IPL 2025: Déjà Vu for Rajasthan Royals as They Bottle Again and RCB Finally Win at Home

The Royals let another golden chance slip through their fingers, falling agonizingly short and gifting Royal Challengers Bengaluru their maiden home victory in IPL 2025. Solid half-centuries from Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal powered RCB to a challenging total of 205 for 5. Despite a strong start during the PowerPlay and a late flourish by Dhruv Jurel, Rajasthan couldn’t seal the deal. Josh Hazlewood’s game-changing penultimate over flipped the script, helping RCB finally break their home jinx.

The decisive moment came in the 39th over. Jurel, fresh off hammering Bhuvneshwar Kumar for 22 in the 18th, had Royals needing just 18 off 12 balls. But Hazlewood brought his A-game—only one run came off the first two balls, and a third delivery, cleverly bowled out of reach, drew a faint edge. A sharp RCB review sent a confident Jurel back to the pavilion. Jofra Archer followed next ball, falling meekly. Hazlewood’s over yielded just one run and two wickets—more than enough for Yash Dayal to wrap things up in style.

Solid Start Sets the Tone for RCB As Openers Lay the Foundation

Jofra Archer’s fiery opening over hinted at the bounce on offer, but it turned out costly for Rajasthan Royals as he leaked five wides. Fazalhaq Farooqi, brought into the XI for this clash, had a frustrating start when Riyan Parag spilled a catch to give Phil Salt an early life.

Capitalizing on the opportunity, RCB shifted gears quickly, with Virat Kohli taking the initiative by peppering the boundary regularly. Tushar Deshpande’s introduction only added to the pressure as he was taken for three boundaries in an over. For the first time this season at home, RCB’s openers provided a strong, wicketless PowerPlay—laying the perfect platform for a big total.

Momentum Shifts as Padikkal, Kohli Unleash Carnage

The middle phase initially swung in Rajasthan’s favour as Wanindu Hasaranga made an instant impact, dismissing Phil Salt with a mistimed shot that resulted in a top edge. The Sri Lankan spinner kept things tight, momentarily slowing RCB’s momentum. But the tide soon turned.

Devdutt Padikkal broke free with a pair of timely boundaries, while Virat Kohli, facing long-time adversary Sandeep Sharma, rode his luck with consecutive streaky fours to notch up another IPL half-century. With confidence surging, the duo launched a brutal counterattack, smashing five sixes in the space of two overs and shifting the game’s tempo dramatically. RCB suddenly looked poised to cross the 200-run mark with ease.

Late Strikes Help Royals Contain the Damage

Rajasthan Royals, who perhaps missed a trick by not bringing back Jofra Archer earlier to break the momentum, finally found a breakthrough when Virat Kohli fell while attempting a drive through extra cover. The very next over saw Sandeep Sharma strike twice, removing both Devdutt Padikkal and Rajat Patidar to momentarily halt RCB’s assault.

While that flurry of wickets denied the hosts a shot at an even bigger total, Jitesh Sharma and Tim David chipped in with vital boundaries at the death. Their efforts ensured RCB finished strongly, setting Rajasthan Royals a stiff target of 206—their first 200-plus total at home this season.

Jaiswal’s Blazing Knock Puts Royals in Command Early

Chasing a formidable 206, Yashasvi Jaiswal wasted no time asserting dominance, smashing Bhuvneshwar Kumar over deep mid-wicket on the very first delivery of the innings. He followed it up with a flurry of boundaries off Yash Dayal, while young Vaibhav Suryavanshi joined the party by pulling Bhuvneshwar for a towering six.

Josh Hazlewood’s introduction didn’t faze Jaiswal either, as the left-hander greeted him with three consecutive boundaries, pushing Royals into the driver’s seat during the PowerPlay. Bhuvneshwar managed to break the momentum by dismissing the 14-year-old Suryavanshi, but Jaiswal continued to attack with intent. His electric innings came to a halt when Hazlewood cramped him with a short ball, leading to a mistimed pull and a simple catch. Still, Jaiswal’s explosive 49 off just 19 balls gave Rajasthan the perfect platform to chase down the target.

Royals Keep Pace Before RCB Hit Back with Spin

Any thoughts of Rajasthan Royals easing off after losing both openers were quickly dispelled as Nitish Rana and Riyan Parag kept the chase alive with positive intent. Romario Shepherd’s first over was taken apart for 15 runs, with boundaries flowing freely and pressure mounting on the home side.

Just when RCB looked to be losing grip, Krunal Pandya’s introduction turned things around. Parag, aiming for another big hit, mistimed his shot and skied it to the wicketkeeper. From there, Krunal and Suyash Sharma tightened the screws, drying up the runs and pushing the required rate higher. The mounting pressure forced Rana into an error as he found short fine leg with a mistimed shot off Krunal. Dhruv Jurel brought some relief with a much-needed six to end the phase, leaving the match finely balanced—Royals needed 58 from the final five overs.

Hazlewood’s Heroics Seal Dramatic Win for RCB

Dhruv Jurel, riding high after a towering six off Suyash Sharma, followed it up with another monstrous hit off Krunal Pandya, reducing the equation to 46 off 24. With spin out of the way, RCB turned to pace to finish the job—and the decision paid off instantly. Josh Hazlewood returned to snare the dangerous Shimron Hetmyer, igniting the home crowd. Yet, the pendulum swung back again as Jurel dismantled Bhuvneshwar Kumar, plundering 22 runs off the veteran in a single over. The Royals were suddenly in full control, needing just 18 off 12.

Having failed to close out similar contests in the past, Rajasthan seemed poised to end their poor run in crunch moments. But Hazlewood had other ideas. He produced a match-turning penultimate over, removing Jurel and Jofra Archer in consecutive deliveries, sending shockwaves through the Royals’ camp. With 17 needed off the final six balls, RCB could sense a steal—and the game was all but over when Shubham Dubey fell off the very first ball of the final over. A heart-stopping finish ended in heartbreak for Rajasthan, as RCB pulled off a sensational heist to clinch their first home win of IPL 2025.

What’s Next for Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rajasthan Royals?

With their first home win of IPL 2025 finally in the bag, Royal Challengers Bengaluru will aim to build momentum as they head to the capital for a tough away fixture against a high-flying Delhi side on Sunday—a clash that promises fireworks. On the other hand, Rajasthan Royals, reeling from yet another late-game collapse, return home hoping to regroup quickly before they welcome Gujarat Titans on Monday. With the race for playoff spots heating up, both teams will be desperate to find consistency at this crucial stage of the tournament.

Read More: IPL 2025: CSK vs SRH – Preview, Prediction, Starting XI and Where To Watch The Match LIVE

FAQs