RCB End Home Ground Hoodoo with Tense Win Over Rajasthan Royals
The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium finally saw RCB fans erupt in joy after weeks of heartbreak. On a humid evening in Bengaluru, Royal Challengers Bengaluru put their home woes aside, clinching a tight 11-run victory over RR and breathing fresh life into their IPL 2025 campaign. Until now, Bengaluru had turned into a graveyard for home hopes, but Match 42 changed that story in dramatic style.
Bengaluru’s batters took the patient route early on. Virat Kohli, back in full flow, and Phil Salt stitched together a gritty 61-run stand at the top. Their partnership laid a stable platform but it wasn’t the explosive start local fans usually crave at Chinnaswamy. Then, Devdutt Padikkal stepped up. He began to push the pace, notching up boundaries and shining with a 156-run score by the 15th over. But cricket’s see-saw nature showed up, and RCB slipped into panic mode—three wickets fell in a cluster, just for seven runs.
That wobble might have sunk other teams. But Tim David, showing cool nerves, joined forces with Jitesh Sharma for a crucial late charge. Their 42-run partnership in quick time rescued the home side from an underwhelming finish. By the end of 20 overs, RCB had put up a serious 205 for 5 on the board—more than competitive, but never a guarantee on a high-scoring pitch like this one.
Hazlewood Breaks RR Hearts as Royals’ Slide Deepens
When the Rajasthan chase began, it looked like the script might flip all over again. Yashasvi Jaiswal blasted away from the first ball, smashing 49 off just 19 deliveries. The small target gap shrank with every shot, and there was real hope in the RR dugout. But then, Josh Hazlewood flipped the contest. The Australian fast bowler produced a spell that will stick in memory—four wickets for 22 runs, derailing the Royals’ assault right when it started to look dangerous. Batsmen kept walking back, and the run rate started crawling upwards.
Dhruv Jurel sparked another twist, standing strong for Rajasthan with a well-crafted 47 off 34 balls. He held the chase together as partners tumbled, even as Hazlewood and the RCB attack kept hammering away with disciplined lines. RR needed a late miracle, but instead, they saw wickets tumble and nerves fray. In the frenzy of the death overs, Bengaluru’s bowlers—helped by sticky outfielding and smart yorkers—kept their heads cool. Rajasthan finished at 194 for 9. Just 11 runs short, but those may as well have been a mile on this night.
With this win, RCB finally got that stubborn home victory, moving into the top three and shaking off questions about their mental steel in front of their own crowd. Meanwhile, the loss pushed Rajasthan deeper into trouble. That’s now five straight defeats—they’re spiraling just when the pressure of making the playoffs is at its highest. For fans, it was a game crackling with tension, filled with hard-fought runs and clutch wickets. For the teams, it was a night that could shape their seasons.