Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) secured an 11-run victory over Rajasthan Royals (RR) on Thursday, continuing their strong form in IPL 2025. The match saw Virat Kohli continue his sensational run with the bat, scoring 70 runs off 42 balls, leading his team to a total of 205/5 in 20 overs. With eight fours and two sixes, Kohli’s innings was a critical part of RCB’s performance. His consistent batting has now placed him second in the Orange Cap race with 392 runs from nine matches.
Aaron Finch Analyzes RCB’s Batting Strategy
In a discussion on ESPNCricinfo, Aaron Finch, former RCB teammate of Kohli, was asked about Kohli’s role in the team and whether his captaincy was underrated. Finch gave a straightforward response, praising Kohli’s consistency as a key weapon for RCB.
“Yes, I mean, if you are offered 650, 700 runs at the start of the year from one of your top-three batters, no matter the strike rate, you’d take that every single day,” Finch explained. “It provides a solid platform for the team to play around.”
Finch emphasized that Kohli’s ability to consistently provide a strong foundation allows RCB to take more risks in the middle order. “That’s when you can put some cowboys in the middle order, ultra-high risk, and they tried to do that with Livingstone, and it hasn’t quite worked,” Finch said. “Last year, Maxwell played that high-risk game as well, and Patidar is looking to be overly-aggressive. Once Virat gets in, he rarely gets out at 30, so you can play aggressively around him.”
Kohli’s Impact on RCB’s Success
Kohli’s form has been a major factor in RCB’s solid position in the IPL 2025 points table, where they currently sit third with 12 points from nine matches. With six wins and three losses, RCB’s top-order consistency, spearheaded by Kohli, has been vital to their success.
RCB’s Next Challenge
RCB’s next challenge comes on Sunday when they face Delhi Capitals (DC) in New Delhi. With Kohli continuing to shine and a strong batting unit around him, RCB will look to maintain their winning form as they aim for a playoff spot.
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