In a night that sparkled with milestones and momentum, Virat Kohli stood tall once again, guiding Royal Challengers Bangalore to a comprehensive nine-wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals in Match 28 of IPL 2025. It wasn’t just another win; it was a statement—a show of class, control, and cold-blooded precision.
Green Jersey, Gold Standards: RCB Turn Up in Style
Wearing their symbolic green jerseys as part of their sustainability campaign, RCB looked anything but green on the field. They were as fierce as a red-hot sun. Skipper Rajat Patidar won the toss and inserted RR to bat first on what looked like a dry Jaipur surface.
The Royals, playing their first home game of the season, got off to a cautious yet steady start. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson navigated the powerplay without loss, threading boundaries like pearls on a necklace.
RCB Bowlers Apply the Brakes Just in Time
Despite conceding 45 in the powerplay, RCB’s bowling unit tightened the screws with clever variations and precise execution. Krunal Pandya broke the opening partnership by deceiving Samson with flight, while Yash Dayal removed a dangerous Riyan Parag with a smart change of pace.
Jaiswal, elegant as a brush stroke on canvas, smashed 75 off 47 but fell to Josh Hazlewood in the 16th over—just as RR looked to explode. A late cameo from Dhruv Jurel (35* off 23) nudged the Royals to 173/4, a respectable but not daunting total.
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Salt & Kohli: A Blend of Fire and Finesse
In reply, RCB’s opening pair came out swinging like a wrecking ball in a glasshouse. Phil Salt, the Englishman with dynamite wrists, hammered a 28-ball fifty, making the most of some early let-offs.
His 65 off 33 was a storm that scattered RR’s bowling plans in all directions. By the time Kumar Kartikeya dismissed him, the damage was done. RCB sat comfortably at 101/1 in 10 overs, cruising like a luxury yacht in calm waters.
Kohli Writes Another Chapter in the T20 Lore
Virat Kohli, meanwhile, played the long game. Starting in commentator mode, he transitioned into aggressor as the finish line closed. With a lofty six, he not only got up his half-century but etched his name more in-depth into cricket’s lavish ledger.
It was his 100th T20 fifty, pushing him to become the first Indian and only the second player globally to accomplish this rare feat. Because it came during a chase—Kohli’s kingdom—it made the moment even more poetic.
Padikkal Adds the Finishing Touch
Devdutt Padikkal joined the chase midway and complemented Kohli with a composed 40* off 28. Together, they wrapped up the chase in 17.3 overs without breaking a sweat. This win marked RCB’s fourth victory in six matches, all away from home—an ominous sign for rivals.
Match Scorecard
Let’s dive into the stats that defined the RR vs RCB match!
Rajasthan Royals Batting
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | lbw b Josh Hazlewood | 75 | 47 | 10 | 2 | 159.57 |
| Sanju Samson (C/WK) | st Jitesh Sharma b Krunal Pandya | 15 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 78.95 |
| Riyan Parag | c Virat Kohli b Yash Dayal | 30 | 22 | 3 | 1 | 136.36 |
| Dhruv Jurel | not out | 35 | 23 | 2 | 2 | 152.17 |
| Shimron Hetmyer | c Devdutt Padikkal b Bhuvneshwar Kumar | 9 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 112.5 |
| Nitish Rana | not out | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 400 |
| Extras: 5 (W 2, LB 3) |
| Total: 173/4 in 20 overs |
Royal Challengers Bangalore Batting
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
| Phil Salt | c Yashasvi Jaiswal b Kumar Kartikeya | 65 | 33 | 5 | 6 | 196.97 |
| Virat Kohli | not out | 62 | 45 | 4 | 2 | 137.78 |
| Devdutt Padikkal | not out | 40 | 28 | 5 | 1 | 142.86 |
| Extras: 8 (NB 1, W 7) |
| Total: 175/1 in 17.3 overs |
Rajasthan Royals Bowling
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
| Jofra Archer | 4 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 9 |
| Tushar Deshpande | 2 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 10.5 |
| Sandeep Sharma | 2.3 | 0 | 29 | 0 | 11.6 |
| Maheesh Theekshana | 2 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 10.5 |
| Kumar Kartikeya | 3 | 0 | 25 | 1 | 8.33 |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | 3 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 11 |
| Riyan Parag | 1 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
Royal Challengers Bangalore Bowling
| Bowler | Overs (O) | Maidens (M) | Runs (R) | Wickets (W) | Economy (Econ) |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | 4 | 0 | 32 | 1 | 8 |
| Yash Dayal | 4 | 0 | 36 | 1 | 9 |
| Josh Hazlewood | 3 | 0 | 26 | 1 | 8.67 |
| Krunal Pandya | 4 | 0 | 29 | 1 | 7.25 |
| Liam Livingstone | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| Suyash Sharma | 4 | 0 | 39 | 0 | 9.75 |
