balls for the second wicket, propelling RCB to 156/1 by the 15th over.
Earlier, Kohli and opener Phil Salt had laid a solid platform with a 61-run stand. Salt scored a cautious 26 before falling to Wanindu Hasaranga, who returned to play against his former franchise and picked up 1/30 in his spell. After Kohli and Padikkal’s departure in the 16th and 17th overs respectively, Tim David (23 off 15) and Jitesh Sharma (20* off 10) ensured a strong finish, pushing RCB past the 200-run mark.
Kohli’s knock marked his fifth half-century of the season and the 60th of his IPL career. He now has 392 runs in nine matches, second only to Gujarat’s Sai Sudharsan, who leads with 417 runs from eight games.
In response, Rajasthan got off to a flying start. Young opener Vaibhav Suryavanshi, only 14 years old, impressed with two sixes in his 16 off 12 balls. Alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, the duo added 52 runs in just 26 balls. Jaiswal was in devastating form, hitting seven fours and three sixes to score 49 off only 19 deliveries before falling to Josh Hazlewood in the sixth over.
However, Rajasthan's chase lost momentum as wickets fell at regular intervals. Nitish Rana chipped in with 28 off 22, while stand-in captain Riyan Parag hit a quick 22 off 10. Krunal Pandya’s double strike removing both Rana and Parag left the Royals reeling at 134/4 after 13.3 overs.
Despite Dhruv Jurel’s valiant effort of 47 off 34 balls, which included three fours and three sixes, the Royals couldn’t sustain their charge. Hazlewood returned to claim two more wickets, including Shimron Hetmyer, and finished with impressive figures of 4/33.
This loss marked Rajasthan’s fifth consecutive defeat, equaling their longest losing streak in IPL history, previously recorded between the 2009 and 2010 seasons. With only two wins in nine matches, the Royals now sit eighth on the points table, struggling to stay in the playoff race.
