In a jaw-dropping high-octane clash, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) edged past Mumbai Indians (MI) by 12 runs in Match 21 of TATA IPL 2025 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium. This match not only delivered a feast of power-hitting and nail-biting drama, but also marked a historic moment as RCB broke a ten-year winless streak at Wankhede—their first victory at this venue since 2015.
The win also adds to a streak of jinx-breakers for the Bengaluru franchise, who had recently beaten Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk for the first time in 17 years.
RCB's Batting Blitz: Kohli, Patidar & Jitesh Light Up Wankhede
RCB, opting to bat first, made a commanding statement by piling up 221/5, thanks to three blistering knocks:
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Virat Kohli: 67 (42) – Fastest IPL fifty since 2019
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Rajat Patidar (C): 64 (32) – Fearless, captain’s knock
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Jitesh Sharma: Unbeaten 40 (19) – Perfect finishing touch
Powerplay Domination
Despite losing Phil Salt early to a peach from Trent Boult, RCB stormed through the Powerplay:
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Kohli and Padikkal added 91 runs in electric fashion.
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Kohli was in vintage touch, punishing Jasprit Bumrah with a six over mid-wicket and slog-sweeping spinners with panache.
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Devdutt Padikkal scored a rapid 37 off 22 before falling to debutant Vignesh Puthur.
Middle Overs – The Hardik Fightback
Skipper Hardik Pandya briefly turned the tide with strategic wide lines and two big wickets:
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Dismissed Kohli (67) and Liam Livingstone in the same over.
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At one point, RCB were 144/5 with just 33 balls remaining.
But Patidar wasn't done. He took charge:
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Blasted 33 off 12 balls against Hardik and Santner.
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Shared a vital finishing stand with Jitesh Sharma.
Death Overs Carnage
Even with Jasprit Bumrah returning from injury, RCB targeted the other end:
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Jitesh smacked 24 off just 8 balls off Boult.
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Bumrah's tight death overs (14 runs in 2 overs) couldn’t prevent RCB from reaching 221.
MI’s Chase: Pandya and Tilak’s Heroic Counter, But RCB Hold Firm
Chasing 222, MI had a rollercoaster ride, ultimately falling short at 209/9 despite sensational efforts from:
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Tilak Varma: 56 (29)
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Hardik Pandya: 42 (15)
Early Setbacks for MI
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Rohit Sharma started in style but was bowled by Yash Dayal.
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Josh Hazlewood removed Ryan Rickelton LBW early on.
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MI ended the Powerplay at 54/2, with Suryakumar Yadav and Will Jacks rebuilding.
Middle Overs Stumble
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SKY looked off-color at 28 (26) and was eventually dismissed by Dayal.
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Hazlewood and Suyash Sharma applied the brakes, conceding just 21 runs across their combined first five overs.
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At the end of 12 overs, MI had a win probability of only 2.25% according to ESPNcricinfo’s forecaster.
The Pandya-Tilak Onslaught: A Game-Changing Storm
What followed was a stunning turnaround. Tilak and Hardik added 89 off just 39 balls, igniting hope in the MI camp.
Key Highlights of the Partnership
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Suyash Sharma was taken for 17 in an over by Tilak.
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Hardik hammered Hazlewood for 22 runs in a single over, featuring two sixes and two fours.
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Krunal Pandya, playing against his brother, was smashed for two sixes as the MI skipper went berserk.
At one point, Hardik had reached 32 off just 7 balls, flipping the script completely.
Final Overs Drama: RCB’s Death Bowling Masterclass
With just 41 needed off the final 3 overs, MI had their eyes on a record chase.
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Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled a crucial 18th over, conceding just 13.
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Hazlewood kept it tight in the 19th despite a six from Santner.
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Krunal Pandya bowled the final over with 19 needed and delivered:
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Dismissed Santner and Chahar.
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Restrained Naman Dhir and Deepak Chahar from finding the boundary.
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Finished with match-winning figures: 4-0-45-4, his best in IPL.
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Scorecard Summary
RCB – 221/5 (20 overs)
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Kohli 67 (42), Patidar 64 (32), Jitesh 40* (19)
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Hardik 2/45, Boult 2/57, Bumrah 0/14 (2 overs)
MI – 209/9 (20 overs)
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Tilak 56 (29), Hardik 42 (15)
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Krunal 4/45, Hazlewood 2/37, Bhuvneshwar 1/29
Key Stats & Highlights
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RCB’s first win at Wankhede in 10 years.
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Kohli's fastest IPL 50 since 2019.
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RCB’s highest score of the season.
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Hardik-Tilak's 89-run stand nearly pulled off a heist.
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Krunal's best-ever IPL figures sealed the win.
What This Means for RCB and MI
For RCB:
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A huge psychological win, breaking the Wankhede jinx.
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Skipper Patidar stepping up with leadership and performance.
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Bowling unit showing composure under pressure.
For MI:
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Two back-to-back losses dent momentum.
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Positive takeaways in Hardik’s return to form and Tilak’s consistency.
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Need to address middle-over batting collapses and bowling options beyond Bumrah.
A Match for the Ages
RCB’s 12-run win against MI wasn’t just about points—it was a symbolic victory, ending a decade of frustration at the Wankhede. With the top order firing, the captain leading from the front, and bowlers stepping up at crunch moments, this game will go down as one of the classics of TATA IPL 2025.
As for MI, despite the heartbreak, they’ve shown they can mount massive comebacks. Expect fireworks when these two meet again.
With inputs from agencies
Image Source: Multiple agencies
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