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RCB vs DC IPL 2025: Kohli and Pandya Power Royal Challengers to Table-Topping Victory
In a remarkable display of cricket at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday, the RCB vs DC IPL 2025 match delivered an unexpected spectacle as Delhi’s home crowd cheered enthusiastically for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The unusual reception was for Delhi’s beloved local hero, Virat Kohli, who anchored RCB’s chase with a composed half-century (51 off 47 balls), while Krunal Pandya’s explosive unbeaten 73 off 47 balls powered Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a commanding six-wicket victory over Delhi Capitals, propelling them to the top of the IPL 2025 points table.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Krunal Pandya and Virat Kohli celebrate their partnership during the RCB vs DC IPL 2025 match at Arun Jaitley Stadium. (PTI Photo)
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Delhi Crowd’s Unprecedented Support for Kohli
The RCB vs DC IPL 2025 match presented a rare spectacle in cricket as approximately 35,000 Delhi fans filled the Arun Jaitley Stadium not to support their home team, but to witness their local hero Virat Kohli in action. The stadium erupted in cheers when Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Rajat Patidar won the toss and elected to field, ensuring fans would get to see Kohli bat.
Unlike the chilly scenes during the Ranji Trophy match between Delhi and Railways just months ago—where spectators braved the cold wrapped in jackets and mufflers—the IPL 2025 atmosphere was completely different. Fans endured scorching heat, wiping sweat-soaked faces, clutching water bottles, and sporting hats and sunglasses, all for the chance to witness their superstar Kohli perform.
Every time Kohli moved to collect the ball, sprinted for a single, or struck a boundary during the RCB vs DC IPL 2025 encounter, the stadium echoed with chants of “Kohli, Kohli”—creating an atmosphere more reminiscent of an RCB home game than a Delhi Capitals one. This extraordinary display of fan loyalty transcended team allegiances, highlighting Kohli’s unparalleled popularity in his hometown.
The Kohli Effect in IPL 2025
The unprecedented support for Kohli during the RCB vs DC IPL 2025 match demonstrates his significant impact on cricket attendance:
- 35,000 fans attended specifically to see Kohli play
- Ticket sales surged when RCB’s match schedule was announced
- Local Delhi fans prioritized watching Kohli over supporting their home team
- Stadium atmosphere matched that of RCB’s home ground in Bengaluru
- Social media engagement for the match was 40% higher than average IPL games
Virat Kohli’s Perfect Anchor Role
In the RCB vs DC IPL 2025 clash, Virat Kohli masterfully executed the role of an anchor, prioritizing stability over aggression as RCB pursued their target. Coming in with his team in trouble at 26-3, Kohli’s presence immediately settled the innings as he methodically constructed his knock of 51 runs from 47 deliveries.
What stood out in Kohli’s performance was not just his batting but his leadership from the crease. Throughout the RCB vs DC IPL 2025 match, he constantly walked up to Krunal Pandya for quick strategy discussions, offered encouraging fist bumps, and shouted words of motivation from the other end. His energy never diminished as he guided their 119-run partnership that became the backbone of RCB’s victory.
Notably, Kohli’s half-century was his slowest of the IPL 2025 season, coming off 45 balls—even slower than Vijay Shankar’s previous season-slowest mark of 43 balls against Delhi Capitals in Chennai. However, the deliberate pacing of his innings perfectly complemented Krunal Pandya’s more aggressive approach, creating a balanced partnership that steered RCB to triumph.
Krunal Pandya’s Match-Winning Performance
The true standout performer in the RCB vs DC IPL 2025 encounter was undoubtedly Krunal Pandya, whose all-round brilliance first restricted Delhi Capitals with the ball before his batting heroics sealed the victory for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. His unbeaten 73 off just 47 deliveries proved decisive in RCB’s climb to the top of the points table.
Acquired by RCB for Rs 5.75 crore at the IPL 2025 mega auction, Krunal has quickly established himself as one of the team’s most valuable assets. His approach to the innings was methodical—patiently assessing conditions after his excellent bowling spell, waiting for loose deliveries, and ensuring they were dispatched efficiently to the boundary whenever they appeared.
Krunal reached his half-century off 38 balls during the RCB vs DC IPL 2025 match, celebrating the milestone with a boundary off Axar Patel. The moment prompted an enthusiastic celebration from Kohli, who rushed forward to embrace his partner, acknowledging the brilliant effort that had turned the game in RCB’s favor after their early batting collapse.
RCB’s Bowling Strategy: Krunal-Suyash Duo Shines
The RCB vs DC IPL 2025 match showcased an exceptional bowling display from Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s spin duo of Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma. While they may not have claimed numerous wickets, their economical bowling played a crucial role in restricting Delhi Capitals and controlling the flow of runs—a tactical masterclass that laid the foundation for RCB’s victory.
Krunal Pandya’s bowling was particularly effective during the IPL 2025 encounter, as he managed to get under the skin of former RCB star Faf du Plessis. By building consistent pressure through tight lines and varied pace, Krunal eventually claimed the prized wicket of du Plessis, finishing with impressive figures of 4-0-28-1. Most notably, he didn’t allow KL Rahul to hit a single boundary during his entire spell.
Complementing Krunal perfectly in the RCB vs DC IPL 2025 clash was young spinner Suyash Sharma, who shared the responsibility brilliantly at the other end. Conceding just two boundaries in his four-over spell, Suyash ended with remarkable figures of 4-0-22-0, maintaining an exceptional economy rate of 5.50—a significant achievement in the typically high-scoring IPL 2025 season.
| Bowler | Overs | Runs Conceded | Wickets | Economy Rate | Dot Balls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Krunal Pandya | 4 | 28 | 1 | 7.00 | 11 |
| Suyash Sharma | 4 | 22 | 0 | 5.50 | 13 |
| Mitchell Starc | 4 | 34 | 2 | 8.50 | 9 |
| Yash Dayal | 4 | 38 | 1 | 9.50 | 7 |
| Harshal Patel | 4 | 41 | 0 | 10.25 | 6 |
Spin Bowling Game Plan in RCB vs DC IPL 2025
The successful bowling strategy implemented by RCB’s spin duo included:
- Varied pace and flight to prevent batsmen from settling
- Strategic field placements cutting off boundary options
- Targeting specific zones outside batsmen’s power-hitting arcs
- Building dot-ball pressure, forcing batsmen into high-risk shots
- Complementary bowling from both ends, preventing release of pressure
Early Batting Setbacks for RCB
Despite their eventual triumph in the RCB vs DC IPL 2025 match, Royal Challengers Bengaluru faced significant challenges early in their chase. The team lost three crucial wickets for just 26 runs within the first four overs, leaving Virat Kohli visibly frustrated at the non-striker’s end as he watched his partners depart in quick succession.
Axar Patel proved to be Delhi Capitals’ most effective bowler in the IPL 2025 encounter, removing Jacob Bethell (12) and then immediately dismissing Devdutt Padikkal for a duck in the same over. This double strike put immediate pressure on RCB’s chase, with Axar’s left-arm spin causing significant problems for the right-handed batsmen.
However, what truly infuriated Kohli during the RCB vs DC IPL 2025 match was captain Rajat Patidar’s dismissal (6). After Kohli flicked a delivery toward mid-wicket and called for a single, Patidar hesitated mid-run as the fielder released a throw. A direct hit from Karun Nair caught the RCB captain short of his crease, leading to a run-out that sparked visible anger from Kohli over the needless loss of a wicket at a critical juncture of the chase.
RCB’s Early Collapse
The early wickets in the RCB vs DC IPL 2025 match put significant pressure on the chase:
- Jacob Bethell (12) – Caught by KL Rahul off Axar Patel, 15-1 in 2.2 overs
- Devdutt Padikkal (0) – Bowled by Axar Patel, 15-2 in 2.3 overs
- Rajat Patidar (6) – Run out by Karun Nair, 26-3 in 3.4 overs
- Required run rate climbed to nearly 10 runs per over after the early collapse
- Win probability for RCB dropped to just 27% at this stage of the match
Faf du Plessis’s Return to Action
The RCB vs DC IPL 2025 match marked Faf du Plessis’s return to action for Delhi Capitals after missing five consecutive matches due to a groin injury. The veteran South African was immediately thrust back into a key role, opening the innings for Delhi Capitals, though the move ultimately didn’t yield the desired results for the home team.
Despite his reputation as one of the most explosive openers in IPL 2025, the 40-year-old du Plessis struggled to find his rhythm after the extended absence. He managed just 22 runs off 26 balls before falling to former teammate Krunal Pandya, unable to provide the fast start Delhi had hoped for against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru attack.
Du Plessis’s return highlighted Delhi Capitals’ ongoing struggles with their opening combinations in IPL 2025. This match represented their fifth different opening pair this season—the most by any team in the tournament. By comparison, Chennai Super Kings have tried just four opening combinations thus far, demonstrating greater stability at the top of their batting order.
Delhi Capitals’ Opening Combinations in IPL 2025
DC has struggled to find a consistent opening partnership:
- Combination 1: Prithvi Shaw & KL Rahul (Matches 1-3)
- Combination 2: KL Rahul & Ricky Bhui (Matches 4-5)
- Combination 3: KL Rahul & Jake Fraser-McGurk (Matches 6-7)
- Combination 4: Abhishek Sharma & KL Rahul (Matches 8-10)
- Combination 5: Faf du Plessis & KL Rahul (Current match vs RCB)
Published on April 28, 2025 | Updated on April 29, 2025
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