Josh Hazlewood Shines in Death Overs, Securing RCB’s Historic Victory
Royal Challengers Bangalore finally secured a much-needed victory for their home fans, defeating Rajasthan Royals by eleven runs in Match 42 of IPL 2025 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Virat Kohli, who had four fifties in the season up to this point, showcased his prowess with a stunning 42-ball 70. RCB, having lost the toss again, batted first, setting a target of 205 runs, while Rajasthan put up a spirited chase but fell short, scoring 194 runs.
Virat Kohli Shines with a Stellar Performance
Virat Kohli delivered a standout performance, finally breaking through to score his first home half-century of the season. Coming in after yet another lost toss, RCB faced early pressure. The initial overs hinted at a shaky start; however, Kohli quickly found his rhythm against Tushar Deshpande, hitting two boundaries in the fifth over. By the end of the powerplay, RCB had a solid score of 59 without losing a wicket. Kohli reached his fifty off just 32 balls, showing a mix of patience and aggressive shot-making. He struck consecutive fours off Sandeep Sharma, showcasing his skill with a wristy whip through mid-wicket and a classic punch through cover.
Devdutt Padikkal also contributed significantly, scoring 50 runs off 27 balls, which applied additional pressure to the Rajasthan bowlers. Kohli’s explosive innings included a variety of strokes, and late contributions from Tim David (23 off 15) and Jitesh Sharma (20* off 10) helped RCB post a competitive total of 205/5. This score would prove crucial as the match progressed, setting the tone for a thrilling contest.
Rajasthan Royals’ Bold Chase
Rajasthan Royals began their chase with an aggressive approach, highlighted by Yashasvi Jaiswal’s explosive start, scoring 49 runs off just 19 balls. His efforts propelled Rajasthan to a strong position at 72/1 after six overs. However, the introduction of Krunal Pandya’s slow left-arm spin proved pivotal, as he took two quick wickets, dismissing both captain Riyan Parag and Nitish Rana, which shifted the momentum momentarily in RCB’s favor.
Despite the setbacks, Dhruv Jurel kept Rajasthan in the game with his inventive knock of 47 runs. The match reached a critical juncture when Shubham Dubey hit two boundaries, reducing the target to just 18 runs required from the last 12 balls. The tension mounted as both teams aimed for victory, but the outcome would depend heavily on the performances of the bowlers in the final overs.
Josh Hazlewood’s Clutch Bowling Performance
Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood emerged as the hero for RCB during the tense closing stages of the match. After an expensive start, where he conceded 26 runs in his first two overs, Hazlewood returned to change the course of the game. In the 19th over, with Rajasthan needing 7 runs to win, he delivered a remarkable over, conceding just one run and taking two crucial wickets that effectively sealed the match for RCB.
His bowling was a masterclass, featuring a mix of yorkers and slower deliveries that left the Rajasthan batsmen struggling. The over began with a single off a full-toss, followed by a dot ball that hurried Jurel. The highlight was a pinpoint yorker that claimed Jurel’s wicket, followed by a caught dismissal of Jofra Archer. Hazlewood finished with figures of 4 wickets for 33 runs in 4 overs, showcasing his ability to perform under pressure.
In the final over, Yash Dayal also demonstrated his skills, limiting Rajasthan to just six runs and ensuring that RCB emerged victorious with a final score of 194/9. This win pushed RCB to third place in the standings, while Rajasthan’s chances for the playoffs appeared increasingly bleak.
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