Poonam Nath

IPL 2025: RCB puts full stop to ten-year Wankhede jinx; Kohli, Patidar and Krunal team defeats MI

Digital Desk: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) defeated Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Wankhede Stadium for the first time in ten years, ending the long-awaited jinx, after doing the same against Chennai Super Kings at the Chepauk Stadium for the first time in 17 years.

Even though RCB scored 221, Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma, who combined 89 in 34 balls from 99 for 4 in 12 overs, gave them a run for their money. With 123 from eight overs reduced to 41 from the final three, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, and Krunal Pandya delivered a defensive masterpiece to deny MI.

Phil, Virat, Dev, Rajat, Jitesh, Krunal, Tim, Livi, Suyash, Bhuvi, Dayal, Hazlewood.

Each one of them contributed. ????
It’s a complete team W. ????

pic.twitter.com/ktdXko9UBR

— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) April 7, 2025

Rajat Patidar and Virat Kohli both struck rapid fifties before Jitesh Sharma's finishing kick propelled them to 221 despite Jasprit Bumrah's return and three brilliant overs from Hardik. It was Kohli's fastest T20 fifty since 2019 and his first in sub-30 balls in the IPL since 2018. Patidar's purpose allowed him to get off to a cautious start before tearing into Hardik, who had suppressed the other batters.

Earlier, Hardik Pandya won the toss and decided to bowl first. RCB scored a strong total of 221/5, thanks to half-centuries from Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar. Trent Boult and Hardik Pandya both claimed two wickets for Mumbai.

A smile is what you need after a nail-biting thriller ????

Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/Arsodkwgqg#TATAIPL | #MIvRCB | @mipaltan | @RCBTweets pic.twitter.com/EAynXaUYcO

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 7, 2025

With this victory, RCB moved up to third place in the points table, having won three of four games, while MI plummeted to ninth place, having won only one of five.