Why Virat Kohli’s Return to Classic Form Was Key in RCB’s Win Over RR
At M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Virat Kohli scored a controlled 70 off 42 balls, his fifth fifty of IPL 2025, sharing a 95-run stand with Devdutt Padikkal. RCB posted 205/5 and defended it with Josh Hazlewood’s 4/33. Ex-coach Sanjay Bangar credited Kohli’s risk-free approach and RR’s poor decisions for RCB’s 11-run win.
For the second time in IPL 2025, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) registered a win at home, thanks to Virat Kohli’s textbook innings of 70 off 42 balls. This marked his fifth half-century of the season, as he shared a pivotal 95-run stand with Devdutt Padikkal (50 off 27) to push RCB to a strong total of 205/5 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Kohli, returning to a more risk-free and composed approach, controlled the early overs and then shifted gears in the latter half.
Former RCB coach Sanjay Bangar praised Kohli’s innings, calling it a return to his “default style”. Bangar also pointed out that the Rajasthan Royals (RR) once again faltered during the chase, losing by 11 runs and crashing to their fifth consecutive defeat. He criticized RR’s tactical errors, particularly not using Jofra Archer’s overs wisely, and the reckless shot selection of players like Riyan Parag and Yashasvi Jaiswal.
RCB’s win was sealed by Josh Hazlewood, who claimed 4 wickets for 33 runs, derailing RR’s chase. Bangar further weighed in on the upcoming CSK vs SRH clash, backing Chennai due to their spin-heavy strategy and MSD’s leadership. With this loss, RR remains eighth on the table with just two wins in nine matches.
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