IPL 2025: Kohli and Padikkal Shine as RCB Sets 205/5 Against RR
Click to start listening
Synopsis
On April 24, Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal led Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a commanding 205/5 against Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2025. Kohli scored 70 while Padikkal added 50, contributing to a strong 95-run partnership, aided by Tim David and Jitesh Sharma's quick runs.
Key Takeaways
- Kohli scored 70 runs for RCB.
- Padikkal contributed 50 runs.
- RCB posted 205/5 in 20 overs.
- 95-run partnership between Kohli and Padikkal.
- RCB achieved their highest home total in IPL.
Bengaluru, April 24 (NationPress) Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal delivered remarkable performances, both scoring fifties, as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) achieved a formidable total of 205/5 against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Match 42 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 held at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Thursday.
In pursuit of their first home victory in IPL 2025, Kohli and Padikkal contributed 70 and 50 runs respectively, forming a significant 95-run partnership for the second wicket. Contributions from Tim David and Jitesh Sharma, who scored 23 and 20 respectively, further aided RCB in securing their highest total at home in this tournament.
Batting first, Kohli and Phil Salt encountered fiery bowling from Jofra Archer, although Kohli managed to get a boundary off him with a glove edge. Salt was fortunate when, while on one run, he toe-ended a low full toss from Fazalhaq Farooqi that was dropped by stand-in captain Riyan Parag.
Fortune favored Kohli as he narrowly avoided chopping onto his stumps off Archer, scoring a boundary, and then executed a bottom-hand whip for another four. After Salt hit two boundaries off Farooqi, he sent Tushar Deshpande’s full deliveries for consecutive fours, while Kohli flicked and drove off Sandeep Sharma, leading RCB to conclude the power-play at 59/0.
Shortly after, Salt's luck ran out when a top-edge on the sweep was caught at deep mid-wicket by Wanindu Hasaranga. Despite Hasaranga and Parag's tightening grip, Kohli edged off Sandeep to notch his fifth fifty of the season in just 32 balls.
On the other side, Padikkal showcased elegance with his pull, sweep, and drive, hitting boundaries with finesse. He was lucky when Deshpande dropped his catch on 28 off Hasaranga. To add to the misfortune, Padikkal lofted off Parag and sliced Deshpande over third man for two sixes.
While Kohli lofted Parag and Deshpande for sixes, Padikkal reached his fifty in 26 balls by lofting the latter down the ground for a spectacular maximum. RR's decision to reintroduce Archer proved fruitful when he broke the 95-run partnership, as Kohli chipped a slower ball to cover.
The visitors opted for the second new ball, which yielded immediate results as Padikkal misplayed a slower delivery from Sandeep to a juggling mid-off, while Rajat Patidar edged a wide ball to the keeper. Jitesh displayed his innovative batting style, hitting boundaries off Sandeep and Farooqi, while David executed cuts and lofts for four and six each. Jitesh then pulled Archer for four to secure RCB’s 200.
Final Scores:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru 205/5 in 20 overs (Virat Kohli 70, Devdutt Padikkal 50; Sandeep Sharma 2-45, Wanindu Hasaranga 1-30) against Rajasthan Royals.
