Virat Kohli (Image credit: BCCI/IPL)
NEW DELHI: Royal Challengers Bengaluru squandered a golden opportunity to seal a top-two finish in the IPL 2025 standings, falling to a 42-run defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Friday.
Chasing a daunting 232-run target—powered by Ishan Kishan’s scintillating unbeaten 94 off 48 balls—RCB needed a precise and aggressive approach with the bat.
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They found initial momentum through Phil Salt (62 off 32), Virat Kohli (43 off 25), and Jitesh Sharma (24 off 15), but the chase eventually fizzled out as the visitors were bowled out for 189. The loss marked RCB's first away defeat this season.RCB’s reply began brightly with Kohli and Salt racing to 80 in the first seven overs.
Kohli, recently retired from Test cricket, led the early charge—hammering two fours off Harshal Patel and launching a swatted six off Eshan Malinga.
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However, his familiar weakness against left-arm spin resurfaced, as he was dismissed by 22-year-old Harsh Dubey—Ranji Trophy 2024-25’s leading wicket-taker for champions Vidarbha. This marked the 22nd time Kohli has fallen to left-arm spin in T20s.
Salt, meanwhile, overcame a slow start—scoring 14 off his first 12 balls—to blast 48 runs in the next 20.
A tennis-style forehand six off Nitish Kumar Reddy stood out for its flair. He reached his half-century in 27 balls but was soon hampered by cramps and dismissed by Pat Cummins.
Despite consistent boundaries on a true pitch, RCB's innings unraveled in the latter half. Skipper Rajat Patidar (18) and Jitesh stitched a brisk 44-run stand for the fourth wicket, taking the side to 173/3 in the 16th over. But a calamitous mix-up resulted in Patidar being run out by a long margin.
In the same over, Malinga dismissed Romario Shepherd for a golden duck, triggering a collapse.
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Jitesh, along with Tim David—who appeared to suffer a hamstring injury—departed within nine deliveries, and the fight drained out of RCB. They lost their final seven wickets for just 60 runs as Cummins (3/28) and Malinga (2/37) spearheaded SRH's bowling effort.CAN RCB STILL MAKE THE TOP TWO?The defeat sees RCB drop to third place with 17 points, behind Gujarat Titans (18) and Punjab Kings (17), with their net run rate taking a hit. The loss significantly complicates their top-two ambitions. Even a win in their final league game might not be enough—they now depend on other results to fall in their favour to secure a top-two finish.
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