source : BCCI
In a thrilling high-scoring encounter, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) ended their ten-year drought at the Wankhede Stadium by defeating Mumbai Indians (MI) by 12 runs. Riding on explosive fifties from Virat Kohli (67 off 29) and Rajat Patidar (64 off 33), RCB posted a mammoth 221/5. Kohli looked in vintage form, smashing his fastest IPL fifty since 2018, while Patidar provided a perfect middle-over boost before Jitesh Sharma’s late cameo.
Despite the imposing target, MI nearly pulled off a heist thanks to a fiery counterattack by Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya. The pair added 89 runs in just 34 balls, with Hardik blasting 42 off 15. At one stage, MI needed just 41 from the final 3 overs, but superb death bowling from Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, and a nerveless final over from Krunal Pandya turned the tide in RCB’s favor.
Earlier, Trent Boult struck early, but Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal counterattacked aggressively in the powerplay. After Padikkal and Kohli’s dismissals, Hardik picked up two crucial wickets, but Patidar and Jitesh’s brutal hitting ensured RCB reached a commanding total. Bumrah’s disciplined return (only 14 off his last 2 overs) wasn’t enough to stop the flow.
MI’s chase faltered early as Hazlewood and Suyash Sharma tightened the screws, leaving them with a mountain to climb. Though Suryakumar Yadav struggled and MI lost wickets at regular intervals, Hardik and Tilak’s partnership reignited hopes. However, RCB held their nerve, and Krunal’s final over (3 wickets) sealed a memorable win.
This win marks RCB’s third victory in four matches and further cements their strong start to IPL 2025. With Kohli returning to form and Krunal delivering under pressure, RCB seem like serious contenders this season. As for MI, their middle-order brilliance wasn’t enough to cover for early struggles and lack of finishing touch in the final over.
