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KL Rahul Stars in Delhi Capitals’ Fourth Straight Win as Spinners Dominate RCB
DC Maintain Unbeaten Streak with Commanding Victory in Bengaluru
Delhi Capitals extended their dream run in IPL 2025 by securing a fourth consecutive win, overpowering Royal Challengers Bengaluru by six wickets at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Spearheaded by a precise spin attack and KL Rahul’s classy unbeaten 93, DC clinched the chase in just 17.5 overs.
Spinners Turn the Game as RCB Falter After Blistering Start
Salt Storm and Sudden Collapse
RCB got off to a fiery start with Phil Salt hammering 30 runs in one over off Mitchell Starc, propelling the side to 64/2 in the powerplay. However, his run-out triggered a dramatic slowdown. Spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Vipraj Nigam put the brakes on RCB’s innings through tight lines and clever variation. Their efforts yielded a combined 4 wickets and just 35 runs.
RCB went from 50 in 3 overs to managing only 74 runs between overs 4 and 18, a crucial passage that tilted the match DC’s way. Kuldeep Yadav’s top-spinner and Nigam’s variations exploited the pitch conditions, making scoring across the line difficult.
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Tim David’s Late Fireworks
The hosts only managed to cross 160 thanks to a quickfire cameo from Tim David (37* off 14). His aggressive strokeplay in the last two overs added 36 runs, giving RCB a fighting total of 163/7.
Rahul Anchors Chase After Early Wobbles
Powerplay Pressure from RCB
RCB responded with early breakthroughs, reducing DC to 39/3 inside the powerplay. Bhuvneshwar Kumar was particularly effective, claiming 2 wickets for just 14 runs in his 3 overs. However, the turning point came when Rajat Patidar dropped KL Rahul early in his innings — a moment that proved costly.
Middle Overs: Rahul and Stubbs Rebuild
Rahul and Tristan Stubbs took control in the middle phase, with the duo carefully rotating the strike and finding boundaries at regular intervals. Their 111-run unbeaten partnership rescued DC from a precarious situation, with Rahul reaching his half-century in just 37 balls. He was especially brutal against Josh Hazlewood in the 15th over, smashing 21 runs to bring DC ahead in DLS par scores during light drizzle.
Death Overs Brilliance: Rahul Seals the Deal
DC entered the final five overs needing 48 runs, but Rahul and Stubbs turned on the style. Stubbs smashed boundaries off Suyash and Bhuvneshwar, while Rahul finished it off in emphatic style — a six over fine leg brought the chase to a close with 13 balls to spare. His unbeaten 93 off 53 balls featured 9 fours and 4 sixes.
Key Moments and Match Summary
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Match-winning spell: Kuldeep Yadav 2/17, Vipraj Nigam 2/18
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Top scorer: KL Rahul 93* off 53
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Partnership highlight: 111* stand between Rahul and Stubbs
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Turning point: RCB’s 4-18 overs yielding only 74/7
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Dropped catch: Rajat Patidar misses Rahul early
Brief Scores:
RCB 163/7 (David 37, Salt 37; Kuldeep 2/17, Nigam 2/18)*
DC 169/4 in 17.5 overs (Rahul 93, Stubbs 38*; Bhuvneshwar 2/26)*
What’s Next?
Delhi Capitals will look to continue their winning form in their first home fixture against Mumbai Indians at Arun Jaitley Stadium on April 13. Meanwhile, RCB will be keen to bounce back as they travel to Jaipur to face Rajasthan Royals the same day.
Full IPL 2025 Schedule and Standings – ESPNcricinfo
