Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) registered their first home win in IPL 2025 with a thrilling victory over Rajasthan Royals (RR). The match, held at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, saw RCB winning by 11 runs, with key contributions from both the bat and the ball. The win came as a much-needed morale boost for the team after a string of losses in the previous matches.

RCB batted first and posted a total of 175/8 in their 20 overs. Virat Kohli, the RCB captain, was once again the anchor for the team, scoring a well-paced 53 runs off 42 balls. His knock included six boundaries, and he played a crucial role in stabilizing the innings after RCB lost early wickets. Kohli’s ability to rotate the strike and accelerate towards the end of the innings was key to RCB posting a competitive total.

Along with Kohli, the experienced all-rounder Glenn Maxwell also made his presence felt, scoring 35 runs off 27 balls. Maxwell’s knock was critical in the middle overs as he provided the acceleration RCB needed when the required run rate started creeping up. The pair’s partnership laid a solid foundation for the rest of the team to capitalize on in the latter stages of the innings.

Despite a few early wickets falling, the RCB middle order rallied to post a decent total. A cameo from Dinesh Karthik, who scored 22 runs off 14 balls, ensured RCB had enough runs on the board for their bowlers to defend. The Rajasthan Royals bowlers, led by the experienced Ravichandran Ashwin and the young pace sensation Trent Boult, did manage to pick up wickets at regular intervals, but they were unable to stop RCB from reaching a competitive total.

RCB’s Bowling Performance

RCB's bowling attack came to the fore as they restricted RR to 164/9 in their 20 overs. The star of the show was Josh Hazlewood, whose brilliant spell of 4/22 was instrumental in ensuring RCB’s victory. Hazlewood’s ability to extract bounce from the pitch and his precision in the death overs made him a handful for RR's batsmen. He was well-supported by the veteran bowler Mohammed Siraj, who took 2 wickets for 36 runs in his four overs.

Hazlewood’s performance was a reminder of his importance to the team, especially when it comes to the big moments. He was quick to make breakthroughs and kept the pressure on RR’s middle and lower order, making it difficult for them to build partnerships. The spinners, too, played a crucial role in keeping the RR batsmen on edge. Shahbaz Ahmed’s economical spell of 1/30 in four overs helped stem the flow of runs in the middle overs.

Rajasthan Royals’ Response

Rajasthan Royals started their chase with confidence, as Jos Buttler and Yashasvi Jaiswal provided a solid platform, adding 45 runs for the opening wicket. Buttler, who is one of the most destructive batsmen in the IPL, looked in good touch as he scored 34 runs off 24 balls. However, his dismissal in the 8th over triggered a collapse in RR’s chase.

Jaiswal, who has been one of RR’s brightest prospects, failed to capitalize on his start and was dismissed for 26 runs off 18 balls. The middle order failed to provide the stability RR needed, with players like Sanju Samson and Devdutt Padikkal falling cheaply. The turning point of the match came when Hazlewood dismissed RR’s star batter, Shimron Hetmyer, for just 8 runs. This was followed by wickets falling at regular intervals, with RR eventually being bowled out for 164 runs.

Key Takeaways

The win was crucial for RCB, as it not only gave them their first home victory of the season but also boosted their confidence going forward in the tournament. Kohli’s consistency at the top is a major positive, and Maxwell’s finishing touch adds depth to the batting lineup. With Hazlewood and Siraj leading the bowling attack, RCB looks like a well-rounded unit that can challenge any team in the competition.

On the other hand, Rajasthan Royals need to work on their middle-order batting and find ways to perform consistently under pressure. With the tournament now entering its second half, RR will need to regroup quickly and focus on improving their all-round game.

What’s Next for Both Teams?

RCB will be looking to build on this victory and continue their good form in the upcoming matches. They will face tougher challenges ahead, but with players like Kohli, Maxwell, and Hazlewood in top form, they will be a tough side to beat. RR, on the other hand, will need to regroup and focus on tightening their batting and bowling strategies to stay competitive.