IPL 2025 Match 42 RCB vs RR: Key Takeaways
- With a pivotal 11-run victory over the Rajasthan Royals, RCB ends Chinnaswamy Jinx and strengthens their IPL 2025 campaign.
- Devdutt Padikkal’s 50 provided strong support for Virat Kohli’s dominant 70, which put him in the lead.
- Rajasthan Royals suffered their fifth consecutive loss despite explosive performances from Jaiswal and Rana.
- Josh Hazlewood’s brilliant death over turned the tide, sealing the win with 4/33.
- Match saw dramatic swings, explosive batting, and crucial collapses—an IPL classic in every sense.
RCB vs RR: A Chinnaswamy Classic That Shattered Streaks and Shook Up the Table
For fans of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), M. Chinnaswamy Stadium had felt more like a haunted house than a home ground. The 2025 IPL season hadn’t been kind to them at this venue—until now. In a match that had everything from vintage Virat Kohli strokes to a death-over masterclass by Josh Hazlewood, RCB finally broke their home ground curse with a nail-biting 11-run victory over the struggling Rajasthan Royals (RR).
However, the scorecard only provides a portion of the picture. What unfolded on that evening in Bengaluru was a tale of momentum swings, bold decisions, and heartbreaks that reminded everyone why the IPL is cricket’s most gripping spectacle.
The Toss that Tilted the Tempo
Rajasthan Royals began the evening on the right note—skipper Riyan Parag won the toss and opted to field. The pitch looked like a batting paradise, and RR hoped to chase under the lights. What they didn’t expect was Virat Kohli’s vintage comeback innings that would anchor RCB’s resurgence.
Powerplay Patience and the Kohli-Padikkal Show
Phil Salt struggled to get going early on, but Kohli held the fort with calculated aggression. The duo added 61 runs in the powerplay, setting a solid base. Salt departed soon after, but his replacement—Devdutt Padikkal—picked up the pace seamlessly.
Virat Kohli anchored the innings with a brilliant 70, but it was Padikkal’s explosive 29-ball 50 that injected vital momentum into RCB’s middle overs. By the end of the 15th over, RCB were cruising at 156/2, eyeing a 220+ total.
Mini Collapse, Then a Fiery Finish
Just when RCB looked set for a massive total, Sandeep Sharma struck twice in quick succession, triggering a mini-collapse. Within 12 deliveries, RCB lost three wickets for just seven runs. But cricket is a game of comebacks. Tim David and Jitesh Sharma came out firing, scoring 42 runs off the last 18 balls to help RCB reach 205/6, a manageable but intimidating total.
Rajasthan’s Reply: A Blaze of Hope
RR didn’t start slow either. Chasing a formidable total of 206, Yashasvi Jaiswal opened the innings with intent and fearlessness. He wasted no time settling in, launching into the RCB bowlers with confident strokeplay and quick running between the wickets. His aggressive start put immediate pressure back on the home side, and for a moment, it appeared that Rajasthan might coast to victory well within the target overs.
Despite losing their openers early, the scoreboard read a frightening 110 in just 9 overs. With a target of 96 needed from 66 balls and big-hitters like Nitish Rana and Riyan Parag looking composed, it seemed RR would finally snap their own losing streak.
The Twist: Krunal’s Introduction and the Game Changer
When Krunal Pandya was introduced into the attack, his opening ball caused a mistake—Parag tried a dangerous lag and lost. That misstep opened the door for RCB to sneak back in. Despite continued resistance from the Royals, the wicket column kept ticking over. Still, with 18 needed off 12 balls and finishers Dhruv Jurel and Shubham Dubey at the crease, RR had the edge.
Hazlewood’s Hammer Blow
Josh Hazlewood‘s penultimate over sealed the victory, even though he had already claimed two wickets. He gave away just one run and dismissed both Dhruv Jurel and Jofra Archer with consecutive deliveries. The tide had turned.
RCB now needed to defend 17 off the final over—a tall ask in T20, but not impossible.
Final Over Drama and the Victory Roar
First ball of the 20th over: Shubham Dubey tried to clear the fence—caught at deep midwicket. The dream was over for RR.
RCB held their nerve, closed out the remaining balls, and secured a long-awaited home victory. The stadium erupted. It wasn’t just a win—it was redemption.
Expert Take: What This Win Means for RCB and RR
Cricket analyst Aakash Chopra tweeted, “RCB needed this—emotionally and statistically. Breaking the Chinnaswamy curse could mark a turning point this season.”
For Rajasthan Royals, however, the loss is more than a dent in the table. Five losses in a row now raise serious questions about their middle-order depth and death bowling tactics.
Player of the Match: Josh Hazlewood
Hazlewood’s spell wasn’t flashy, but it was deadly effective. His final figures of 4/33, including two game-changing wickets in the 19th over, earned him a well-deserved Player of the Match award.
Score Summary
RCB: 205/6 in 20 overs
- Virat Kohli: 70 (47)
- Devdutt Padikkal: 50 (29)
- Tim David: 24* (9)
- Sandeep Sharma: 2/27
RR: 194/9 in 20 overs
- Yashasvi Jaiswal: 43 (19)
- Nitish Rana: 35 (22)
- Josh Hazlewood: 4/33
- Krunal Pandya: 1/22
Conclusion: A Win Beyond Numbers
For Royal Challengers Bengaluru, this wasn’t just about two points on the table. It was about rewriting the script at a venue that had tormented them for far too long. For Rajasthan Royals, it was another tale of ‘almost there’—a pattern that could cost them dearly if not fixed.
The IPL thrives on moments like these—where teams dig deep, players step up, and narratives change overnight. With the playoffs looming, both RCB and RR will now feel the weight of every game even more. But for now, RCB fans can breathe a little easier—the Chinnaswamy curse is finally broken.
