Cricholic
Phil Salt delivered a breathtaking 65-run blitz to lead Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a commanding nine-wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur. Chasing 174, RCB finished the job in just 17.3 overs. As a result, they climbed back into the playoff positions with their fourth consecutive away win in IPL 2025.
Where was the game won? Salt’s PowerPlay carnage
The match tilted heavily in RCB’s favor during the PowerPlay phase. While Rajasthan Royals started steadily, they struggled to build momentum. Phil Salt, on the other hand, wasted no time. His explosive start handed RCB a decisive advantage early in the chase.
Rajasthan Royals’ innings: Jaiswal shines, but fielding errors prove costly
Slow start despite Jaiswal’s intent
Rajasthan opened cautiously, reaching 45/0 in the first six overs. Although Jaiswal showed intent, Sanju Samson struggled to find fluency. RCB’s disciplined bowling and tactical fielding setups made strokeplay difficult. As a result, RR couldn’t fully capitalize on the PowerPlay.
Middle overs: Missed chances and momentum shifts
Krunal Pandya struck immediately after the PowerPlay, removing Samson with a clever stumping. RCB applied pressure through their spinners; however, poor fielding let them down. Notably, Yash Dayal dropped a sitter off Riyan Parag, and the over went for 12 runs.
Despite these errors, Dayal returned to deceive Parag with a slower ball, breaking a 56-run stand. Meanwhile, Jaiswal continued to anchor the innings, bringing up his third half-century at this venue.
Death overs: Jurel lifts RR to a competitive total
Jaiswal looked set for a big finish, but Hazlewood trapped him LBW for 75. Eventually, Dhruv Jurel stepped up with an unbeaten 35 off 23. Despite multiple fielding lapses, including Kohli dropping Jurel, RR pushed past the 170 mark. Even so, their 173/5 was the second-lowest total for a side losing only four wickets since the Impact Player rule was introduced.
RCB’s chase: Phil Salt dominates from ball one
Phil Salt lights up the PowerPlay
Phil Salt came out firing. He scored 46 of the 65 PowerPlay runs, putting RR on the back foot immediately. Although Rajasthan found some early swing, Salt’s fearless approach neutralized the threat. Additionally, he was dropped twice—first by Parag, then by Jaiswal—further compounding RR’s problems.
Middle overs: Kohli complements Salt’s blitz
Even with the field spread, Salt continued attacking the spinners. He reached his half-century in just 28 balls and hammered six sixes in his 33-ball 65. Eventually, he fell to Kartikeya, but not before helping RCB to a commanding 92-run opening stand.
Kohli, who had played a supporting role till then, picked up the pace. From 30 off 28, he scored 20 off his next 11 deliveries. Therefore, his unbeaten 62 marked a milestone—his 100th T20 fifty, a feat achieved by only one other player, David Warner.
Death overs: Padikkal finishes in style
While Salt and Kohli laid the foundation, Devdutt Padikkal provided the finishing touches. He remained unbeaten on a fluent 40 off 28 balls. As a result, RCB wrapped up the chase with 15 balls to spare, securing a near-flawless win.
Match Summary
Rajasthan Royals: 173/5 in 20 overs (Yashasvi Jaiswal 75, Dhruv Jurel 35*; Krunal Pandya 1-29)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: 175/1 in 17.3 overs (Phil Salt 65, Virat Kohli 62*, Devdutt Padikkal 40*)
Result: RCB won by 9 wickets
What’s Next for RCB and RR?
Rajasthan Royals will travel to Lucknow to face LSG at the Ekana Stadium on April 16. Meanwhile, RCB return home to face Punjab Kings on April 18, aiming to carry their form into their home fixtures and grab another crucial win.
