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RCB Hold Nerve to End Wankhede Curse in a High-Scoring Thriller Against MI
A Decade-Long Wait Ends in Style
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) finally ended their 10-year winless streak at the iconic Wankhede Stadium with a dramatic 12-run victory over Mumbai Indians (MI). In a match that ebbed and flowed till the very end, it was RCB’s explosive death-overs batting and precise final-over bowling that proved decisive in this high-octane IPL 2025 clash.
How RCB Seized Control of the Contest
PowerPlay Brilliance: Kohli and Padikkal Set the Tone
RCB got off to a blazing start after losing Phil Salt early. Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal launched a counterattack, scoring 73 runs in the PowerPlay at a run rate of 12.16. Kohli played trademark flicks and aggressive strokes, while Padikkal’s back-to-back sixes off Deepak Chahar closed out the PowerPlay on a high.
Middle Overs: Hardik’s Double Strike and RCB’s Resistance
Despite a mid-phase slowdown due to disciplined bowling from Mitchell Santner and Krunal Pandya, RCB continued scoring at a healthy rate. Hardik Pandya threatened to derail RCB’s innings with a double breakthrough—dismissing Kohli for a fluent 67 and Liam Livingstone for a duck. However, RCB’s depth in the batting order helped them recover quickly.
Death Overs: Patidar and Jitesh Steal the Show
Rajat Patidar’s explosive 64 off 32 balls and Jitesh Sharma’s fiery unbeaten 40 off 19 deliveries powered RCB to 221/5. The 18th and 19th overs proved decisive, with Hardik conceding 23 runs and Boult 18. Although Bumrah bowled a tight final over, the damage had already been done.
Related article: IPl Latest Updates
Mumbai Indians’ Chase: Close But Not Enough
PowerPlay Woes: Early Blows Hurt MI
MI struggled early in the chase, managing only 54/2 in the PowerPlay. Rohit Sharma’s poor form continued, and Josh Hazlewood’s tight bowling, including a clever DRS-assisted LBW dismissal of Ryan Rickleton, set RCB off to a great start with the ball.
Middle Overs Comeback: Hardik and Tilak Ignite Hope
Just when it looked like MI were fading, Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya lit up the middle overs with a breathtaking counterattack. Hardik hammered Hazlewood for 22 in an over and followed it up with two sixes off Krunal Pandya. Tilak chipped in with smart stroke play to bring the equation to a manageable 65 from 30 balls.
Final Twist: Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Seal the Deal
RCB’s Calm Under Pressure Pays Off
Despite MI’s momentum, RCB bounced back in the death overs. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood bowled expertly under pressure, removing Tilak and Hardik in back-to-back overs. With 28 needed off 12 balls, MI collapsed under pressure. Krunal Pandya’s valiant final over included three wickets, but it wasn’t enough as MI finished on 209/9.
Match Summary
RCB: 221/5 in 20 overs (Kohli 67, Patidar 64, Jitesh 40*; Bumrah 0-29)
MI: 209/9 in 20 overs (Tilak 56, Hardik 42; Krunal 4-45)
Result: RCB won by 12 runs
What’s Next in IPL 2025?
RCB will return home to host Delhi Capitals on April 10, while MI have a few days to regroup before facing the same opponent in Delhi on April 13.
For more updates on IPL 2025 fixtures and stats, visit the official IPL website.
