RCB Dismantles Delhi's Hopes in IPL 2025 Thriller
If anyone expected an easy ride for the Delhi Capitals at home, they were quickly reminded how quickly fortunes can swing in IPL 2025. The Arun Jaitley Stadium was buzzing as fans turned up hoping for another notch in Delhi’s win column. The Capitals had every reason for optimism: they’d claimed six victories in eight matches and seemed locked in on playoff contention. But Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) had other plans—and with Virat Kohli firing, they were always going to ask tough questions.
Delhi’s innings started with a combination of caution and intent. KL Rahul was again Mr. Reliable, pacing his 41 runs patiently as wickets tumbled around him. At one stage, it looked like DC might get stuck, but Tristan Stubbs swung momentum back with a scrappy 34. Still, RCB’s bowlers didn’t let the hosts get away. Bhuvneshwar Kumar was on point from the get-go, ending with a tidy 3 for 33. Josh Hazlewood backed him up, removing key middle-order threats, and Delhi ended at 162/8—a score that looked challenging but hardly safe against an in-form RCB top order.
The chase began in a strangely flat manner. Early on, the Capitals’ bowlers put the squeeze on, and the scores crawled. That’s when Kohli decided enough was enough. Not every shot raced to the fence, but Kohli’s 51 was all about keeping calm and punishing anything loose. DC’s Axar Patel did his best to keep things interesting, taking 2 for 19 and stifling RCB’s progress briefly. But the Capitals just couldn’t plug every hole.
Pandya's Explosive Knock Turns the Game
The turning point came when Krunal Pandya strode out and started playing shots with reckless confidence. His unbeaten 73 off 47 balls included some jaw-dropping strokeplay—lofted sixes, clever sweeps, and boundary-laden aggression. When Tim David arrived and pummeled 19 off just five deliveries, any hopes Delhi had evaporated. RCB surged to 165/4 in just 18.3 overs, snatching a six-wicket victory that sent the visiting fans into a frenzy. If Delhi’s bowlers were hoping for last-gasp miracles, Pandya and David simply shut the door.
This win sent RCB soaring to the top of the table, and Kohli got to wear the Orange Cap—if only for a while. While his innings wasn’t the flashiest, it was a lesson in experience and adaptability, showing why he remains one of the IPL’s biggest names.
For Delhi, the loss stings sharper given how well their campaign had gone till now. Their middle order looked thin, exposed painfully as the RCB bowlers tightened the screws. With tougher fixtures coming up fast, DC will need to figure out how to avoid those mid-innings stutters that turn competitive totals into something very chasable. On the other side, RCB is starting to look like a team that can thrive under pressure, mixing tactical discipline with individual flair. The rest of the league has been warned—this isn’t the old RCB used to heartbreak.
