Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) finally ended their home losing streak with a thrilling 11-run victory over Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. The win, powered by Virat Kohli’s 70 off 42 balls, marked RCB’s first triumph at home this season after three consecutive defeats.
Kohli’s Batting Template for Success
Speaking after the match, Kohli revealed the batting strategy that helped RCB post a competitive 205/5. He emphasized the importance of timing the ball rather than forcing shots, a shift that allowed the team to build partnerships and capitalize on scoring opportunities.
“We’ve had three pretty average games at home, and we discussed a few things we needed to get right as a batting unit. Today, we applied ourselves well and got the total on board,” Kohli stated.
Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal (50 off 27 balls) stitched a crucial 95-run stand, setting the foundation for RCB’s total. The team focused on one batter anchoring the innings while others played aggressively around him—a template that Kohli believes will be key in upcoming matches.
RCB’s Bowling Heroics
Despite RR’s strong start, RCB’s bowlers turned the game around in the final overs. Josh Hazlewood delivered a match-winning spell, finishing with 4/33, including crucial wickets in the death overs. His dismissal of Dhruv Jurel and Jofra Archer in the 19th over shifted momentum in RCB’s favor, sealing the victory.
RCB’s Road Ahead
With this win, RCB has climbed to third place in the IPL 2025 points table, securing six wins from nine matches. Kohli expressed confidence that the team has now found the right approach to batting at Chinnaswamy, which should help them secure a playoff spot.
As RCB looks to build on this momentum, fans eagerly await their next home fixture, hoping the team continues to execute Kohli’s batting blueprint for success.
Stay tuned for more updates on IPL 2025 and cricket action.
