Hazlewood, Kohli Steer RCB to First Home Win in IPL 2025 Thriller

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) finally broke their home curse in IPL 2025, clinching a dramatic 11-run victory over Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. A composed half-century from Virat Kohli and a game-defining spell by Josh Hazlewood proved crucial as RCB defended 205 for 5 to seal their first win at home this season.

After losing yet another toss, RCB rode on the back of Kohli’s fluent 70 and Devdutt Padikkal’s 50 to post their highest total at home this year. Despite a sluggish start from Phil Salt (26 off 23), RCB found momentum through a 92-run partnership between Kohli and Padikkal. Tim David (22* off 10) and Jitesh Sharma (20* off 9) provided the final flourish, adding 42 in the last 19 balls.

RR’s chase was off to a blazing start, thanks to Yashasvi Jaiswal’s explosive 49 off just 19 deliveries. With Nitish Rana anchoring and the score at 110 for 2 by the ninth over, RR looked firmly in control. But the introduction of Krunal Pandya (2 for 31) and Suyash Sharma turned the tide. They applied the brakes in the middle overs, choking RR’s momentum.

Then came Hazlewood’s masterclass at the death. With RR needing just 18 off 12 balls. The Australian fast bowler delivered a near-perfect 19th over—conceding only one run and dismissing Dhruv Jurel and Jofra Archer off consecutive balls. Jurel’s dismissal, confirmed by a razor-thin under-edge on review, was the knockout blow.

Yash Dayal, hero of last season’s famous finish against Chennai, closed out the win with another nerveless final over. RR slumped to their fifth straight defeat, while RCB surged into the top three.

Hazlewood’s figures of 4 for 33 underlined his evolution into a dependable T20 finisher, while Kohli’s first home fifty of the season gave fans plenty to cheer. After a string of disappointments, RCB have finally found their spark at home—and just in time.