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RCB fans at the Chinnaswamy Stadium finally had something to cheer for—a long-awaited home victory. In a high-octane match number 42 of IPL 2025, Royal Challengers Bangalore defeated Rajasthan Royals in a contest full of drama, emotion, and some unforgettable moments.
RR won the toss and chose to bowl first, a move that seemed to work in their favor early on. Fazal Haq Farooqi, the new addition to the RR squad, looked sharp. Riyan Parag, though, missed a golden chance when he dropped Philip Salt on just 1 run—a moment that could’ve changed the game.
Salt didn’t make the Royals pay too heavily, as Wanindu Hasaranga dismissed him for 26. But what came next was a treat for RCB fans. Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal stitched together a classy partnership, both finding boundaries and rotating strike beautifully. Kohli brought up a steady 50 before Jofra Archer—yes, finally—got the better of him, a big moment considering it was Archer’s first wicket of Kohli in the IPL.
Padikkal soon followed, but Tim David and Jitesh Sharma stepped up with a fiery finish, helping RCB post a solid total of 205 runs—their highest at home this season.
RR’s chase started with a bang, thanks to Yashasvi Jaiswal’s fearless hitting. He was ruthless against the RCB bowlers and scored a quick 49, putting the hosts under serious pressure. But just when he looked set to take the game away, he was dismissed—thanks to a surprising move from the RCB captain.
For the first time since 2017, Krunal Pandya took a wicket in Bengaluru, and it came in a big moment. Kohli asked the Captain to change the ball and handed the over to Krunal. That move worked like magic.
Even then, Dhruv Jurel was looking dangerous, swinging the momentum back toward RR. But Josh Hazlewood, calm and lethal under pressure, removed Jurel He came back in the 19th and picked up two more, sealing the game for RCB. That over was the game-changer.
RCB finally had their first home win of the season, and stand-in captain Padikkal looked visibly relieved and pumped. It was a much-needed victory, and it keeps their playoff hopes strong. They now sit at 3rd place on the points table with 12 points.
For RR, this loss hurt. It was their fourth consecutive close defeat, and their campaign is starting to feel the pressure. Their bowling and batting have had their moments, but it hasn’t been enough to cross the line.
On the bright side for RCB, their bowling unit looks miles better than last year. Hazlewood is delivering in crunch moments, and the mix of spin and pace is working. With momentum on their side, RCB might just be peaking at the right time.
