Image: RCB impress with all-round show as Hazlewood stars in vital win / © News18
One of the most thrilling encounters of the IPL 2025 season unfolded at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, where Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) finally broke their home jinx with an 11-run win over Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the 42nd match of the tournament. Backed by a strong batting performance and a match-winning spell from Josh Hazlewood, RCB bagged two crucial points and moved to 12 points on the league table, climbing to third position.
RCB, after losing the toss and being put into bat, posted a formidable total of 205/5 in their 20 overs. The innings were built on a solid opening stand and fiery middle-order contributions. Virat Kohli was in sublime touch, scoring 70 off 42 balls at a strike rate of 166.66, laced with 8 fours and 2 sixes. His timing and intent set the tone for the innings. Supporting him in the top order was Devdutt Padikkal, who played a blistering knock of 50 from just 27 deliveries, including 4 fours and 3 sixes. His innings had a strike rate of 185.18 and proved vital in maintaining the momentum. The partnership between Kohli and Padikkal helped RCB cruise to 150 by the 15th over.
Phil Salt chipped in with 26 off 23, anchoring the early phase. Later, Tim David added a quick 23 off 15 before getting run out, while wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma provided the finishing touch with an unbeaten 20 off 10, striking at 200.00. The batting unit capitalized on a below-par bowling effort from RR, who conceded 14 wides and 1 leg bye, handing RCB 15 extra runs. Notably, RCB reached 200 in 19.4 overs, indicating consistent acceleration through the innings.
RR’s bowlers failed to make early breakthroughs or stem the run flow. Wanindu Hasaranga (4-0-30-1) was the most economical among the lot, while Sandeep Sharma (4-0-45-2) managed a couple of wickets but at a heavy cost. Jofra Archer, although taking a key wicket (Kohli), went for 33 runs in his 4 overs. Tushar Deshpande and Fazalhaq Farooqi were particularly expensive, conceding 36 and 30 runs in 2 and 3 overs respectively, without any wickets.
Chasing a challenging target of 206, RR got off to a flying start. Yashasvi Jaiswal blazed his way to 49 off 19 balls, smashing 7 fours and 3 sixes at a jaw-dropping strike rate of 257.89. Alongside debutant Vaibhav Suryavanshi (16 off 12), he propelled RR to 50 in just 4.1 overs and 72 by the end of the powerplay. However, after Jaiswal fell in the 6th over, wickets began tumbling. Nitish Rana (28 off 22) and captain Riyan Parag (22 off 10) tried to maintain the momentum but were undone by RCB’s spinners and some tight fielding. The middle and lower order, despite showing some resistance, couldn’t capitalise. Dhruv Jurel fought hard with 47 off 34, but lacked support towards the end.
A major collapse in the final overs saw RR lose five wickets for just 29 runs, going from 162/5 to 191/9. The 19th over from Josh Hazlewood proved decisive, as he dismissed Archer and contributed to derailing the chase. Josh Hazlewood was undoubtedly the Player of the Match, delivering a game-changing spell of 4/33 in 4 overs. He picked up key wickets, including Jaiswal, Jurel, Hetmyer, and Archer.
His pinpoint accuracy in the death overs, especially the penultimate over, left RR with too much to do in the final six balls. Krunal Pandya also chipped in with 2 important wickets (Rana and Parag), conceding only 31 runs. While Suyash Sharma and Yash Dayal bowled without taking too many wickets, they helped apply pressure during the middle overs.
Both teams used their Impact Player option strategically. RCB substituted out Devdutt Padikkal for Suyash Sharma during RR’s innings, adding depth to their spin attack. RR, on the other hand, brought in Vaibhav Suryavanshi for Sandeep Sharma during RCB’s innings to boost their batting during the chase. Interestingly, the match saw multiple DRS reviews, some for wides and others for dismissals, showing how closely contested this game was.
With this win, RCB climbed to third place on the points table, tied with GT and DC on 12 points but slightly behind on NRR. It also marked their first home win of the season, having previously struggled at Chinnaswamy. For RR, it was yet another failed chase, continuing a troubling trend in the 2025 season. They now have just 4 points from 9 games and languish near the bottom of the table, only above SRH and CSK on net run rate.
RCB’s win was a perfect combination of clinical batting, smart use of spinners, and Hazlewood’s death-over mastery. RR showed flashes of brilliance, especially in the powerplay, but poor execution in the crucial final phase of the chase cost them the game. With the tournament entering a decisive phase, RCB looks well-poised, while RR will need to regroup quickly if they hope to keep their playoff dreams alive.
For the fans, the TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game has to be the wicket of Dhruv Jurel, which turned the tide in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s favour. At the time of his dismissal, Jurel was in the middle of a crucial knock, with Rajasthan Royals needing 16 runs from the last 10 balls. The match was slipping away from RCB, and Jurel’s attacking intent was keeping RR in the chase. Having already scored 47 off 34 balls, with three boundaries and three sixes, he was in full flow and looked set to take the game deep. However, Josh Hazlewood, who had been brilliant throughout, struck at the perfect moment.
Jurel attempted to back away to create room for a big shot, but Hazlewood nailed a wide yorker. As Jurel brought his bat down, there was a faint spike on the DRS review, indicating a bottom edge. The third umpire confirmed the dismissal, and Jurel was dismissed for 47. The wicket was significant, as it removed the key batter in a high-pressure situation, leaving RR needing even more runs from the lower order. Jurel’s dismissal came at a crucial moment when he was the most dangerous batter, and this timely review from RCB proved decisive in ensuring the victory.
With so many in contention for the TCNI’s Hero of the Day, the award is surely a tough call, but Krunal Pandya’s all-round performance with the ball deserves special mention. Although his batting contributed to RCB’s total earlier in the match, it was his impact with the ball that truly turned the tide. When Rajasthan Royals were chasing down the target, the game was on a knife’s edge. As the Royals seemed to close in on victory, it was Krunal’s spell that shifted momentum in RCB’s favour.
Bowling four overs for just 31 runs, Krunal showed remarkable control and adaptability, especially in the middle overs. His variations in pace and line restricted Rajasthan’s batsmen from gaining any rhythm. In particular, his key wickets of Riyan Parag and Shimron Hetmyer were crucial in stalling RR’s chase. By maintaining a tight economy rate, he not only ensured that the opposition couldn’t accelerate but also built pressure, which led to wickets falling at critical moments. Krunal’s performance was a masterclass in containing the opposition during a tense phase of the game.