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Virat Kohli

Three talking points from RCB vs RR IPL 2025 clash

Virat Kohli (Image Credits: Twitter)

In a nail-biting encounter between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals, the hosts picked up an 11-run win and, thereby, broke their losing streak at M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Thursday. Despite conceding a 205-run total, Rajasthan Royals stayed in the hunt throughout the chase. There were a couple of brilliant knocks from Yashasvi Jaiswal (49 off 19) and Dhruv Jurel (47 off 34) but those didn't prove enough as RR fell 11 runs short of the target. 

With that win, Royal Challengers Bangalore have climbed to the number three spot on the points table with 12 points in their bag. For Rajasthan Royals, this loss has almost ended their chances of qualifying for the playoffs. 

Here’s a look at three major talking points from RCB vs RR IPL 2025 clash: 

  1. Virat Kohli, Padikkal half-centuries propel RCB to 205 in the first innings: 

For the first time in IPL 2025, RCB didn’t lose a wicket in the powerplay. Despite Jofra Archer and Fazalhaq Farooqi delivering excellent spells at the start, Kohli and Salt managed to not lose their wicket, somehow. RCB got a move on when Tushar Deshpande came to bowl the fifth over as he was smashed for three fours in his first over. Salt was holed out at deep mid-wicket off Hasaranga in the seventh over but what followed was an excellent partnership between Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal. In the first 10 overs, RCB had scored 83 runs but the duo changed gears thereafter. 

The boundaries kept coming from both ends as RR failed to break the partnership. Virat Kohli went on to smash his fifth half-century of the season on a pitch that wasn’t that easy to bat on. Padikkal reached his fifty as well off just 26 balls. Rajasthan Royals had only themselves to blame as Padikkal was dropped thrice during his innings. 

Jofra Archer bowled well in his entire spell. He was brought back in the 16th over and got the big wicket of Virat Kohli. The latter played a phenomenal knock of 70 off 42 balls and climbed second on the overall runs tally. Sandeep Sharma then took the wicket of Devdutt Padikkal and Patidar in the next over to bring his team back into the contest. However, a decent finish from Tim David (23 off 15) and Jitesh Sharma (20 off 10) meant RCB posted a formidable score of 205 for 5 in 20 overs.

2. Krunal Pandya’s golden arm and Josh Hazlewood’s brilliance 

In pursuit of a big target, Rajasthan Royals got just the start they were looking for. Courtesy of a fine cameo from Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rajasthan Royals had scored 110 runs for the loss of two wickets in just nine overs. Rajasthan smashed 38 runs in three overs after the powerplay and looked to take the game away from the hosts.

Krunal Pandya was then brought into the attack and he struck on the very first ball of his spell.  Riyan Parag tried to hit a six on the leg side but the top edge went straight up and Jitesh Sharma did the rest. Krunal Pandya continued to bowl at great lengths and also sent Nitish Rana (28 off 22) back, who was timing the ball really well until then. 

Despite those strikes, Dhruv Jurel ensured boundaries kept coming as he threatened to take the game away from RCB. Rajasthan had scored 160 for 4 after 16 overs and then RCB's saviour - Josh Hazlewood was brought into the attack. 

Once again, Hazlewood showed his effectiveness in the death overs as he bowled with absolute precision not giving any room for the batter to hit him. He gave away just 6 runs off the 17th over and took the important wicket of Hetmyer. However, a 22-run over from Bhuvneshwar Kumar, thereafter, meant Rajasthan needed just 18 off the final two overs. 

It looked like RR would snatch this game away but Josh Hazlewood had other ideas. He sent the danger man Dhruv Jurel (47 off 34) back, thanks to Jitesh Sharma for appealing for a caught behind. Three dots and a wicket meant Hazlewood gave just one run in the 19th over, leaving the equation down to 17 needed off the final over. RCB eventually won the game by 11 runs. 

3. RCB win their first game at home 

After three unsuccessful attempts, Royal Challengers Bangalore finally broke their losing streak at home. For the first time in four games at Chinnaswamy Stadium, the home team batted well and posted a 200-plus total. 

Rajasthan Royals threatened to make it four losses in a row for RCB at home but brilliant bowling from spinners and Josh Hazlewood’s magic in the death overs helped the team pick up their first win in front of the home crowd. This win would give them immense confidence going ahead in the tournament as they now have six wins in nine matches played in IPL 2025.  

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