IPL 2025: Virat Kohli anchors, Krunal Pandya assaults; RCB storm to top of the table | Cricket News – The Times of India

NEW DELHI: How usually will we see a house crowd cheering for the opposition? But that’s precisely what unfolded at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday. The roar was deafening when Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Rajat Patidar received the toss and opted to area towards Delhi Capitals. The crowd erupted, cheering at the top of their lungs — and it was all for one man, their beloved native hero, Virat Kohli.
Kohli (51 off 47) didn’t disappoint, anchoring the chase with a composed half-century, whereas Krunal Pandya’s majestic knock (73 not out off 47) powered RCB to a six-wicket win over Delhi Capitals, propelling them to the top of the factors table.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
Just a pair of months in the past, the scenes at the Arun Jaitley Stadium had been utterly totally different throughout the Ranji Trophy match between Delhi and Railways, which featured Kohli. Fans wrapped in thick jackets, mufflers, and woollen caps braved the biting chilly, palms tucked into pockets, only for a glimpse of the motion.
This time, it was the reverse.

Sweat-soaked, clutching water bottles, wiping their faces with handkerchiefs, sporting hats and sun shades, Delhiites battled the scorching warmth — all for the probability to see their famous person Kohli in motion. 35000 followers flocked inside the stadium to watch Kohli in motion.
Every time Kohli moved to accumulate the ball, sprinted for a single, or struck a boundary, the stadium echoed with chants of “Kohli, Kohli.”

Virat with the anchor function

Kohli performed the excellent anchor, continually strolling up to Krunal Pandya for fast chats, providing fist pumps, and shouting phrases of encouragement from the different finish. His power by no means dipped as he guided the partnership ahead.
Krunal constructed his innings patiently. After his very good effort with the ball, he assessed the situations well, waited for free deliveries, and made certain to dispatch them to the boundary ropes each time they got here his method.

Krunal reached his half-century off 38 balls, bringing it up with a boundary off Axar Patel. Kohli, all smiles, rushed ahead to hug him in celebration of an excellent effort.
Bought by RCB for Rs 5.75 crore at the IPL 2025 mega public sale, Krunal scored 73 not out off 47 balls and was concerned in a 119-run partnership with Kohli.
Kohli, in the meantime, introduced up his personal half-century off 45 balls — his slowest fifty of the IPL 2025 season. The earlier slowest was Vijay Shankar’s 43-ball half-century towards Delhi Capitals in Chennai. He scored 51 off 47 balls earlier than being dismissed by Dushmantha Chameera.

Krunal-Suyash tightened the noose

RCB spinners Suyash Sharma and Krunal Pandya could not have picked up many wickets, however they performed a vital function in holding the Delhi Capitals batters in examine and controlling the movement of runs.
It was Krunal who obtained underneath Faf du Plessis’s pores and skin, constructing stress and finally claiming the prized wicket. Krunal completed with tidy figures of 4-0-28-1 and did not permit KL Rahul to hit a single boundary throughout his spell.

At the different finish, Suyash shared the accountability brilliantly, conceding simply two boundaries in his 4 overs. He ended with figures of 4-0-22-0, with a formidable financial system fee of 5.50.

Axar’s two-in-two

RCB’s chase by no means actually obtained going the method that they had hoped. They misplaced three wickets for simply 26 runs in the first 4 overs, leaving Virat Kohli visibly annoyed at the different finish.

Jacob Bethell (12), Devdutt Padikkal (0), and Rajat Patidar (6) all fell cheaply. Axar Patel did the early harm, eradicating Bethell after which castling Padikkal for a duck in the identical over to go away RCB reeling.
However, what actually infuriated Kohli was Patidar’s dismissal. After Kohli flicked one in direction of mid-wicket, Patidar set off for a single however hesitated halfway as the fielder launched a pointy throw. A direct hit from Karun Nair caught Patidar brief of his crease, main to a run-out that left Kohli visibly livid at the method Patidar threw his wicket away.

Faf again however failed

After lacking 5 matches due to a groin damage, Faf du Plessis returned to open the innings for Delhi Capitals. However, the transfer didn’t work of their favour. The 40-yr-previous managed simply 22 runs off 26 balls earlier than falling to Krunal Pandya.
In all, this was Delhi Capitals’ fifth totally different opening mixture this season — the most by any workforce. Chennai Super Kings, compared, have tried 4 opening pairs to date.