KL Rahul’s Homecoming Heroics Hand DC Fourth Straight Win, RCB’s Chinnaswamy Woes Continue
Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s rough start at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium continued as Delhi Capitals extended their perfect record in the season with a dominant six-wicket win on Thursday. Led by a sensational unbeaten 93 from KL Rahul, DC chased down 164 with 13 balls to spare, marking their fourth consecutive victory in IPL 2025.
For RCB, the wait for a home win goes on—after Smriti Mandhana’s side failed to secure a WPL win at the venue, the men’s team has now suffered back-to-back defeats at their fortress. Ironically, the downfall came at the hands of familiar faces. Mohammed Siraj tormented them in the last game, and this time, it was KL Rahul—playing at his homeMohammed Siraj te the spotlight.
Walking in at No. 4 after a top-order wobble, Rahul was calm, calculated, and commanding. He built his innings steadily after being dropped early by Rajat Patidar. Once settled, Rahul began dismantling the RCB bowling lineup. A slog sweep off Krunal Pandya and an exquisite lofted six off Liam Livingstone showcased his range. A game-changing 22-run over off Josh Hazlewood in the 15th turned the tide fully in DC’s favour. Rahul, joined by Tristan Stubbs (38*), ensured there were no hiccups as they sealed the win in 17.5 overs.
Rahul’s celebration was striking. After hitting the winning six, he planted his bat in the ground and declared, “This is my ground.” A rare, fiery moment from the usually composed batter.
Earlier, RCB had started with a bang. A 30-run over off Mitchell Starc, featuring Phil Salt’s aggressive strokeplay, saw them fly to 53/0 in 3 overs. But Salt’s run-out, due to a slip while turning back, triggered a collapse. Kohli, Padikkal, and others followed cheaply as DC’s bowlers, led by Kuldeep Yadav (2/18) and debutant Vipraj Nigam (2/18), tightened the screws. Tim David’s 37* provided a late boost, but the 163-run total proved insufficient.
DC, now sitting pretty with four wins in four, look like serious title contenders, while RCB must find answers quickly—especially at home.
