Royal Challengers Bengaluru clashed with Delhi Capitals in IPL 2025 Match 46 on April 27, 2025, at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi, starting at 7:30 PM IST. Both teams, with six wins from nine games, were in a tight race for the top four. Delhi Capitals posted 162/8, led by KL Rahul and Tristan Stubbs, but Royal Challengers Bengaluru chased 163 in 18.3 overs, winning by 6 wickets, driven by Krunal Pandya’s unbeaten 73 and Virat Kohli’s 51. Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s three wickets restricted Delhi Capitals, while Tim David’s late flourish sealed the chase. Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s seventh win in ten games moved them to first with 14 points, per Cricbuzz, while Delhi Capitals stayed fourth with 12 points.
Table of Contents
Pitch and Conditions
Arun Jaitley’s pitch was batting-friendly, averaging 197 in 2025, with short boundaries and spin assistance, per India Today. Chasing teams won both games this season due to dew. The weather was hot, 42°C with 20% humidity, and no rain, ensuring a full match, per Hindustan Times. Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s pacers found swing, while Delhi Capitals lost four wickets to spin from Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma.
Toss and Lineups
Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s captain Rajat Patidar won the toss and chose to bowl, leveraging Arun Jaitley’s chasing trend, where both 2025 games favored the second team, per ESPNcricinfo. Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s XI was Jacob Bethell, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar (captain), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Suyash Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, and Yash Dayal, with impact sub Devdutt Padikkal. Delhi Capitals’ XI was Abishek Porel, Faf du Plessis, Karun Nair, KL Rahul (wk), Axar Patel (captain), Tristan Stubbs, Ashutosh Sharma, Vipraj Nigam, Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, and Mukesh Kumar, with impact sub Dushmantha Chameera.
Game Plan for RCB
Royal Challengers Bengaluru aimed to restrict Delhi Capitals to under 170, with Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s 3/22, including Abishek Porel’s wicket, and Josh Hazlewood’s 2/36 targeting the top order. In the chase, Virat Kohli’s 51 off 47 anchored the innings, leveraging his 483 runs at Arun Jaitley, while Krunal Pandya’s 73 off 47, including a 119-run partnership, ensured momentum. Royal Challengers Bengaluru countered Kuldeep Yadav’s spin (1/38) with steady batting, chasing 163 in 18.3 overs.
Game Plan for DC
Delhi Capitals targeted a 180-plus total, relying on KL Rahul’s 41 off 39 and Tristan Stubbs’ 34 off 18 for a late surge. Kuldeep Yadav’s 1/38 and Axar Patel’s 2/19 aimed to disrupt Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s middle order, like Rajat Patidar. Delhi Capitals’ innings faltered after Rahul’s dismissal, managing 162/8. Their bowlers struggled to break the Kohli-Pandya partnership, allowing Royal Challengers Bengaluru to clinch the victory.
Match Outcome
Royal Challengers Bengaluru won by 6 wickets, chasing 163 in 18.3 overs, claiming first place with 14 points, per The Indian Express. Krunal Pandya’s unbeaten 73 off 47, with a 119-run partnership with Virat Kohli’s 51 off 47, outshone Delhi Capitals’ 162/8, led by KL Rahul’s 41. Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s 3/22 restricted Delhi Capitals early. Tim David’s 19 off 5 balls finished the chase. Krunal Pandya was Player of the Match for his all-round performance. Delhi Capitals’ fourth loss kept them fourth, needing to address batting inconsistencies.
Key Players
-
Krunal Pandya: 73 runs off 47 balls (5 fours, 3 sixes), 1 wicket for 9 runs
-
Virat Kohli: 51 runs off 47 balls (4 fours, 1 six)
-
KL Rahul: 41 runs off 39 balls (4 fours, 1 six)
-
Bhuvneshwar Kumar: 3 wickets for 22 runs in 4 overs
Head-to-Head Stats
Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Delhi Capitals have faced off 35 times in the IPL, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru winning 19 and Delhi Capitals 16, per India Today. Delhi Capitals won their previous encounter on April 10, 2025, by 6 wickets, chasing 164 at Chinnaswamy. At Arun Jaitley, Royal Challengers Bengaluru have won 5 of 8 games, including a 47-run win in 2024. Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s 6-wicket victory on April 27 marked their sixth consecutive away win, a first in IPL history, per India Today.
