Synopsis
On April 24, 2025, Josh Hazlewood's brilliant 4-33 led Royal Challengers Bengaluru to their first home win of IPL 2025, defeating Rajasthan Royals by 11 runs at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, following notable performances from Kohli and Padikkal.Key Takeaways
- Josh Hazlewood took 4 wickets for 33 runs.
- RCB scored 205 runs, their highest score at home this season.
- Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal made significant contributions with the bat.
- RR struggled in the chase, needing just 18 runs from the last two overs.
- RCB's home crowd celebrated their team's first victory of IPL 2025.
Bengaluru, April 24 (NationPress) Josh Hazlewood delivered a stunning performance, taking 4 wickets for 33 runs, as he propelled Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to their inaugural home victory in Match 42 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, defeating Rajasthan Royals (RR) by 11 runs at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Thursday.
With impressive half-centuries from Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal, alongside valuable contributions from Tim David and Jitesh Sharma, RCB set a formidable total of 205/5, marking their highest score at home this season. In response, RR's batsmen started aggressively, putting them in a strong position for the chase. However, despite the spinners slowing down the run rate, RR still needed just 18 runs from the final two overs to end their four-match losing streak.
In a crucial moment, Hazlewood bowled a remarkable penultimate over, giving away only one run and claiming two wickets, securing the win for RCB and igniting celebrations among the home crowd. Meanwhile, RR suffered another disappointing chase, which they should have clinched for the third consecutive time, leaving their playoff aspirations hanging by a thread.
Yashasvi Jaiswal began aggressively, hitting Bhuvneshwar Kumar for a six and scoring two fours, including a leading edge and a six over deep mid-wicket in an 18-run second over off Yash Dayal. Vaibhav Suryavanshi also launched a six off Bhuvneshwar before Jaiswal faced three misses from Hazlewood.
However, Jaiswal quickly responded with three fours, including a top edge on a pull. After Suryavanshi's top edge off Bhuvneshwar cleared the boundary, the veteran pacer regained control by bowling out the young left-handed batter with a knuckleball. Despite this, Jaiswal managed two more boundaries and a six off Hazlewood.
On the following delivery, Hazlewood changed his angle and cramped Jaiswal, who fell short of a remarkable fifty. After Jaiswal's departure, RCB struggled to contain runs, with Nitish Rana and Riyan Parag scoring boundaries and sixes.
Parag hit two leg-side sixes and a four off Suyash Sharma, while Rana capitalized on width from Dayal to score consecutive boundaries. However, Krunal Pandya struck on his first ball, dismissing Parag, and RCB managed to tighten the run flow, conceding only one boundary between the 10th and 13th overs.
The combination of pressure from Pandya and Suyash Sharma, combined with a change in the ball, proved effective for RCB. Rana eventually fell to a catch at short fine-leg off Pandya, while Hazlewood had Shimron Hetmyer nick behind to Jitesh.
Dhruv Jurel, who was on 18 off 23, finally broke free by hitting sixes off Suyash and Pandya before he and Shubham Dubey scored 22 runs off Bhuvneshwar in the 18th over.
However, Hazlewood turned the tide for RCB again, as his wide yorker caught Jurel's edge and led to a review, eventually dismissing him. Hazlewood's final two overs saw him take three wickets while conceding only seven runs, sealing RCB's first home victory of IPL 2025 and bringing immense relief to the team and their devoted supporters.
Brief scores:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru 205/5 in 20 overs (Virat Kohli 70, Devdutt Padikkal 50; Sandeep Sharma 2-45, Wanindu Hasaranga 1-30) defeated Rajasthan Royals 194/9 in 20 overs (Yashasvi Jaiswal 49, Dhruv Jurel 47; Josh Hazlewood 4-33, Krunal Pandya 2-31) by 11 runs.
