RCB vs MI: Royal Challengers Bengaluru End 10-Year Drought at Wankhede with 12-Run Victory

Mumbai, April 8, 2025 – Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) ended a decade-long drought at the Wankhede Stadium by defeating Mumbai Indians (MI) in a nail-biting encounter. RCB secured a 12-run victory in Match 21 of IPL 2025, marking their first win at this venue since 2015.

Batting first, RCB posted a mammoth total of 221/5, thanks to stellar performances by Virat Kohli and skipper Rajat Patidar. MI fought valiantly during their chase but fell short at 209/9 despite strong efforts from Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya.

RCB’s Batting Fireworks Set the Stage

RCB’s innings was powered by their top-order batters. Virat Kohli showcased his class with a brilliant knock of 67 off 42 balls, which included five fours and three sixes. Kohli also achieved a personal milestone by crossing the 13,000-run mark in T20 cricket.

Skipper Rajat Patidar was the star of the show, smashing 64 runs off just 32 balls. His innings featured five boundaries and four towering sixes, earning him the Player of the Match award. Jitesh Sharma added a quickfire 40 off 21 balls to push RCB past the 220-run mark.

Here’s how RCB’s batting unfolded:

MI’s Spirited Chase Falls Short

Chasing a daunting target of 222, MI started aggressively but lost early wickets. Rohit Sharma fell for just eight runs, while Ryan Rickelton and Will Jacks could not make significant contributions.

Tilak Varma kept MI in the hunt with a blistering knock of 56 off just 29 deliveries. Hardik Pandya added fireworks with his explosive innings of 42 off only 15 balls, hitting four sixes in the process. However, MI’s middle order faltered under pressure as RCB’s bowlers held their nerve in the death overs.

Krunal Pandya was the standout bowler for RCB, claiming four crucial wickets for 45 runs. Josh Hazlewood also chipped in with two important scalps to derail MI’s chase.

Key moments from MI’s innings:

• Tilak Varma scored at a strike rate of nearly 200.
• Hardik Pandya hit the most sixes (4) in the match.
• Krunal Pandya bowled a brilliant final over to seal RCB’s victory.

Here’s how MI’s batting performance looked:

Key Highlights from RCB vs MI Match:

• RCB Total: RCB scored an imposing total of 221/5 in their allotted overs.
• MI Chase: MI managed to score 209/9, falling short by just 12 runs.
• Player of the Match: Rajat Patidar for his blazing knock of 64 off 32 balls.
• Bowling Heroics: Krunal Pandya took four wickets for RCB.

This win not only broke RCB’s Wankhede jinx but also boosted their confidence as they aim for a playoff spot in IPL 2025. With this victory, RCB has now won three out of their first four matches this season.

The rivalry between RCB and MI continues to deliver thrilling contests, and this match will be remembered as one where history was rewritten at Wankhede Stadium.

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