The Sawai Mansingh Stadium became the stage for a commanding performance this afternoon as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) showcased their prowess with a resounding nine-wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the 28th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.
This emphatic win, RCB’s fourth away triumph of the season, sends a clear message of intent to their rivals and underscores their growing momentum in the tournament.
Having won the crucial toss and elected to field, Rajat Patidar‘s decision was vindicated by a disciplined and effective bowling display from his unit. They successfully stifled the usually explosive RR batting lineup, restricting them to a manageable total of 173/4. Rajasthan had opted for a solitary change in their playing XI, bringing in the spin expertise of Wanindu Hasaranga in place of the left-arm pace of Fazalhaq Farooqi.
RR commenced their innings with caution, taking 40 deliveries to reach the 50-run mark. While Yashasvi Jaiswal gradually found his rhythm, Sanju Samson struggled to rotate the strike and eventually fell victim to a sharp stumping off Krunal Pandya‘s bowling. Jaiswal then anchored the innings, forging a vital partnership with Riyan Parag, who contributed a steady 30.
The in-form Jaiswal continued his impressive run, notching up his third T20 half-century at this very venue, his second of the current IPL season, and the 11th of his burgeoning IPL career. However, just as he looked poised to accelerate the scoring rate, he departed for a well-compiled 75. A late flourish from the young Dhruv Jurel, who remained unbeaten at 35, helped RR reach a respectable total of 173/4. Intriguingly, this marks the second-lowest first-innings total by a team losing four or fewer wickets since the introduction of the Impact Player rule in the 2023 season, highlighting RCB’s stifling bowling performance.
However, the target proved to be woefully inadequate against the firepower of the in-form RCB batting lineup. The dynamic opening duo of Phil Salt and Virat Kohli came out with aggressive intent, laying the foundation for a comfortable chase with a blistering powerplay. They amassed an impressive 65 runs within the first six overs, with Salt in particularly destructive form, reaching his half-century in a mere 28 deliveries.
Kumar Kartikeya provided the solitary breakthrough for RR, dismissing the dangerous Salt for a scintillating 65 off just 33 balls, an innings punctuated by five elegant boundaries and six towering sixes. While Kartikeya’s strike broke the dominant 94-run opening stand, the Royals struggled to exert any sustained pressure on the RCB batsmen.
Kohli continued his stellar form, anchoring the chase with a well-crafted half-century. He found an able partner in Devdutt Padikkal, who played a brisk and effective innings of 40. The duo forged an unbroken partnership, showcasing excellent composure and strokeplay to guide their team home comfortably.
Ultimately, RCB chased down the target with remarkable ease, reaching the required runs within 18 overs and losing just one wicket in the process. It was a clinical and dominant performance from the Bengaluru side, emphatically demonstrating their batting depth and firepower.
Unsurprisingly, the explosive Phil Salt was deservedly awarded the Man of the Match for his game-changing innings that set the tone for RCB’s comprehensive victory. His aggressive approach during the crucial powerplay phase effectively deflated Rajasthan’s hopes early in the chase.
This comprehensive win will undoubtedly provide Royal Challengers Bengaluru with a significant surge in confidence as the tournament progresses. Conversely, Rajasthan Royals will need to regroup swiftly and address their shortcomings, particularly in their batting approach and ability to apply pressure with the ball, after this disappointing home defeat.
Scorecard:
Rajasthan Royals: 173-4, Overs 20, Yashasvi Jaiswal 75, Josh Hazlewood 1/26
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: 175-1, Overs 17.3, Philip Salt 65, Kumar Kartikeya 1/25
