RCB beat Rajasthan Royals by 11 runs to stay alive in IPL 2025 playoff race.
In a high-octane encounter at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) held their nerve to clinch an 11-run win over Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Match 42 of IPL 2025. The hosts posted a commanding 205/5 in 20 overs, before their bowlers withstood a fierce batting onslaught to restrict the Royals to 194/9.
Opting to bowl first, RR were met with a strong batting display from the Bengaluru top-order. Virat Kohli led the charge with a brilliant 70 off 42 balls, striking 8 boundaries and 2 sixes, while Devdutt Padikkal dazzled with a 27-ball 50, peppered with four fours and three sixes. The duo stitched a 95-run stand for the second wicket, setting up a perfect platform.
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Bengaluru lost momentum briefly in the middle overs with the dismissals of Kohli and Padikkal, but Tim David (23 off 15) and Jitesh Sharma (20 off 10)* finished the innings on a high. Sandeep Sharma (2/45) and Hasaranga (1/30) were among the wickets for RR, though the rest of the bowling unit struggled.
In response, RR came out all guns blazing. Yashasvi Jaiswal smashed a blistering 49 off 19 balls, including 7 fours and 3 sixes, taking the RCB bowlers to the cleaners in the powerplay. However, once Josh Hazlewood removed Jaiswal, the momentum shifted. Bengaluru applied pressure in the middle overs, with Krunal Pandya (2/31) and Hazlewood combining to dismiss Riyan Parag, Nitish Rana, and Hetmyer, breaking the Royals’ backbone. Dhruv Jurel fought valiantly with 47 off 34 balls, but lacked support at the other end as wickets kept tumbling.
Hazlewood was the pick of the bowlers with 4/33 in 4 overs, while Yash Dayal and Pandya provided key breakthroughs. Despite a flurry of boundaries in the death overs, RR finished at 194/9, falling short by 11 runs.
Josh Hazlewood showing his experience with touch of class.
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) April 24, 2025
RCB 💥 @IPL @RCBTweets 👌
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) April 24, 2025
A Chinnaswamy homecoming 💪🏻 #RCBvsRR pic.twitter.com/HoNfIre2QD
— DK (@DineshKarthik) April 24, 2025
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