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Salt, Kohli Power RCB to Dominant Nine-Wicket Win Over Rajasthan Royals
RCB Registers Fourth Consecutive Away Victory in IPL 2025
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) surged back into the playoff positions with a commanding nine-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur. Chasing 174, RCB’s opening duo—Phil Salt and Virat Kohli—laid a rock-solid foundation to complete the chase in just 17.3 overs, marking their fourth straight win away from home.
Match Summary: PowerPlay Dominance Sets the Tone
RCB Clinch Advantage Early
The outcome of the match was largely dictated by contrasting performances in the PowerPlays. Rajasthan Royals, despite a decent start, were held to 45/0 in their six overs. The pitch was slow, and RCB’s bowlers stuck to a disciplined line and length, making boundary-hitting difficult.
In stark contrast, RCB’s PowerPlay innings was an all-out assault, courtesy of Phil Salt’s aggressive 46-run cameo, which came in just 22 balls. He capitalized on early dropped chances and dismantled RR’s attack to put RCB in control early in the chase.
Rajasthan Royals’ Innings Breakdown
Top Order Starts Slow
RR’s opening pair of Sanju Samson and Yashasvi Jaiswal struggled for momentum. While Jaiswal managed to time the ball and contributed a brisk 75 off 48 deliveries, Samson’s sluggish 13 off 16 stalled momentum. Despite reaching 173/5, RR never seemed to break free, especially in the middle overs where RCB applied the brakes.
Middle Overs: Jaiswal Steadies, Parag Misfires
Yashasvi Jaiswal formed a crucial 56-run partnership with Riyan Parag but was let down by inconsistent fielding from RCB. Dropped catches and misfields allowed RR to stay afloat, yet Krunal Pandya’s 4-0-29-1 and disciplined spin kept their scoring in check.
Death Overs: Jurel’s Late Cameo
Dhruv Jurel’s unbeaten 35 off 23 balls, featuring clean strokes and well-timed hits, helped RR cross 170. However, it was only the second-lowest total for a team that lost just four wickets under the Impact Player rule.
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Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Clinical Chase
PowerPlay: Salt Sizzles in Jaipur
Phil Salt’s rapid 65 off just 33 deliveries, featuring four boundaries and six maximums, blew away RR’s attack. His aggressive intent, especially against spin, tilted the game heavily in RCB’s favor. Despite a few chances being offered, including one dropped by Yashasvi Jaiswal, Salt made RR pay dearly.
Kohli Brings Up 100th T20 Fifty
After Salt’s dismissal, Virat Kohli took charge, scoring an unbeaten 62 off 39 balls. The innings included his 100th T20 half-century—an elite milestone he shares only with David Warner. Kohli rotated strike effectively early on and unleashed classic boundaries in the death phase to guide RCB home.
Devdutt Padikkal’s Finishing Touch
Devdutt Padikkal continued his fine form, scoring 40 not out off 28 balls. His aggressive intent, combined with Kohli’s stability, ensured a smooth finish with 15 balls to spare, giving RCB a much-needed net run rate boost.
What’s Next for Both Teams?
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Rajasthan Royals will now travel to Lucknow to take on LSG at the Ekana Stadium on April 16.
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RCB, after a brief rest, will return to action on April 18 against PBKS, eyeing their first home win of the season.
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