Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) continued their flawless away run, making it six wins from six and climbing to the top of the table in IPL 2025 with 14 points from 10 matches. Delhi Capitals managed an average 162/8 in 20 overs, but despite a few hiccups, RCB chased it down to seal another vital win.
DC’s promising start fizzles out
Abishek Porel gave Delhi Capitals a dream start with a lively 28 off 11 balls, but the momentum slipped quickly. Tristan Stubbs showed late flair with an inventive 34 off 18, but DC’s middle-order crumbled on a slow, two-paced pitch. The rest of the batters combined to score just 96 off 92 deliveries.
Hazlewood, Bhuvi break DC’s backbone
Key moments shifted the innings. Just as Axar Patel looked set to attack, Josh Hazlewood uprooted his stumps in the 14th over, easing pressure on RCB’s spinners. Bhuvneshwar Kumar then struck the killer blow by removing KL Rahul in the 17th, leaving DC struggling to rebuild in the death overs.
Stubbs fights, but Bhuvi finishes strong
Stubbs and Vipraj Nigam lifted DC briefly, scoring freely behind the wicket, but Bhuvneshwar’s final over sealed the deal. His clever variations restricted DC to 162/8, despite an over-rate penalty forcing one less boundary rider.
RCB lose early wickets
RCB were rocked early in the chase as Axar struck twice inside the powerplay, dismissing Jacob Bethell and Devdutt Padikkal in the same over to jolt their top-order. A brilliant direct hit from Karun Nair sent Rajat Patidar back, reducing RCB to 35/3 in six overs — their second-lowest powerplay score this season and the lowest against DC in IPL 2025.
The sticky surface, combined with no visible dew, made stroke-making tricky. With the ball holding up and the fielders electric, RCB found themselves under real pressure early in the innings, needing someone to anchor the chase.
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Kohli-Krunal partnership puts RCB on front seat
Under pressure, Virat Kohli and Krunal Pandya stitched together a gritty and crucial stand, absorbing the pressure brilliantly. With Kohli anchoring and Krunal picking his moments to attack, they rebuilt patiently, respecting the good balls but cashing in on anything loose.
Pandya took down Dushmantha Chameera and Mukesh Kumar with a couple of timely sixes, giving RCB breathing space. Kohli, meanwhile, rotated strike smartly, showing immense patience and not letting dot balls build up. Their 119-run partnership, the highest fourth-wicket stand of IPL 2025, helped RCB regain full control despite the slow and tiring surface that kept assisting the bowlers.
Axar’s poor decision and Porel’s dropped catch
DC’s slim hopes faded further after Axar delayed bringing back his main bowlers in the middle overs and made some questionable field changes. The defensive approach allowed Krunal and Kohli to settle down completely.
Adding to DC’s woes, Porel dropped a straightforward chance offered by Krunal at a critical time, which proved very costly. RCB seized the momentum after that lapse and Tim David’s late cameo ensured they crossed the line comfortably in the 19th over without much drama, stamping their authority with yet another away win and keeping their strong season firmly on track.
Kohli’s chase masterclass
Reflecting on the win, Kohli said: “You can’t just hit through the line this season; you need to assess, adapt and plan accordingly. Communication has been key between us, and we are executing beautifully under pressure.”
He also highlighted his methodical approach while chasing: “I try and ensure I don’t stop my singles and doubles, and then combine with the occasional boundary. That keeps the pressure off and builds the chase steadily.”
It was another perfect example of Kohli’s chase masterclass — calm, calculated, and clinical. He ensured RCB stayed ahead of the game throughout, delivering a performance that once again underlined why he remains one of the greatest chasers in the game’s history.