Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) continued their impressive run in the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season, securing their sixth straight away win and seventh overall with a 6-wicket victory over Delhi Capitals (DC). The win propelled RCB to the top of the points table, while the Capitals are now placed fourth.
Chasing a target of 163, RCB endured a shaky start, losing three wickets for just 26 runs. Debutant Jacob Bethell managed 12 runs before falling, while Devdutt Padikkal was dismissed for a duck. Captain Rajat Patidar’s run-out for 6 left the side in trouble at 26/3.
However, a crucial 119-run partnership between Virat Kohli and Krunal Pandya steadied the innings. Kohli played a composed knock of 51 off 47 balls, hitting four boundaries, while Pandya was the star of the night, remaining unbeaten on 73 from 47 deliveries, with five fours and four sixes.
The pair ensured RCB reached 100 in 13.3 overs and kept the required run rate in check.
After Kohli’s dismissal at the hands of Dushmantha Chameera in the 17.5th over, Tim David joined Pandya and played a cameo, scoring 19 runs off just five balls to seal the victory. RCB reached the target in 18.3 overs.
Earlier in the match, DC captain Axar Patel was the standout performer with the ball, finishing with impressive figures of 2/19 from his four overs. Despite his efforts, Delhi couldn’t stop RCB’s momentum.
RCB, now sitting at the top of the standings, will look to maintain their winning form as the tournament heads toward the playoffs.
In the first innings, a brilliant bowling performance from RCB’s Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood restricted Delhi Capitals to 162/8 in their 20 overs at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday.
RCB skipper Rajat Patidar won the toss and elected to bowl first in the away fixture of the ongoing 18th edition of the cash-rich league.
Batters Faf du Plessis and Abhishek Porel opened the innings with a 33-run stand off 22 balls before Porel (28 runs off 11 balls) was dismissed by right-arm seamer Josh Hazlewood in the fourth over.
Following Porel’s departure, right-handed batter Karun Nair (4) came to the crease but was dismissed in the fifth over by left-arm seamer Yash Dayal when the team score was 44.
The Capitals reached the 50-run mark in the sixth over as Du Plessis struck a boundary off the penultimate ball bowled by Hazlewood.
At the score of 72, the Delhi franchise lost their third wicket as Du Plessis (22 off 26 balls) was dismissed by skipper Hardik Pandya in the 10th over.
KL Rahul (41 off 39 balls), Tristan Stubbs (34 off 18 balls), and Axar Patel (15 off 13 balls) contributed crucial runs before being dismissed.
Right-handed batter Ashutosh Sharma came in as an impact substitute but was unable to make a mark, scoring just five runs.
At the end, young uncapped all-rounder Vipraj Nigam played a cameo of 12 runs from just six balls at a strike rate of 200, helping Delhi Capitals post 162/8.
For the Bengaluru franchise, Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with 3/33 in 4 overs. Josh Hazlewood claimed 2/36 in his 4-over spell, while Yash Dayal (1/42 in 4 overs) and Krunal Pandya (1/28 in 4 overs) chipped in with a wicket each.
Brief Score:
Delhi Capitals 162/8 in 20 overs (KL Rahul 41, Tristan Stubbs 34; Bhuvneshwar Kumar 3/33)*
vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru 165/4 in 18.3 overs (Krunal Pandya 73*, Virat Kohli 51; Axar Patel 2/19)
