IPL 2025: Kohli and Patidar's Fifties Propel RCB to 221/5 as Bumrah Returns
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Synopsis
In IPL 2025, RCB scored 221/5 against MI, led by half-centuries from Kohli and Patidar. Bumrah returned to bowling but couldn't stop RCB's dominant performance.
Key Takeaways
- Kohli and Patidar were instrumental in RCB's high score.
- Bumrah made a comeback but had no wickets.
- RCB capitalized on Mumbai's bowling weaknesses.
- RCB's power-hitting led to a strong finish.
- MI struggled to contain RCB's aggressive batting.
Mumbai, April 7 (NationPress) Jasprit Bumrah made a long-anticipated comeback to the Mumbai Indians squad and, as expected, bowled effectively. However, Royal Challengers Bengaluru capitalized on blistering half-centuries from Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar to achieve a commanding score of 221/5 in Match 21 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday.
Kohli executed stunning shots in his innings of 67 runs off 42 balls, including eight fours and two sixes, while captain Patidar struck a rapid 64 off 32 balls as RCB took full advantage of some subpar bowling from Mumbai Indians.
Bumrah bowled with precision, concluding with figures of 4-0-29-0, while Hardik Pandya emerged as the top bowler for MI with 2/45.
RCB commenced strongly, reaching 73/1 in the power-play, followed by 78/3 in the middle overs, and finishing with 70/2 during the death overs.
After winning the toss, Hardik Pandya opted to bat first, and RCB began with a vigorous start despite the early loss of Phil Salt in the first over. Salt managed a boundary off the match's opening delivery, bowled by Trent Boult, but was dismissed on the next ball as a well-placed delivery knocked over his off-stump.
Devdutt Padikkal and Kohli aggressively attacked Boult and Deepak Chahar. Boult's second over yielded 16 runs, with Padikkal hitting a six, while Kohli added a boundary. Chahar's second over was even more fruitful for RCB, as Padikkal hit back-to-back sixes and a four. By the conclusion of the power-play, RCB had amassed 73 runs in just six overs.
Padikkal was dismissed soon after, scoring 37 off 22 balls with eight boundaries and two sixes, caught by Will Jacks off young spinner Vignesh Puthur. He and Kohli had built a significant partnership of 91 runs for the second wicket, leaving RCB at 95/2 with plenty of runs still to chase.
Kohli, who narrowly escaped an lbw dismissal early in his innings, took full advantage of the pitch, reaching his half-century off just 29 balls. He hit two remarkable boundaries off Boult in the third over, following his first four against Chahar.
He finished with eight fours and two sixes—one off Bumrah and another off Puthur, the latter coming from a kneeled position, marking his 29-ball fifty. Pandya ended Kohli's innings, as Naman Dhir caught his mistimed shot at deep mid-wicket, concluding his knock at 67 off 42 balls, his second fifty of the season. Pandya then dismissed Liam Livingstone two balls later, as MI fought back, reducing RCB to 144/4 in the 15th over.
Patidar then took charge, showcasing impressive power hitting and reaching his fifty off 25 balls. He partnered with Jitesh Sharma to add 69 runs for the fifth wicket.
Patidar and Sharma belted Pandya for 23 runs in the 17th over, with the captain hitting two sixes and a four, while Sharma contributed a four, propelling RCB towards 200 in the 18th over. They took Boult for 15 runs in the 19th over before Boult dismissed RCB's captain on the last ball, having him caught by keeper Ryan Rickelton off a scoop attempt.
Sharma struck a couple of big shots, remaining unbeaten on 40 off 19 balls, including a massive six off Bumrah’s penultimate delivery.
Brief scores:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru 221/5 in 20 overs (Virat Kohli 67, Rajat Patidar 64, Jitesh Sharma 40 not out; Hardik Pandya 2-45, Trent Boult 2-57) against Mumbai Indians.
