Josh Hazlewood IPL Performance: Death-Over Masterclass Secures RCB’s First Home Win

Royal Challengers Bengaluru finally broke their home jinx, securing their first victory at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in IPL 2025, defeating Rajasthan Royals by 11 runs in a thrilling encounter. The match, the 42nd of this IPL season, was defined by an extraordinary Josh Hazlewood IPL performance in the death overs that snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. The Australian fast bowler delivered a clinical 19th over that completely shifted the momentum and sealed the game for RCB.

Match Overview: RCB vs Rajasthan Royals

The match began with RCB losing yet another toss and being asked to bat first at their home ground, where they had struggled to secure a win this season. The pressure was immense on the home team to break their streak of disappointments in front of their passionate supporters.

This encounter carried significant playoff implications for both teams. RCB needed a win to climb up the points table, while Rajasthan Royals were fighting to keep their playoff hopes alive. The stage was set for a classic IPL showdown at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, known for its batting-friendly conditions and high-scoring encounters.

RCB’s Batting Performance: Kohli Leads the Way

Virat Kohli, who had struggled to convert his starts into big scores at the Chinnaswamy Stadium this season, finally delivered a defining innings on home soil. Having already notched up four half-centuries in the campaign, all away from home, Kohli produced a well-crafted 70 off 42 balls that balanced restraint with explosive hitting.

The innings began with some early nerves as Phil Salt survived a dropped catch in the deep off Fazalhaq Farooqi’s bowling. However, Kohli soon found his rhythm, taking advantage of Tushar Deshpande’s gentle pace to score boundaries and ensure RCB finished the powerplay at a healthy 59 without loss.

Kohli reached his fifty in 32 balls, his first home half-century of the season, with consecutive boundaries off Sandeep Sharma. His knock featured his trademark wrist work, including a beautiful whip through mid-wicket followed by a classical punch past cover, showcasing his technical brilliance.

Devdutt Padikkal provided excellent support, racing to his fifty from just 27 deliveries. The pair put on a crucial 95-run partnership for the second wicket that laid the foundation for a challenging total. Late cameos from Tim David (23 off 15) and Jitesh Sharma (20* off 10) provided the final acceleration, helping RCB post a formidable 205/5 on what was described as a “sticky” Chinnaswamy pitch.

Rajasthan’s Explosive Chase

Rajasthan Royals began their chase in blistering fashion, with the talented Yashasvi Jaiswal taking center stage. The young opener launched an assault on the RCB bowling attack, racing to 49 from just 19 balls with a combination of elegant strokes and powerful hitting.

Jaiswal’s aggressive approach was complemented by 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who was included as Rajasthan’s impact player. The teenager showed impressive maturity, hitting two sixes in his brief 16-run innings before being dismissed by a Bhuvneshwar Kumar knuckle ball.

By the end of the powerplay, Rajasthan had raced to 72/1, well ahead of the required run rate. However, the introduction of Krunal Pandya’s slow left-arm spin proved crucial as he removed both captain Riyan Parag and Nitish Rana to put the brakes on the Royals’ charge.

Yashasvi Jaiswal’s explosive 49 off 19 balls put Rajasthan Royals in a commanding position early in the chase

Dhruv Jurel kept Rajasthan’s hopes alive with an inventive 47-run innings that featured innovative stroke play. When Shubham Dubey carved Yash Dayal for two boundaries, the equation came down to just 18 runs required from 12 deliveries, putting RCB under immense pressure.

Josh Hazlewood IPL Performance: The Game-Changing Over

The Josh Hazlewood IPL performance that followed will be remembered as one of the defining moments of the 2025 season. Having been expensive earlier in his spell, conceding 26 runs from his first two overs, Hazlewood returned for a crucial 17th over that yielded just six runs, keeping RCB in the contest.

With Rajasthan needing 18 runs from the final two overs and looking set for victory with wickets in hand, RCB captain entrusted Hazlewood with the crucial 19th over. What followed was a masterclass in death bowling that completely turned the match on its head.

The extraordinary Josh Hazlewood IPL performance in that over completely changed the momentum of the match. From being in a position where they needed 17 from 12 balls with set batsmen at the crease, Rajasthan suddenly found themselves requiring 17 from the final over with their lower order exposed.

Hazlewood’s final figures read an impressive 4/33 from his full quota of four overs. The remarkable turnaround in his performance – his final twelve deliveries costing just seven runs while claiming three wickets – underscored his ability to deliver under pressure, a hallmark of elite T20 death bowlers.

Yash Dayal completed the job for RCB in the final over, conceding just six runs while mixing yorkers and slower balls to secure an 11-run victory. Rajasthan Royals finished on 194/9, falling short of what had seemed like an achievable target just moments earlier.

Match Significance and Playoff Implications

This victory carried significant implications for both teams in the IPL 2025 playoff race. For Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the win not only broke their home jinx at the Chinnaswamy Stadium but also propelled them to 12 points and third place in the points table, strengthening their playoff position.

Virat Kohli’s return to form at home, combined with the extraordinary Josh Hazlewood IPL performance at the death, provided RCB with the perfect template for success moving forward in the tournament. The balanced team effort, featuring contributions with both bat and ball, demonstrated that RCB had the potential to be serious contenders for the title.

For Rajasthan Royals, this was their fifth consecutive defeat and seventh loss in nine matches, leaving their playoff hopes hanging by the thinnest of threads. The loss was particularly painful given how close they had come to securing a much-needed victory before Hazlewood’s intervention.

Key Player Analysis and Statistics

While the Josh Hazlewood IPL performance took center stage in this thrilling encounter, several other players made significant contributions that shaped the outcome of the match.

The combination of Kohli’s composed innings and Hazlewood’s death bowling epitomized the balance that successful T20 teams strive for. While Kohli’s 70 laid the foundation for a competitive total, it was Hazlewood’s extraordinary death bowling that ultimately secured the victory.

For Rajasthan, Jaiswal’s near half-century and Jurel’s fighting knock weren’t enough to overcome the Josh Hazlewood IPL performance that has now become the talking point of the tournament. Their playoff hopes now require a miraculous turnaround in their remaining fixtures.

This match will be remembered for the dramatic shift in momentum during the death overs, with Josh Hazlewood’s name etched firmly in the annals of memorable IPL performances. For RCB, it provided a template of success that could serve them well as they push toward a potential first IPL title.