Skipper Rajat Patidar credits his team’s fearless fast bowling and clutch spinner Krunal Pandya for thwarting MI’s 222-run chase in an electrifying IPL 2025 encounter
Mumbai, April 8: In a thrilling display of resilience at Wankhede Stadium, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) managed to hold off a determined chase by Mumbai Indians (MI), clinching a 12-run win. In the post-match presentation, RCB skipper Rajat Patidar lauded his team’s bowling unit, emphasizing the courage and execution displayed in arresting the opposition under pressure.
“Honestly, this award belongs to the bowling unit,” Patidar stated. “The wicket was good, but at the end, it all came down to execution. When I came out to bowl, we knew we had to go deep and ensure we controlled the innings. The way Krunal bowled in the final over — with such courage — was nothing short of amazing.”
RCB posted a robust score of 221/5, anchored by stellar contributions from Virat Kohli (67) and Rajat Patidar (64), with crucial support from Jitesh Sharma (40).* Despite MI’s spirited fight featuring an explosive 89-run stand between Tilak Varma (56) and Hardik Pandya (42), and strategic wicket-taking by their bowlers, RCB’s defenders stepped up when it mattered the most.
The turning point was in the death overs when Krunal Pandya took three key wickets in the final over, finishing with figures of 4/45, while Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar provided vital breakthroughs. The disciplined bowling effort held MI to 209/9, ensuring RCB took home a well-deserved victory.
With this win, RCB move to the third spot in IPL 2025, having won three out of four games—each win achieved on the road—while MI have struggled, managing only one win in five matches. Patidar’s praise for the team underscores RCB’s collective effort and the tactical acumen that carried them through a challenging run chase on a batting-friendly track.