Rajasthan Royals Set Royal Challengers Bengaluru a Target of 174 in IPL 2025 Thriller
Jaipur/Patiala, 13 April (Sports desk)
In a gripping IPL 2025 encounter at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on April 13, 2025, Rajasthan Royals (RR) posted 173/4 in their 20 overs, setting Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) a target of 174 to win. The match, the 28th of the season, saw RR bounce back with a strong batting performance led by Yashasvi Jaiswal, while RCB’s chase started explosively, setting the stage for a nail-biting finish.
Match Overview
- Teams: Rajasthan Royals vs. Royal Challengers Bengaluru
- Venue: Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur
- Date: April 13, 2025
- Toss: RCB won the toss and elected to bowl first.
- Result: RR scored 173/4, setting RCB a target of 174.
Rajasthan Royals Innings
RR’s batting was anchored by a brilliant 75 off 47 balls from Yashasvi Jaiswal, who found form after a lean patch. The left-hander struck elegant boundaries and paced his innings well on a slightly slow pitch. Captain Sanju Samson contributed a quick 18 before falling to Krunal Pandya’s clever slower ball in the seventh over, stumped after charging down the track. Nitish Rana scored a boundary off his first ball but couldn’t build on it, departing soon after
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Dhruv Jurel provided a late flourish, smashing 35 off 23 balls, including a massive six and crisp boundaries against RCB’s pacers. Shimron Hetmyer remained unbeaten, adding vital runs in the death overs. RR’s total of 173/4 was built on a solid powerplay (45/0) and Jaiswal’s partnerships, though RCB’s fielding lapses, including dropped catches by Virat Kohli and others, proved costly.
- Key Performers:
- Yashasvi Jaiswal: 75 (47 balls, boundaries and a six)
- Dhruv Jurel: 35 (23 balls, 1 six, boundaries)
- Shimron Hetmyer: Unbeaten, late cameo
- Bowling Highlights:
- Krunal Pandya: 1 wicket (Samson), economical spell
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar: Bowled the final over, conceding a single and a boundary
- Yash Dayal and Josh Hazlewood: Expensive, failed to contain Jurel’s late charge
RR’s total was considered competitive, with Jaiswal noting post-innings, “It’s a pretty good score for us; the wicket is a bit two-paced. If we bowl well, it’ll be a very good game.” The average first-innings score at Jaipur is 180, suggesting 173 was slightly under-par but defendable with disciplined bowling.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Chase (Early Updates)
RCB’s chase began with a bang, led by Phil Salt and Virat Kohli. Salt was in fiery form, smashing Jofra Archer for a six over the keeper and punishing Maheesh Theekshana for a four and a flat six over long-on. By the fifth over, RCB raced to 50/0, with Salt leading the charge. Kohli, dropped by Riyan Parag early in the innings, capitalized with a boundary off Sandeep Sharma, signaling his intent.
- Key Moments:
- Salt’s aggressive start: Six off Archer, four and six off Theekshana
- Kohli’s reprieve: Parag’s drop at cover off Sandeep Sharma
- RCB’s powerplay: 50/0 in 5 overs, dominating RR’s bowlers
With Kohli chasing a third fifty in IPL 2025 and RCB’s middle order (Rajat Patidar, Liam Livingstone) in form, the chase looked promising. However, RR’s bowling attack, featuring Archer, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Tushar Deshpande, aimed to exploit the two-paced pitch to trigger a collapse.
Team Context
- Rajasthan Royals: RR entered the match seventh in the points table with two wins and three losses. After a 58-run defeat to Gujarat Titans, they were desperate to kickstart their home campaign in Jaipur. Sanju Samson (178 runs in 5 matches) and Jaiswal were key, with Jofra Archer’s pace adding firepower.
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru: RCB, placed fifth with three wins and two losses, boasted a stellar away record, defeating Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, and Kolkata Knight Riders. Their batting, led by Kohli and Salt, averaged 39.6 per wicket on the road, but their fielding needed sharpening after sloppy efforts.
Head-to-Head and Stats
- RR vs. RCB Record: In 32 IPL meetings, RCB lead 15-14, with three no-results. RR won the 2024 Eliminator by four wickets.
- Venue Insights: Sawai Mansingh Stadium favors bowlers later, with spin and pace variations effective. The highest IPL score here is 217/6 by Sunrisers Hyderabad (2023), while RR’s lowest is 59 all out vs. RCB (2023).
- Milestones:
Playing XIs
- Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson (c/wk), Nitish Rana, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Wanindu Hasaranga, Jofra Archer, Maheesh Theekshana, Tushar Deshpande, Sandeep Sharma
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar (c), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma, Yash Dayal
Broadcast and Streaming
The match was telecast live on Star Sports Network, with streaming available on JioHotstar. English and Hindi commentary, along with seven regional languages, catered to a wide audience.
Match Significance
For RR, a win was crucial to climb the points table and regain momentum at home. RCB aimed to maintain their away dominance and stay in the top four. The contest highlighted Jaiswal’s resurgence and RCB’s explosive batting, with Salt and Kohli’s opening stand setting up a tantalizing chase. Dropped catches and a tricky pitch added drama, making it a classic IPL showdown.
Note: As the chase was ongoing at the time of reporting, the final result wasn’t available. Posts on X reflected excitement, with fans noting RCB’s fiery start and RR’s competitive total.
