Hardik Pandya put up a herculean effort. Tilak Varma came up with a whirlwind knock too. But the duo’s display could not take Mumbai Indians (MI) past the finish line against a robust Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in a marquee clash of the Indian Premier League 2025 on Monday.
MI pulling off the highest successful chase at the Wankhede Stadium was on the cards during the thrill-a-minute fifth-wicket partnership between Tilak and Hardik. But their wickets late in the innings meant RCB secured its first victory at the venue since 2015.
Hardik and Tilak’s 89-run association, off just 34 balls, brought Mumbai Indians within touching distance of overhauling RCB’s 221 for five. But a timely ball-change – a new rule introduced to counter the impact of dew – helped RCB hold its nerve and register a 12-run win.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood and Krunal Pandya, who excelled upon returning to his old team, held fort by bowling an accurate last-three overs. The game, though, was set up by the RCB’s batters that gave the much-needed cushion on a batting-friendly wicket.
Virat Kohli dazzled the crowd with his fastest IPL fifty since 2018. While Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal dominated the first half, captain Rajat Patidar and Jitesh Sharma were on the mark with their finishing acts as RCB added 121 runs in the latter half despite Jasprit Bumrah marking his return to action with an economical spell (0/29).
When Hardik joined Tilak in the middle, MI was reeling at 99 for four in 12 overs, and the game was tilting in favour of RCB. But Hardik hit top gear from the first ball and Tilak cut loose at the other end too, giving MI an outside chance.
With 41 required off 19 balls, RCB opted for a drier ball. It did the trick with Bhuvneshwar dismissing Tilak in the next over, and Hazlewood forcing Hardik into a false stroke in the penultimate over.
Krunal had used his quicker ball effectively despite and was asked to defend 19 runs in the last over. He struck thrice as MI’s lower order mistimed consistently, leaving MI so close yet so far.
