Kohli, Hazlewood star as RCB end home curse

TDT | agencies

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In a thrilling encounter at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) finally ended their home ground drought by defeating Rajasthan Royals (RR) by 11 runs in Match 42 of IPL 2025. This marked RCB's first victory at home this season, having lost their previous three matches at the venue.

Batting first, RCB posted a formidable total of 205/5 in their allotted 20 overs. Virat Kohli led the charge with a scintillating 70 off 42 balls, marking his first half-century at home this season. He was well-supported by Devdutt Padikkal, who contributed a brisk 50 off 27 deliveries. Tim David added a quickfire 23, propelling the team past the 200-run mark.

In response, RR started aggressively, with Yashasvi Jaiswal scoring a rapid 49 off 19 balls. Dhruv Jurel kept the chase alive with a valiant 47 off 34 deliveries. However, RCB's bowlers held their nerve in the death overs. Josh Hazlewood was the standout performer, claiming 4 wickets for 33 runs, including crucial scalps in the final overs. Krunal Pandya provided valuable support with figures of 2/31.

Despite a strong start, RR faltered in the latter stages, finishing at 194/9, falling short by 11 runs. This victory not only boosts RCB's morale but also strengthens their position in the points table as the tournament progresses.