New Delhi: Royal Challengers Bengaluru put on a clinical show at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipurchasing down Rajasthan Royals’ competitive 173-run total with ease to register a commanding 9-wicket victory with 15 balls to spare. The chase was anchored by Virat Kohli, who remained unbeaten on 62 off 45, and lit up by a blitzkrieg innings from Philip Salt, who smashed 65 off just 33 balls.
Earlier in the evening, Rajasthan Royals opted to bat first on a slightly two-paced surface. Their innings was built around Yashasvi Jaiswal’s fluent 75 off 47 deliveries, which included 10 fours and 2 sixes. Jaiswal showed glimpses of his top form, but struggled at times to find fluency, particularly on a pitch that didn’t offer consistent pace. His dismissal—LBW to Josh Hazlewood while attempting a sweep—triggered a mini-stumble in the middle overs.
Sanja Samson’s stay at the crease was short-lived. He was dismissed for 15 after being smartly stumped by Jitesh Sharma off Krunal Pandya, undone by a slower ball that slipped under his bat. Riyan Parag added 30 off 22 before falling to a slower one from Yash Dayal, while Dhruv Jurel (35 off 23) provided late impetus. Shimron Hetmyer chipped in with a cameo 9 off 8, taking RR to 173/4 in their 20 overs—a par score on a challenging surface.
RCB’s bowling was solid and disciplined, with Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Hazlewood both conceding under 9 an over. Krunal Pandya (1/29) also played his part well in the middle overs.
In reply, RCB’s opening pair of Salt and Kohli gave them a flying start, racing to 65 in the powerplay. Salt was particularly aggressive, striking 5 fours and 6 sixes in a brutal display of power-hitting. The lone breakthrough for Rajasthan came when Kumar Kartikeya got Salt to mistime a pull, caught at deep midwicket by Jaiswal.
After Salt’s departure at 92, Devdutt Padikkal walked in and ensured there was no twist in the tale, finishing unbeaten on 40 off 28. He matched Kohli’s tempo perfectly as the duo stitched together an unbroken 83-run stand to finish the job.
With this win, RCB not only chased down a tricky target with remarkable ease but also gave a strong statement of intent as the tournament heats up.
