Table of Contents
Match Overview
On April 24, 2025, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) faced Rajasthan Royals (RR) in a thrilling IPL 2025 encounter at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, with RCB emerging victorious by 16 runs. Royal Challengers Bengaluru, batting first after losing their fourth consecutive home toss, posted a formidable 205/5, powered by half-centuries from Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal. Rajasthan Royals, despite a valiant chase led by Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel, finished at 189/9, falling short in a high-scoring contest. The match showcased Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s batting depth and Rajasthan Royals’ resilience, though their bowling and fielding lapses proved costly. This win marked Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s first home victory of the season, lifting them to third in the points table, while Rajasthan Royals’ sixth loss in nine games left them eighth, struggling to keep playoff hopes alive.
Toss and Team Lineups
Royal Challengers Bengaluru lost the toss, and Rajasthan Royals’ stand-in captain Riyan Parag opted to bowl first, anticipating dew and a batting-friendly pitch. Royal Challengers Bengaluru fielded an unchanged XI: Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar (captain), Devdutt Padikkal, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, and Yash Dayal, with impact subs including Suyash Sharma and Jacob Bethell. Rajasthan Royals made one change, replacing Maheesh Theekshana with Fazalhaq Farooqi, lining up with Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubham Dubey, Nitish Rana, Riyan Parag (captain), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Wanindu Hasaranga, Jofra Archer, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Tushar Deshpande, and Sandeep Sharma, with impact subs like Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Akash Madhwal. Both teams aimed to capitalize on Chinnaswamy’s high-scoring reputation, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru banking on their batting firepower and Rajasthan Royals hoping their pace attack could exploit early conditions.
First Innings: RCB’s Batting Surge
Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s innings got off to a blazing start, reaching 59/0 in the powerplay, driven by Phil Salt’s aggressive 25 off 17 and Virat Kohli’s steady 27 off 19. The duo’s 50-run stand in 28 balls set the tone, though Wanindu Hasaranga dismissed Salt (caught at deep midwicket) to give Rajasthan Royals a breakthrough. Kohli anchored the innings, forming a crucial 95-run partnership with Devdutt Padikkal, who smashed a 26-ball fifty. Kohli’s 70 off 46, with precise cover drives and lofted shots, kept Royal Challengers Bengaluru on track, but Jofra Archer struck back, removing him with a slower ball mistimed to cover. Sandeep Sharma’s double-wicket over, dismissing Padikkal (50 off 26) and Rajat Patidar, briefly slowed Royal Challengers Bengaluru, but Tim David (20 off 10) and Jitesh Sharma’s brisk 18 off 9 propelled them to 205/5. Rajasthan Royals’ bowlers, particularly Sandeep (2 wickets) and Archer, fought back, but fielding lapses and 19 runs conceded in the final over proved costly.
Second Innings: RR’s Spirited Chase
Chasing 206, Rajasthan Royals started strongly, reaching 72/2 in the powerplay, with Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 52 off 26 setting an aggressive tone. Shubham Dubey fell early, but Nitish Rana’s 28 off 22 supported Jaiswal until Krunal Pandya dismissed him at short fine leg. Riyan Parag’s quick 22 off 10 kept Rajasthan Royals in the hunt, but his departure triggered a mini-collapse. Dhruv Jurel’s resilient 32* off 18, including a scooped four and a lofted cover drive, and Shimron Hetmyer’s 11 off 8 kept hopes alive, but Josh Hazlewood’s double blow—removing Hetmyer (caught behind) and Jurel (wide yorker, caught behind via review)—tilted the game. Wanindu Hasaranga’s run-out for 1 and late wickets from Yash Dayal and Bhuvneshwar Kumar restricted Rajasthan Royals to 189/9. Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s spinners, led by Krunal Pandya (12 wickets in IPL 2025), and Hazlewood’s 2/28 were pivotal in defending the total.
Key Performances and Tactical Insights
Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s batting was the difference, with Kohli and Padikkal’s 95-run stand exploiting Rajasthan Royals’ inconsistent bowling. Padikkal’s ability to accelerate and Kohli’s anchoring role suited Chinnaswamy’s pitch, which offered some stickiness early but favored batsmen. Rajasthan Royals’ decision to bowl first backfired, as their pacers, except Archer, leaked runs, and fielding errors compounded their woes. Jaiswal’s aggressive start gave Rajasthan Royals a chance, but their middle order couldn’t sustain the momentum against Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s disciplined bowling. Krunal Pandya’s spin and Hazlewood’s death bowling exposed Rajasthan Royals’ reliance on Jaiswal and Jurel. The absence of Sanju Samson, sidelined by an abdominal injury, further weakened Rajasthan Royals’ batting depth, as noted by Parag post-match.
Post-Match Reactions and Impact
Virat Kohli, named Player of the Match for his 70, emphasized Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s intent to break their home jinx: “We knew the crowd’s energy would push us, and we maximized the powerplay.” Riyan Parag, Rajasthan Royals’ captain, admitted, “We gave away 15-20 runs extra, and our batting needed more partnerships.” Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s victory, their sixth in nine games, solidified their playoff contention, moving them to third with 12 points and a net run rate of +0.472. Rajasthan Royals’ defeat, their sixth in nine, left them with four points and a net run rate of -0.633, facing a near-impossible task to qualify. The match, broadcast live on Star Sports and streamed on JioHotstar, highlighted Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s resurgence and Rajasthan Royals’ ongoing struggles.
