KL Rahul returned to his hometown with a vengeance, orchestrating a stunning run-chase to lead the Delhi Capitals (DC) to a six-wicket victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. With this win, DC extended their unbeaten run in IPL 2025 to four matches, while RCB suffered their second consecutive home defeat.
Match Summary
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RCB 163/7 (20 overs): Tim David 37* (20), Phil Salt 37 (17); Kuldeep Yadav 2/17, Vipraj Nigam 2/18
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DC 169/4 (17.5 overs): KL Rahul 93* (53), Tristan Stubbs 38* (23); Bhuvneshwar Kumar 2/26
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Result: Delhi Capitals won by 6 wickets with 13 balls remaining
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Player of the Match: KL Rahul
RCB’s Explosive Start, Sudden Collapse, and Late Rescue
RCB's innings began like a dream. After being sent in to bat, Phil Salt unleashed absolute carnage in the powerplay, particularly targeting Mitchell Starc for 30 runs in the third over — the biggest of the match. Salt’s fireworks helped RCB notch up their second-fastest team fifty in IPL history, racing to 53/0 in just three overs.
RCB Powerplay Breakdown:
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Overs 1-3: 53/0 — 5 fours, 3 sixes, no wickets
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Overs 4-6: 11/2 — only 1 six, 2 key wickets
However, the momentum shifted drastically:
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A run-out blunder between Salt and Kohli removed the former for 37 (17), swinging momentum DC’s way.
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Mukesh Kumar’s sixth over was a wicket-maiden, dismissing Devdutt Padikkal (1 off 8) and stalling RCB at 64/2.
Middle-Order Mayhem: Spin Twin Show
Delhi’s spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Vipraj Nigam spun a web around the RCB middle order. The slow Chinnaswamy surface suited their style as they operated with guile and control:
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Kuldeep Yadav: 2/17 (4 overs), including Rajat Patidar and Jitesh Sharma
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Vipraj Nigam: 2/18 (4 overs), including the prized scalp of Virat Kohli (22)
These two combined for 8 overs, 35 runs, 4 wickets, and 23 dot balls, completely strangling RCB’s scoring in the middle overs. Mohit Sharma chipped in by outfoxing Liam Livingstone, while Krunal Pandya was Nigam’s second victim.
Tim David’s Late Flourish Saves Face
From 89/4 at the halfway stage, RCB tumbled to 125/7 by the 18th over. Enter Tim David. The Aussie power-hitter smashed:
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4 sixes and 2 fours in the final two overs
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A gutsy 37* off 20 that boosted RCB to a defendable 163/7
Delhi Capitals’ Horror Start and Incredible Turnaround
Despite a disciplined bowling performance, DC’s chase began on shaky ground. RCB’s bowlers brought intensity, and their fielders backed them up with three sharp catches, including two stunners from Jitesh Sharma.
Powerplay Collapse:
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Faf du Plessis fell to Yash Dayal in the third over.
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Jake Fraser-McGurk top-edged a rising Bhuvneshwar Kumar delivery; Jitesh took a juggling catch.
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Abishek Porel followed soon after — another Bhuvneshwar scalp, leaving DC at 39/3.
Rebuild Interrupted:
Captain Axar Patel tried to steady the innings alongside Rahul, but his resistance was ended by Suyash Sharma’s clever leg-spin, falling for 15. At the 11-over mark, DC were 67/4, and the required rate had ballooned to nearly 11.
Rahul and Stubbs Launch Counterattack: 111-Run Partnership
What followed was a stunning momentum swing engineered by KL Rahul and Tristan Stubbs, who added 111 runs off just 6.5 overs, flattening RCB's hopes.
Rahul's Two-Phase Masterclass:
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At 11 overs: Rahul was on 29 off 29 and struggling for rhythm.
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Next 24 balls: Rahul smashed 64 runs, striking at 266.67.
He launched into overdrive, starting with:
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A six over deep square-leg off Krunal Pandya
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Four and six off Liam Livingstone
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A 22-run over off Josh Hazlewood: 4, 4, dot, 4, 6, dot
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Finished the game in style with two sixes and a four off Yash Dayal in the 18th
He ended unbeaten on 93 off 53 balls*, with 8 fours and 5 sixes — a knock that silenced the Chinnaswamy crowd and made a bold statement in his hometown.
Stubbs Supports with Finesse:
Stubbs was the perfect foil — cheeky, calculated, and clutch. His 38 off 23* included a reverse sweep and multiple boundaries that relieved pressure and kept the scoreboard ticking.
Key Takeaways
For Delhi Capitals:
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Remain unbeaten in IPL 2025 with a 4-0 record
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KL Rahul has now scored back-to-back fifties, showcasing elite form
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Bowlers, especially Kuldeep and Nigam, showed tremendous control on a batter-friendly surface
For Royal Challengers Bengaluru:
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Another collapse after a blistering start continues their inconsistent trend
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Virat Kohli’s lean form and Salt’s run-out proved costly
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Tim David remains a silver lining with consistent late-order hitting
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Remain winless at home this season
Rahul Claims His Turf
The moment KL Rahul smashed the winning six and slammed his bat on the turf, it wasn't just the end of a match — it was a declaration of dominance. From 29 off 29 to 93* off 53, Rahul’s innings was a masterclass in patience, precision, and power-hitting.
As the IPL 2025 heats up, Delhi Capitals look increasingly like contenders, with their balance, bowling variety, and a captain in form. RCB, meanwhile, will need to regroup quickly if they hope to revive their faltering campaign.
With inputs from agencies
Image Source: Multiple agencies
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