RCB vs RR highlights, IPL 2025: Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Rajasthan Royals by 11 runs

This is going down the wire. Josh Hazlewood in his final over has picked up two more wickets. First it was Dhruv Jurel and then Jofra Archer fell against Hazlewood. This is turning into quite a contest. Yash Dayal will bowl the final over.

Both the batters got hold of Bhuvneshwar Kumar here in the middle. They extracted 22 runs of that final over from him which has turned the momentum of this game yet again. Jurel who looked like was struggling at one point of the innings has found his rhythm and scoring some sublime and timely boundaries. Shubam Dubey who has walked into the middle is also playing very well. What a turn around we have had in that over from Kumar. Royals should get there from here it is quite a dobale job from him.

Jurel hit a couple of sixes to pull back things for Rajasthan. They have lost a couple of close games did the men in pink, which is showing how this chase is unfolding for them at the moment. The nerves are palpable on both sides. Rajasthan were ahead of this game for the majority of this chase; however, that spell bowled by the spinners changed the direction of this game. As we update, Hazlewood has picked up Shimron Hetmyer. The batter tried to work the ball on the leg-side and got the inside edge, which Jitesh Sharma took behind the stumps Royals have now lost their premium hitter.

The bubble eventually burst with the wicket of Nitish Rana. The batter tried to sweep and ended up giving a catch to Bhuvneshwar Kumar at fine-leg, who took the catch after the ball hit his hands and looped in the air. Hetmyer has walked into the middle, but the asking rate is now climbing quite quickly. Dhruv Jurel needs to get a move on here. In the chase of 10s, here is batting under strike rate of 100. Before it gets panicky for the batter to come, he just needs to get a couple of boundaries away to ease the pressure on himself and Hetmyer as well.

These are good overs for RCB, they are stringing up these tight overs nicely through the middle. While Jurel is taking his time, Nitish Rana has lost a bit of fluency in his innings and is forcing the issue. Good on RCB, they are slowly building pressure through the spinners. However, all this pressure needs to result inform of a wicket if RR manages to get one big over soon, all the hard work done might go begging. Also, it might be just the time for Jurel to be a tad bit more proactive than what he has been doing so far. The run rate has gone over 11s after a while now. As we update Krunal Pandya picks Nitish Rana

Though the wicket has fallen, it is not alarm bells yet for the Royals. Jurel has walked into the middle, and all he needs to do is stitch another partnership and lay the foundation for Hetmeyar to come. If these two bat for a while, the wicket is such that runs will come. Also, it is important that Nitish Rana, who got himself a start, keeps going and bats till the end. This is the passage that is crucial for both these sides. If Bengaluru can string in few quite overs the chase is such that rate can go up quickly which might some pressure on the batters batting in the middle.

This is turning out to be quite a batting display by the Royals. While it is too early to say but it seems like they are going to win this game with overs left. The ball is coming beautifully onto the bat, and no matter what bowlers are bowling, the batters just seem to have the answer on where to place it. Riyan Parag, too, has gone into his 20s quite quickly. As we update, Krunal Pandya has come into the attack and picked up the wicket of Riyan Parag. It was a fuller delivery which Parag tried to hit it through mid-wicket, got the top edge and Krunal took a simple catch.

Royals are way above the required rate. This has been the tendency of the wicket here, the batting got better and better as the evening went on, we are seeing the same again. A lot of the credit must also go to how well Jaiswal has batted against the new ball in the powerplay, which injected momentum. However, though the Royals are ahead, their lower order did not contribute much to speak of in this tournament, and if Bengaluru were to pick few quick wickets, we might see the Royals panic a bit and which might open the door. But for that, Bengaluru need to pick wicket first.

It was a knuckle ball from Bhuvenshwar Kumar that did the damage as Suryavanshi tried to hit one over the long-on region. As we update, Hazlewood has picked up Jaiswal. It was a short ball from Hazlewood, and Jaiswal tried to pull the ball, but it got big on him, and he ended up making a simple catch on the fielder inside the ring. That is a much-needed wicket for Bengaluru; however, as per Royals, they have got the start they needed in the powerplay. The game is in their control from here on, it is just keeping their cool and getting over the line.

This is a solid start for the Royals. Jaiswal is looking on song. The swing of the bat nicely comes through right from ball one. He is playing the kind of innings which will settle the nerves, especially for a side like Royals who are lingering at the bottom of the table It is an important innings. As per Bengaluru, this start will give them a bit of concern, especially after losing three home games. They need wicket immediately here do Bengaluru just to calm down the momentum. The crowd which was buzzing in the first innings has gone completely silent. As we update Bhuvneshwar Kumar picks up Suryavanshi

Yashasvi Jaiswal seems to be a man on a mission at the moment. He is going after every delivery that is in his arc,, and so far,, he has made his intentions clear and also sent a clear message to RCB that they are here to chase these runs. His innings just might also rub off on the Vaibhav Suryavanshi and this innings might start in the fifth gear itself. As per RCB they need to start thinking here while Rajasthan's batting has been on and off it is Jaiswal who is the main wheel in their cog in the absence of Samson. If he gets going we might have a game in our hands today folks.

It (the wicket) was a little sticky throughout and I feel it is going to be challenging in the second innings as well. We had clear plans before the game because the last few games here we didn't bat particularly well, it was important we ran hard and hit the gaps. I have done a lot of hardwork, last couple of years didn't go my way, but I worked really hard on my game, not just tactically but also mentally. Having DK and Andy around helped a lot. We should be able to restrict them.

Those are very good cameos from Jitesh Sharma and Tim David to close out the innings. This is a good total for RCB after a few poor batting performances at home; they did bat quite smartly today. Kohli and Salt did take a bit of time early on, and they went after the bowling once the bite in the pitch dried. Padikkal too, in the middle overs, played a brilliant hand. As per Rajasthan, it has been the same bowling woes again, about 180 runs would have been quite nice for them to chase, but now they will need one special innings to get these runs We will be right back after the chase Do stay with us.

That last over from Sandeep Sharma took forever. However, it has been a productive one for RCB as Tim David could get hold of a few hits. They have reached around 200 now, RCB. They would look to get over that 210 mark just to be assured that they can get over the line.

This has been a good fight back from Rajasthan. Through the campaign, they have found it hard to contain teams at this phase, but they managed to keep RCB quiet so far. Most of it has to be attributed to that Archer's 16th over which sucked the momentum of this innings. While it is a par total, they have crossed now, but still it is not a match-winning one. But in addition to death bowling, one more area Royals has struggled this season is in the batting department. Given how this wicket has played, we might see Shimron Hetmyer come up the order as well.

That is quite a good over from Archer. He pulled this game back for the Rajasthan Royals, that over was the momentum breaker, and Sandeep Sharma reaped the rewards in the following over as he picked up the wicket. Rajat Patidar has walked into the middle. As we update, Sandeep Sharma picks another one. It is skipper Patidar. It was a wide delivery from Sandeep which Patidar tried to hit it on the off-side and edged it to keeper. This is getting a bit tricky now for Bengaluru they are losing a bit of momentum in these final overs at the minute.

Jofra Archer has come back into the attack, and he has picked up the wicket of Virat Kohli. It was a leg-cutter which the batter tried to slog through covers, but was beaten by the pace was caught by Rana in the ring. Timely breakthrough, but the damage seems to have already been done. It will take something extraordinary for Rajasthan to get these runs, as Bengaluru's bowling has been quite on the money. Tim David has walked into the middle for Bengaluru he has been in quite good form is Tim David if he can play a cameo here RCB will get to 220.

Jurel has dropped a couple of catches here and both of Padikkal, while both of them are quite difficult, the second one could have been taken, definitely. Royals are looking toothless here at the moment. It has not happened for them this season, apart from Archer None of the bowlers look threatening, and with Archer not picking a wicket a today, things are looking even worse. Hasaranga is done for the day he did bowl quite well did Hasaranaga on the evening. As we update Tushar Deshpande has come into the attack. The most disappointing thing for RR this season would be how poorly both Despande and Sandeep Sharma have bowled.

Another nice partnership brewing between Padikkal and Kohli here. They have batted nicely here, they have mixed caution with aggression, and ensured another wicket did not fall. As we update, Virat Kohli has gone to his half-century. It is his fifth 50 of the season that has controlled innings the has been. He did play and miss a few early on but as the innings went on, it was vintage Kohli. Given the game situation he is all set for a three digit score in the middle. Also it is important that one of these two now go after the bowling and with the platform they have now they can look to get around 220 mark.

Rajasthan is operating with the spinners at the moment. Both Hasaranga and Parag are operating as there is a left-hander in the middle. This is the phase at times Bengaluru has slowed down, but today they are batting quite well. After the start, they have got all they need is another partnership through these middle overs to lay the foundation for the batters to follow. Also, in the initial fixture between both these sides, Padikkal and Kohli were the batters who steered RCB home quite comfortably. So good signs this for RCB so far, it does look like they are going to post a good total.

There is the opening wicket for Bengaluru, and it is Hasaranga who gets the breakthrough. He tossed one up which the batter tried to hit through the mid-wicket, but could not middle the ball and was caught by the fielder in the region. It is an important wicket for Rajasthan as that partnership can take the game away from them. As we update, Hasaranga has walked back into the dugout holding his side. Rajasthan would be hoping it is not serious. He is being looked at by the physio. Devdutt Padikkal has walked into the middle for the Royals.

This is a brilliant opening stand for Kohli and Salt. This is what they lacked at home: good starts. The wicket first few overs did do something, but both Kohli and Salt applied themselves with the new ball,, and once the moment got minimised, they started to attack the bowling. It has been a bit Wankhede-like this season here in Bengaluru,, where the bowlers have definitely had something to work with the new ball and by the 10th to 12th over comes batting becomes easy but the issue RCB has had was they have lost too many by then but today things have been working for them so far.

This is a good battle between Kohli and Archer here. The ball is hooping around the corners; however, Kohli in the last over, after getting beaten a few times, did pull one for a boundary. This is not the fastest start for RCB; however, what they did well is they have managed not to lose a wicket. Given how things have progressed so far in this game, Parag might be better off using Farooqi or Archer for another over with this new ball to get the breakthrough. As there is lot of seam moment on offer and it can buy in a wicket in this powerplay.

We are done with the opening over, and as expected, Jofra Archer did get plenty of bounce and seam movement in that over. He did beat Kohli with the moment a few times, and there is also a lot of bounce to work with on the surface, as one attempted bumper from Archer missed everything and went to the boundary. As we update, Farooqi has come into the attack from the other end. With the moment available, he will enjoy this surface. Also, it is important that Rajasthan does do some damage with this new ball, as the moisture dries out it becomes a very good surface to bat on.

RCB are batting first again here in Bengaluru, and it already feels like Deja Vu of what has happened this season thus far. The pitch has some help on offer, and Jofra Archer is the worst bowler to face on this one. However, RCB should manage to get at least 180 if they have to compete in this game. 

We are in the dead centre of the middle out here. 73 metres down the ground and 64 metres either side of the square. The surface looks a lot drier and the average first innings score this season has been 166. There has been something for the quicks, it's been a bit two-paced and extra bounce as well, the surface today looks much better though,"

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Impact Subs: Suyash Sharma, Rasikh Dar Salam, Manoj Bhandage, Jacob Bethell, Swapnil Singh
Rajasthan Royals Impact Subs: Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Akash Madhwal, Kumar Kartikeya, Kunal Singh Rathore

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubham Dubey, Nitish Rana, Riyan Parag(c), Dhruv Jurel(w), Shimron Hetmyer, Wanindu Hasaranga, Jofra Archer, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Tushar Deshpande, Sandeep Sharma

Philip Salt, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar(c), Devdutt Padikkal, Jitesh Sharma(w), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal

We would have loved to bowl first as well, the surface has been tricky and unpredictable this season and we will try to adapt as quickly as we can. We have to be good at shot-selection. We are going with the same team.

We will bowl first. The wicket looks a bit sticky and should get better later on. It's back to our ethics now, if we can give our 100 percent, the results will take care of themselves. Sanju (Samson) bhai is recovering and hopefully he will be back soon. One change for us. Theekshana is out and Farooqi is in.

"Obviously we have not played good cricket in our home matches and of course you have to talk about the toss... I think it's not in my hand. So let's see and talking about approach, definitely [there will be a relook], because this time, the wickets [here] are a bit tricky over here, tricky and unpredictable, but that is not an excuse. So we will try to adapt the situation as quick as possible."

"We can't afford to make many mistakes. We have this stage in the tournament, just over halfway. And we find ourselves at the bottom half of the table. We've got to start climbing that table quickly. And we've got to start winning games quickly. There are no options. No chances of slipping up anymore. RCB is probably in a position where... I'm sure they also realise that the table is tight. But, the successes they've had means that they can afford to have the odd slip up."

“Everybody knows what to expect from the surface here in Bengaluru. We’ve recruited a team that we think is pretty powerful, with a batting line-up we hope that can exploit those batting conditions. And we think we’ve got a bowling attack that’s particularly skilful and which can deal with the challenge – not just attacking, but also defending here. So that’s been our focus from the moment we started assembling our squad. And the way we played in the first two games, we’re building good confidence,

RCB head coach Andy Flower acknowledges the challenging home conditions at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, characterized by small boundaries and a flat pitch that favors batsmen. Despite this historical disadvantage for bowlers, Flower emphasizes the team's focus on winning regardless of the conditions. He highlights that RCB has been preparing for this season since 2023, having brought in Flower before the 2024 season to understand the conditions and players. This preparation led to a balanced squad being compiled at the mega auction, aiming to overcome their past struggles in building a bowling attack suited to their home ground.

Niraj K Pawan, Chairperson of the Rajasthan State Sports Council (RSSC), has expressed his regret over the match-fixing allegations. He stated that if anyone possesses evidence, they should inform the appropriate agencies, as the BCCI has strict protocols against match-fixing. Pawan emphasized the BCCI's stringent rules and measures and expressed his belief that match-fixing has not occurred in Rajasthan, echoing the Rajasthan Royals' stance in their letter.

The Rajasthan Royals (RR) are vehemently denying match-fixing allegations made by RCA official and BJP MLA Jaideep Bihani following their recent loss. RR has sent a letter to the Rajasthan State Sports Council (RSSC) refuting these claims as baseless and damaging to their reputation, the BCCI, and the sport itself. They are also denying Bihani's accusations of trying to exclude the RCA from the IPL and hindering its functioning. RR is urging the state government to take action against Bihani's conduct, which they believe is misleading the public and fueling unnecessary controversy. Bihani's allegations stemmed from RR's close loss and included comments about suspicious ticket sales and accusations against an RR vice president, with plans to involve the Chief Minister for an investigation.

In their letter to the Rajasthan State Sports Council (RSSC), the Rajasthan Royals (RR) also refuted Jaideep Bihani's accusations that the RR management, in collaboration with the RSSC and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), is trying to prevent the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) from participating in the IPL. RR also denied Bihani's claim that the RSSC is only forming committees and not enabling the functioning of a state cricket association. The letter, which denies all these allegations, was addressed to Niraj K Pawan, the Chairperson of the RSSC and Secretary in the Sports and Youth Affairs Department of the Rajasthan government.

The Rajasthan Royals (RR) have strongly denied match-fixing allegations made by Jaideep Bihani of the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA). RR's governing body, Royal Multisport Private Limited (RMPL), sent a letter to the Rajasthan State Sports Council (RSSC) calling Bihani's claims "completely false, baseless, and devoid of any evidence." The allegations followed RR's recent poor performance and a close two-run loss to the Lucknow Super Giants. RMPL has categorically denied any involvement in match-fixing.

Tosses won away from home: 6/7

Matches Won after Toss win away: 4/6; Batting 1st win: 0/1; Batting 2nd win: 4/5

Matches Won after Toss loss away: 0/1; Batting 2nd: 0/1

Tosses won at home: 4/7

Matches Won after Toss win at home: 2/4 

Bat second wins after Toss win at home: 2/4

Matches Won after Toss loss at home: 2/3; Batting 1st: 2/3

The Chinnaswamy Stadium, traditionally a high-scoring pitch favoring batsmen, has shown a recent trend of offering more assistance to bowlers, especially spinners, in IPL 2025. For today's match, the pitch is expected to be balanced, with some movement for pacers with the new ball and turn and grip for spinners as the game progresses. A par score is estimated to be around 170-175. Crucially, there's a high chance of dew in the second innings, which will likely make batting easier later in the game. Consequently, the team winning the toss is highly expected to bowl first to take advantage of the dew. Batters will need to be cautious and focus on building partnerships, while spinners will play a key role in controlling the middle overs. Overall, a more even contest between bat and ball is anticipated compared to the stadium's historical reputation.

Bengaluru is experiencing a very hot day, Thursday, April 24, 2025, with temperatures reaching a high of around 34-36 degrees Celsius. Little to no rain is expected. Gusty winds are likely in the evening. It's important to stay hydrated, wear light clothing, seek shade, and take precautions against the heat.

"Obviously we have not played good cricket in our home matches and of course you have to talk about the toss... I think it's not in my hand. So let's see and talking about approach, definitely [there will be a relook], because this time, the wickets [here] are a bit tricky over here, tricky and unpredictable, but that is not an excuse. So we will try to adapt the situation as quick as possible."

"We can't afford to make many mistakes. We have this stage in the tournament, just over halfway. And we find ourselves at the bottom half of the table. We've got to start climbing that table quickly. And we've got to start winning games quickly. There are no options. No chances of slipping up anymore. RCB is probably in a position where... I'm sure they also realise that the table is tight. But, the successes they've had means that they can afford to have the odd slip up."

Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Romario Shepherd, Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Riyan Parag (c), Nitish Rana, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Wandindu Hasaranga, Jofra Archer, Maheesh Theekshana/Kwena Maphaka, Sandeep Sharma, Tushar Deshpande, Shubham Dubey

Hello and welcome to our live blog of Royal Challengers Bengaluru taking on Rajasthan Royals. As per RCB, they will be looking to get back to winning ways at home and register their first home victory, and Rajasthan need a win to get out of the bottom half of the table. The campaign has started to go in the wrong direction for them.