KL Rahul’s Blazing 93* Leads DC to Victory Over RCB in Bengaluru

Being the local boy of the town and playing at Bengaluru’s electric M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, KL Rahul delivered one of the standout performances of IPL 2025 so far, guiding Delhi Capitals to a dominant 6-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru with 13 balls to spare. His unbeaten 93 off 53 balls, combined with sharp wicketkeeping, earned him the Player of the Match award and cemented Delhi’s place as one of the early title favorites.

RCB’s Inning: From Fast Start to Poor Finish

Put in to bat first, Royal Challengers Bengaluru got off to a flyer, thanks to Phil Salt’s explosive knock. Salt scored 37 off just 17 deliveries, including 4 fours and 3 sixes, and maintained a strike rate of 217.64, setting the stage for a big total. The powerplay yielded 61 runs in under 4 overs, but after Salt was run out in the fourth over, the momentum started to slip.

Virat Kohli, who looked in good touch, contributed a 14-ball 22 with 1 four and 2 sixes at a strike rate of 157.14, but fell just after the powerplay. Devdutt Padikkal struggled at the crease, scoring just 1 run in 8 balls, striking at a rate of 12.50, putting pressure on the middle order. Captain Rajat Patidar added 25 runs off 23 balls (SR: 108.69) with 1 four and 1 six but couldn’t capitalize. Liam Livingstone and Jitesh Sharma failed to impress, scoring 4 and 3 respectively. Both were dismissed cheaply, facing six and eleven deliveries.

Krunal Pandya chipped in with a steady 18 off 18 balls (SR: 100.00), but it was Tim David who gave RCB a much-needed late push. David blasted an unbeaten 37 from 20 balls, striking at 185.00, with 2 fours and 4 sixes, helping RCB post a respectable total of 163 for 7 in their 20 overs. In total, RCB hit 13 fours and 10 sixes, with 15 extras (9 wides, 1 no-ball, 5 leg byes). The run rate for the innings stood at 8.15 runs per over.

Delhi Capitals’ bowling was led by the spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Vipraj Nigam, both of whom turned the game with tight spells. Kuldeep was the most economical, finishing with figures of 4 overs, 2 wickets for just 17 runs, at a superb economy rate of 4.25. He bowled 11 dot balls and didn’t concede a single boundary. Vipraj Nigam was equally effective, taking 2 wickets for 18 runs in his 4 overs, conceding just 1 six. His economy was an impressive 4.50, including 12 dot balls. 

Mukesh Kumar claimed 1 wicket for 26 runs in his 3 overs, with a maiden to his name, while Mohit Sharma picked up a wicket for 10 runs in his short 2-over spell. However, big names like Mitchell Starc and Axar Patel had off-days. Starc gave away 35 runs in 3 overs (econ 11.66) and Axar was the most expensive with 52 runs from 4 overs (econ 13.00), allowing RCB to stay competitive.

DC’s Chase: Rahul’s Heroics Steal the Show

Chasing 164, Delhi Capitals had a poor start. Faf du Plessis was dismissed early for just 2 runs off 7 balls. Jake Fraser-McGurk added 7 off 6, while Abishek Porel also managed only 7 runs. By the end of the 5th over, Delhi were struggling at 30 for 3. Then came the partnership that changed the game. KL Rahul, already batting with patience and clarity, found support in Tristan Stubbs. Rahul anchored the innings beautifully, scoring 93 not out in 53 balls, laced with 7 fours and 6 sixes, at a strike rate of 175.47. 

He completed his half-century in 37 balls and dominated the bowlers through both the middle overs and the death. Stubbs played a vital support role with 38 not out off 23 balls (SR: 165.21), hitting 4 boundaries and a six. The pair stitched together an unbeaten 5th wicket partnership worth 100 runs in 54 balls, ensuring Delhi cruised past the target in 17.5 overs, maintaining a run rate of 9.47. DC scored 14 fours and 7 sixes in their innings, with 7 extras given by RCB bowlers (all wides).

Bhuvneshwar Kumar was RCB’s standout bowler, picking up 2 wickets for 26 runs in his full quota of 4 overs. He bowled 12 dot balls and conceded just 4 boundaries. Suyash Sharma was economical and tidy, giving away only 25 runs in 4 overs and claiming 1 wicket. However, the rest struggled. Yash Dayal bowled 3.5 overs and was expensive, conceding 45 runs. Josh Hazlewood leaked 40 runs in his 3 overs. Krunal Pandya (2 overs, 19 runs) and Liam Livingstone (1 over, 14 runs) failed to apply pressure in the middle overs.

What’s Happening in the Points Table?

With this win, Delhi Capitals continued their perfect run and now have 8 points from 4 matches, remaining unbeaten. Their net run rate stands strong at +1.278, placing them second behind Gujarat Titans, who also have 8 points but from 5 games with a superior NRR of +1.413. 

Royal Challengers Bengaluru now have 3 wins and 2 losses from 5 games, holding 6 points with a net run rate of +0.539, which places them third on the table. Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants also have 6 points each from 4 and 5 matches, respectively.

TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game

For the fans who watched Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Delhi Capitals live, they will always vote for the TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game for the run out of Phil Salt in the 4th over of the game. Salt was absolutely on fire, tearing into Mitchell Starc with fearless strokeplay. In just the third over, he smashed Starc for 26 runs, two sixes, two fours, and even punished a no-ball with a six off the free hit. With 36 runs off 14 balls, Salt was putting on a show, taking RCB to their fastest team fifty of the season. The pressure was mounting on DC, the Chinnaswamy crowd was electric, and Salt looked set for a big score. 

But everything changed in the 4th over. A harmless punch to extra cover and a sudden miscommunication with Virat Kohli led to Salt being run out. Kohli started to run and then changed his mind, leaving Salt stranded halfway down the pitch. Salt slipped trying to turn back and despite a desperate dive, was caught short by a sharp throw to the keeper. He was gone for 37 off just 17 balls, and with his dismissal, RCB lost all momentum. The aggression faded, the run rate dipped, and Delhi clawed their way back into the game.

TCNI’s Hero of the Day

In a high-pressure chase against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, KL Rahul played one of his finest knocks of the season, anchoring Delhi Capitals to a clinical 6-wicket win with an unbeaten 93 off just 53 balls. With early wickets tumbling around him, Faf du Plessis, Fraser-McGurk, and Porel all falling inside the first five overs and hence Rahul took his time to settle. His early phase was cautious, ensuring no further damage was done. He wasn’t flawless either, as a couple of catches were put down, giving him lifelines at crucial moments. But Rahul made the most of those chances. 

Once he got set, the Delhi skipper shifted gears with authority. He began picking boundaries regularly, mixing timing with power. His 93 included 7 fours and 6 sixes, and came at a strike rate of 175.47, an outstanding effort considering the shaky start his team had. He stitched a crucial partnership with Stubbs and guided Delhi home with 13 balls to spare. Rahul’s calculated aggression, temperament under pressure, and ability to bat deep turned the match on its head. For holding the innings together and finishing it in style, KL Rahul is our TCNI’s Hero of the Day.