The IPL 2025 clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Mumbai Indians (MI) on April 7 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium was nothing short of a rollercoaster. Fans were treated to a high-octane, nail-biting contest that showcased explosive batting, clutch bowling, and a finish that kept everyone on the edge of their seats. In the end, RCB emerged victorious by 12 runs, breaking a decade-long jinx at Wankhede against MI and solidifying their strong start to the season. Let’s dive into how this epic unfolded.
The Toss and RCB’s Batting Blitz
MI skipper Hardik Pandya won the toss and elected to field, banking on the dew factor and Wankhede’s reputation as a chasing paradise. Little did he know that RCB’s batting lineup had other plans. The innings kicked off with a jolt as Trent Boult dismissed the in-form Phil Salt for a duck on just the second ball. But that early setback only lit a fire under RCB.
Virat Kohli strode in and, alongside Devdutt Padikkal, launched a counterattack that set the tone. The duo stitched a 91-run partnership, with Kohli unleashing his trademark cover drives and Padikkal finding gaps with surgical precision. By the end of the powerplay, RCB were 73/1—Kohli on 36 off 19 and Padikkal on 32 off 15. The Wankhede crowd, a sea of blue, was momentarily silenced.
Padikkal fell for 37 to MI’s young spinner Vignesh Puthur, but Kohli kept the momentum going, reaching a 29-ball fifty—his fastest in the IPL since 2018. Enter Rajat Patidar, RCB’s skipper, who started cautiously but soon shifted gears. When Hardik Pandya struck twice in the 15th over, removing Kohli (67 off 42) and Liam Livingstone (0), RCB were 144/5, and MI sensed a comeback. But Patidar (64* off 32) and Jitesh Sharma (40* off 19) had other ideas, hammering 70 runs in the final five overs to propel RCB to a daunting 221/5. Jasprit Bumrah, back after a 92-day hiatus, was the only MI bowler to escape the carnage, finishing with 0/28 in 4 overs. The rest? They bled runs—Boult’s 2/57 and Hardik’s 2/45 telling the tale of RCB’s dominance.
MI’s Chase: A Tale of Two Phases
Chasing 222 at Wankhede is no small feat, but MI had the firepower—or so they thought. Rohit Sharma, returning from injury, and Ryan Rickelton gave them a brisk start, racing to 54/2 in the powerplay. But RCB’s bowlers struck back—Josh Hazlewood’s inspired review trapped Rickelton LBW, and Yash Dayal sent Rohit packing for 17. Suryakumar Yadav (28) and Will Jacks tried to steady the ship, but the middle overs belonged to RCB’s spinners, Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma, who squeezed the life out of MI’s chase. At 99/4 after 12 overs, MI’s hopes looked bleak.
Then came the twist. Tilak Varma (56 off 29) and Hardik Pandya (42 off 15) turned the game on its head with an 89-run stand off just 34 balls. Hardik smashed his brother Krunal for back-to-back sixes, while Tilak’s fiery fifty, including a towering six off Yash Dayal, brought MI roaring back. With 41 needed off the last three overs, the Wankhede faithful were dreaming of another MI miracle.
The Dramatic Finish
RCB, however, weren’t ready to roll over. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Hazlewood delivered two masterful overs—18th and 19th—nailing yorkers and conceding just 23 runs while snagging Tilak and Hardik. Hazlewood’s dismissal of Hardik, caught at long-on, was the turning point, shifting the equation to 19 off the final over. Krunal Pandya, entrusted with the ball, faced his brother’s team in a do-or-die moment. What followed was pure drama—Mitchell Santner smashed a six, but Krunal held his nerve, dismissing Santner, Deepak Chahar, and Naman Dhir in the over. A stunning relay catch by Phil Salt and Tim David sealed Chahar’s fate, and when Jasprit Bumrah missed a full toss, MI finished at 209/9—12 runs short.
Standout Performances
- Virat Kohli (67 off 42): Set the platform with a fluent knock, crossing 13,000 T20 runs in the process.
- Rajat Patidar (64 off 32):* Earned Player of the Match for his explosive finish, proving his captaincy isn’t just about tactics.
- Krunal Pandya (4/45): The hero of the hour, defending 18 in the last over with ice in his veins.
- Hardik Pandya (42 off 15): Nearly pulled off a heist for MI, finishing with a strike rate of 280.
- Tilak Varma (56 off 29): Kept MI in the hunt with a blazing knock.
What It Means
For RCB, this win—their third in four games—cements their spot in the top three of the IPL 2025 points table and ends a 10-year drought against MI at Wankhede. It’s a statement of intent from a team that’s shedding its “chokers” tag under Patidar’s leadership. For MI, a fourth loss in five games raises alarm bells. Despite Bumrah’s return and Hardik’s heroics, their batting inconsistency and bowling leaks need urgent fixing if they’re to salvage their campaign.
Final Thoughts
This match had it all—big totals, explosive cameos, sibling rivalry, and a finish that left fans gasping. RCB’s bowlers, led by Krunal and Hazlewood, showed grit when it mattered most, while MI’s late surge fell agonizingly short. As the IPL 2025 caravan rolls on, this Wankhede classic will linger in memory as a testament to T20 cricket’s unpredictability. What’s your take on this thriller? Drop your thoughts below!
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