Toss: RCB won the toss and decided to bowl first at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi.  

RCB’s Disciplined Bowling Effort Keeps DC to Below-Par Total

Royal Challengers Bangalore delivered a clinical bowling performance to restrict Delhi Capitals to a slightly below-par score, making full use of the decision to bowl first after winning the toss — a move that has clearly paid dividends for Patidar and his men.

DC got off to a promising start with Abishek Porel showcasing his trademark flair, playing some eye-catching strokes. At the other end, however, Faf du Plessis struggled to find rhythm. Porel’s innings was cut short by a soft dismissal down the leg side, preventing him from capitalizing on his start. Soon after, Karun Nair attempted a wild slog across the line against Yash Dayal, only to see his stumps shattered — a costly shot at a crucial time.

Post the powerplay, RCB applied the brakes through their spin duo — Suyash Prabhudessai and Krunal Pandya — who bowled in tandem and made life difficult for the DC batters. They extracted turn, varied their pace smartly, and stifled the scoring rate. Krunal eventually accounted for Faf, who was unable to break free. Axar Patel tried to inject momentum but perished while attempting to force the pace.

The spin pair returned impressive combined figures of 8-0-50-1 — a phase that may prove decisive in the context of the match.

Just when it looked like DC might fall well short, Tristan Stubbs stepped up in the death overs, launching a much-needed counterattack. His late flourish — 36 runs coming off the 18th and 19th overs combined — gave DC a pulse. Without that burst, they might have struggled to even reach the 150-mark.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, however, capped off the innings with a trademark tight final over, conceding just six runs and picking up his third wicket to end with excellent figures. His crucial breakthroughs in the 17th over — removing Rahul and impact sub Ashutosh — were vital in RCB’s bowling success.

Kohli Leads the Charge in a Crucial Win Over DC

RCB were in early trouble, losing three quick wickets for almost nothing on the board. But cometh the hour, cometh the man – Kohli, alongside a nerveless Krunal Pandya, steadied the ship under immense pressure. It wasn’t a chase marked by flamboyance, but one of grit, determination, and calculated risks. Timing and momentum evaded them early on, but the duo hung in, respecting the conditions and playing the long game.

As the innings progressed, Krunal Pandya found his rhythm, while Kohli seamlessly shifted into the anchor role. The chase, which once seemed destined for a final-over finish, was dramatically wrapped up in the 19th over thanks to a quickfire cameo by David – hammering the final nails with precision.

Delhi, in hindsight, might rue a few missed opportunities. Skipper Axar Patel’s tactical decisions came under scrutiny, and with the dew settling in, defending a par total became even more challenging. The wicket wasn’t the easiest to bat on, but DC arguably left 15–20 runs out there, and against a side like RCB, that proved costly.

Credit, however, must go to the meticulous planning and composure of the RCB camp. They weathered the storm and trusted their processes. Led by the chase master himself, they navigated the ups and downs with precision.