Last Updated:
Virat Kohli’s celebrations, triggered by quick wickets in the last two overs, reflected the boiling intensity of the encounter.
Virat Kohli celebrated to the tee as RCB pulled off a brilliant heist (Picture credit: Screengrab from X)
Ace India and Royal Challengers Bengaluru batter Virat Kohli was seen letting it loose and celebrating to the tee as Josh Hazlewood picked some crucial wickets in the penultimate over and Tim David and Jitesh Sharma combined to inflict a run out in the last over, as RCB finally broke the home jinx and won at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.
With Rajasthan requiring 18 off the last two overs, the chances for a Bengaluru comeback looked bleak as another home defeat looked imminent.
Kohli‘s celebrations, triggered first by the wicket of Jofra Archer in the 19th over and then again when Wanindu Hasaranga fell in the last, reflected the boiling intensity of the encounter that swung between the two sides throughout.
Watch the video here:
It was Kohli, the batter, who steadied Bengaluru’s innings after a nervy beginning. Despite a few early streaky fours, he grew into his fluent best, registering a confident 70 off 42 deliveries, his first half-century at home in IPL 2025 and fifth overall.
Chasing a whopping 206, Rajasthan blazed off the blocks, with Yashasvi Jaiswal smacking 49 off just 19 deliveries.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Rajasthan’s 14-year-old impact player, entertained with two sixes before a knuckle delivery from Bhuvneshwar Kumar ended his cameo.
While Dhruv Jurel mounted a gritty resistance, Bengaluru’s bowling unit, led by Hazlewood’s 4/32, tightened the noose.
With the victory over Rajasthan, Bengaluru have jumped above the Mumbai Indians to the third spot on the table with six wins in nine games.
The unrelenting Josh Hazlewood fashioned RCB’s first victory at home this Indian Premier League season with a brilliant penultimate over as his side defeated Rajasthan by 11 runs in a see-saw affair in Bengaluru.
Coming on to bowl with Rajasthan requiring 18 off 12 balls, Hazlewood (4/33) picked up two wickets in as many deliveries while giving away just one run, as the visitors were stopped at 194/9 in a chase of 206 at a packed Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Hazlewood’s heroics meant Jaiswal’s (49 off 19 balls) blazing innings at the top of the order and Jurel’s (47 off 34 balls) valiant effort went in vain as Rajasthan suffered their fifth consecutive loss.
RCB next play the Delhi Capitals on Sunday, April 27, at the latter’s home.
