Jaipur, April 13 (NationPress) Virat Kohli and Phil Salt delivered outstanding performances with half-centuries, leading the Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a convincing nine-wicket victory against Rajasthan Royals during the IPL 2025 encounter held at Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Sunday.

In pursuit of a target of 174, the explosive 92-run opening partnership between Salt and Kohli in just 8.4 overs laid the groundwork for RCB's triumph, as both players scored freely. Salt initiated the attack right from the first delivery of the innings.

Rajasthan had an early opportunity to break the partnership when Riyan Parag dropped Kohli on 7 runs in the fourth over off Sandeep Sharma.

Salt maintained the pressure with a four and a six off Maheesh Theekshana's opening over just before the powerplay concluded. He continued his fiery innings by hitting another six off Sandeep Sharma, while RCB stood at an impressive 65/0 after six overs.

Salt reached his second half-century of the season in just 28 balls, hitting a four off Wanindu Hasaranga. He followed this up with a six over deep midwicket in the same over.

Kumar Kartikeya provided Rajasthan with a much-needed breakthrough by taking Salt's wicket in the ninth over. Salt departed after scoring 65 runs from 33 balls, which included six sixes and five fours.

Devdutt Padikkal joined Kohli at the crease, and together they maintained the momentum, with Padikkal taking on the aggressor's role while Kohli secured his third half-century of the season in 40 balls. This milestone was also his 100th half-century in T20 cricket, making him the first Indian player to achieve this feat.

Kohli increased his scoring rate after reaching this milestone, hitting a six off Hasaranga, which contributed to a 50-run partnership for the second wicket with Padikkal. He concluded the over with a four, accumulating 14 runs from it.

RCB cruised through the innings with Padikkal showcasing his batting skills, steering the team to victory swiftly.

With Padikkal hitting Tushar Deshpande for a four and a six in consecutive deliveries, Rajasthan struggled to find a way back into the match.

RCB completed the chase with Padikkal sealing the victory by scoring a boundary off Sandeep Sharma in just 17.3 overs.

Kohli remained unbeaten at 62, while Padikkal contributed with a score of 40 not out off 28 balls, which included five fours and a six.

Earlier, Yashasvi Jaiswal's half-century, along with Dhruv Jurel's explosive 35 off 23 balls, helped Rajasthan Royals post a total of 173/4 in 20 overs.

After being invited to bat first, Rajasthan's openers Jaiswal and captain Sanju Samson began the innings sluggishly. Jaiswal managed to hit three fours in the first three powerplay overs.

While Jaiswal scored freely, Samson found it challenging to accumulate runs under the field restrictions. Jaiswal took control during Yash Dayal's second over, hammering him for a six and a four to gather 12 runs from that over. Josh Hazlewood allowed just one four in the powerplay's final over, leaving Rajasthan at 45/0 after six overs.

Krunal Pandya claimed the first wicket for RCB in the seventh over, dismissing the struggling Samson, who managed only 15 runs off 19 balls.

Riyan Parag joined Jaiswal and kept the scoreboard ticking with regular boundaries throughout the middle overs.

In the ninth over, when Rajat Patidar brought Suyash Sharma into the attack, Parag smashed two fours, while Yash Dayal dropped him at 17.

In the next over, Parag hit Krunal Pandya for a six over mid-wicket, boosting their scoring rate significantly.

Meanwhile, Jaiswal reached his second half-century of the season in 35 balls, marking his 11th fifty in the IPL and his third at Sawai Mansingh Stadium. Rajasthan was at 104/1 after 13 overs.

In the 14th over, Parag was dismissed by Yash Dayal for 30 runs, providing an easy catch to Kohli at cover.

Dhruv Jurel came in at number four as Jaiswal continued his innings from the other end. The opener took charge against Hazlewood, hitting a six and a four before losing his wicket in the same over. Jaiswal scored 75 runs off 47 balls, including 10 fours and 2 sixes.

Shimron Hetmyer and Jurel then took responsibility for increasing the scoring rate in the final overs. Jurel was fortunate in the 17th over when Kohli dropped him on 11 after he struck six off Suyash Sharma's last over.

Jurel capitalized on Dayal's final over, hitting a six and a four on the first two balls. Rajasthan accumulated 15 runs in the penultimate over, pushing their total past 150.

Bhuvneshwar allowed only 11 runs in the last over of the innings, despite giving away two fours. He also claimed Hetmyer's wicket on the penultimate delivery, while Nitish Rana hit him for a four, leading Rajasthan to 173/4.

For RCB, Krunal stood out as the most economical bowler, finishing with figures of 1-29 in his four overs.

Final scores: Rajasthan Royals 173/4 in 20 overs (Yashasvi Jaiswal 75, Dhruv Jurel 35 not out; Krunal Pandya 1-29, Josh Hazlewood 1-26) lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru 175/1 in 17.3 overs (Virat Kohli 62 not out, Phil Salt 65; Jofra Archer 1-36) by nine wickets.