Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) finally ended a decade-long drought at the Wankhede Stadium. RCB defeated Mumbai Indians (MI) by 12 runs at their home ground after 10 years, adding another high-voltage encounter to the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 highlights for fans.
Sports News: In a thrilling match at the Wankhede Stadium, Royal Challengers Bangalore defeated Mumbai Indians by 12 runs, tasting victory at this ground after 10 years. Batting first, RCB posted a substantial score of 221 runs, boosted by superb half-centuries from Rajat Patidar and Virat Kohli. Chasing the target, Mumbai Indians stumbled early, losing four wickets for 99 runs in 12 overs.
However, Hardik Pandya's explosive 42 runs off 15 balls and Tilak Varma's quickfire 56 off 29 balls almost turned the game around. But once both were dismissed, Mumbai's hopes faded, and RCB secured a hard-fought victory.
Kohli-Patidar Lay the Foundation, Jitesh's Explosive Finish
Winning the toss and electing to bat first proved to be a masterstroke for Bangalore. Virat Kohli (67 runs) and Rajat Patidar (64 runs) played exceptional innings. Jitesh Sharma provided a blistering finish, smashing an unbeaten 40 off 19 balls, leaving Mumbai's bowlers with no chance. Devdutt Padikkal also contributed a crucial 37 runs. RCB set a challenging target of 221 runs in 20 overs.
Mumbai's Inconsistent Innings
Mumbai Indians' chase started poorly. Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton were dismissed early. Suryakumar Yadav, despite expectations, managed only 28 runs off 26 balls, and even two dropped catches couldn't help Mumbai. Will Jacks also failed to make a significant contribution, scoring 22 runs before being out. Mumbai's score slumped to 99/4 in 12 overs, suggesting an easy win for RCB.
Hardik-Tilak's 'Roar'
Captain Hardik Pandya changed the game's momentum upon arrival. He smashed 42 runs off just 15 balls, while Tilak Varma's 56 runs off 29 balls brought Mumbai to the brink of victory. From the 13th to the 17th over, Mumbai scored aggressively. At one point, the score was 181/4, and victory seemed imminent. However, Tilak's dismissal in the 18th over and Hardik's in the 19th shattered Mumbai's hopes. Needing 19 runs in the final over, Krunal Pandya took two wickets in two balls, securing a historic win for RCB.
Krunal and Hazlewood Shine with the Ball
Krunal Pandya was the star bowler for RCB, taking 4 wickets for 45 runs in 4 overs. Josh Hazlewood also delivered crucial breakthroughs, taking two wickets. Yash Dayal contributed with 2 wickets. This victory was more than just two points for RCB; it was a psychological win, as they hadn't beaten Mumbai at Wankhede in the past 10 years. They not only broke this myth but also showcased their b intent.
In Brief
RCB: 221/4 (Kohli 67, Patidar 64, Jitesh 40*)
MI: 209/9 (Tilak 56, Hardik 42)
RCB won by 12 runs
