Virat Kohli once again proved why he is called the ‘Chase Master’, guiding Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to a six-wicket win over Delhi Capitals (DC) in the IPL 2025 season. His calm 51-run knock, alongside Krunal Pandya’s unbeaten 73, helped RCB chase down 163 runs comfortably in 18.3 overs, taking them to the top of the points table.
Despite a shaky start at 26 for 3, Kohli and Krunal stitched a crucial 119-run partnership off 84 balls, stabilizing the innings and setting up a smooth finish. After Kohli’s dismissal, Tim David added quickfire runs to seal the win.
Kohli Emphasizes Importance of Partnerships
After the match, Kohli emphasized his simple but effective approach:
“I focus on rotating the strike and analysing the conditions. People are forgetting the importance of partnerships. It’s key to dominate bowlers with professionalism,” he said.
Kohli also praised Krunal for his standout performance, adding, “Krunal was outstanding. His impact was just about time. We’ve communicated beautifully during the innings.”
On the team’s finishing strength, Kohli highlighted the roles of Tim David, Jitesh Sharma, and Romario Shepherd for adding extra firepower at the back end.
He also lauded the bowling attack, praising Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Suyash, crediting their efforts for RCB’s consistent performances.
Krunal Pandya Shines as Player of the Match
Krunal Pandya, who scored his first IPL fifty since 2016, was named Player of the Match for his all-round performance, scoring 73* and taking a key wicket.
“When Virat is at the other end, it becomes easy. The first 20 balls were tough, but he kept backing me,” Krunal said after the match.
He also discussed his bowling improvements, saying, “I have worked on my variations and always wanted to stay one step ahead of batsmen.”
Axar Patel Reflects on Delhi Capitals’ Missed Chances
DC skipper Axar Patel admitted that Delhi were 10-15 runs short of a winning total.
“The wicket was two-paced initially, but dew made it easier for batting later. We needed a bit more acceleration,” he said.
Despite Delhi’s best efforts, RCB’s experienced partnership and strong finishers proved too good on the day.
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