New Delhi: 

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) rode on brilliant half-centuries from openers Phil Salt and Virat Kohli to defeat Rajasthan Royals (RR) by 9 wickets and return to winning ways in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 on Sunday, April 13. 

Kohli and Salt shared a match-winning opening stand of 92 runs to guide their team home in a tricky chase of 174 runs at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. Rajasthan Royals stutter despite strong start

Asked to bat first in the game, the Rajasthan Royals got off to a strong start courtesy of a 49-run opening stand between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson. Jaiswal continued the momentum with a stupendous knock of 75 off 47 balls studded with 10 fours and two sixes. However, RR’s innings lost sheen after his dismissal.

Riyan Parag failed to up the ante in his 22-ball 30, while Dhruv Jurel couldn’t provide the team with an emphatic finish as he could only manage 35 off 23 balls.

Rajasthan Royals batters stuttered in the middle overs and failed to capitalise on the strong start as the hosts could only manage 173 runs in 20 overs. It was RR’s 4th defeat of the season as they languish at the 7th spot on the IPL 2025 points table with just 4 points after six matches.

He was eventually dismissed on 65 off 33 balls by left-arm spinner Kumar Kartikeya in the 9th over as he drew the first blood for the hosts in the game. However, Salt had done the damage by then, with RCB in cruise control in the chase. Kohli picked up from where Salt had left and continued the momentum as he upped the ante after his opening partner’s dismissal.

Kohli completed his fifty off 39 balls with a six against Wanindu Hasaranaga in the 15th over and finished with a cracking unbeaten 62 off just 45 balls laced with 4 fours and two sixes. He was well supported by Devdutt Padikkal, who smashed an unbeaten 40 off 28 balls. The duo shared an unbeaten 83-run stand for the 3rd wicket to take RCB home with 15 balls to spare.

RCB headed into the clash against Rajasthan Royals on the back of a six-wicket defeat against Delhi Capitals at home. They managed to bounce back to winning ways with a confident all-round show against RR. While the batters delivered a clinical run-chase, the bowlers produced a disciplined effort to restrict RR to 173 despite a strong start.

Salt and Kohli continued their purple patch this season to get RCB off to a flyer in pursuit of the 174-run target. The duo once again dominated the proceedings in the Powerplay after surviving an initial scare from Jofra Archer. Salt was the aggressor as usual, helping RCB amass 65 runs in the Powerplay while racing to his fifty off just 28 balls.

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