RR vs RCB | RCB back in business as Kohli-Salt duo dismantles Rajasthan with batting fireworks

ByDebayan Sinha,SportsCafe Editor

Last Sunday at 6:52 PM

Royal Challengers Bengaluru thrashed Rajasthan Royals by nine wickets in Jaipur. Despite Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 75 and Dhruv Jurel’s late cameo lifting RR to 173/4, half-centuries from Virat Kohli and Phil Salt powered Bengaluru to victory in 17.3 overs and propelled them to third on the points table.

‌Bengaluru skipper Rajat Patidar won the toss and chose to field first in Jaipur. Rajasthan’s opening pair, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson got off to a solid start, reaching 45/0 by the end of the powerplay. Samson was fortunate to escape three run-out opportunities, while RCB’s bowlers maintained discipline during the initial overs. However, Samson’s luck ran out when he fell to Krunal Pandya’s spin in the seventh over. Jaiswal and Riyan Parag kept the momentum going and took the score to 77/1 at the halfway mark. The southpaw was in sublime form, bringing up his half-century off just 35 balls. Just as they were looking to accelerate, Parag fell to Yash Dayal in the 14th over. With Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel at the crease, Rajasthan stood at 107/2 after 14 overs. Despite RCB's disciplined bowling, Jaiswal continued to find the boundaries, keeping the score ticking and maintaining a strike rate of 163. However, RCB struck back as Josh Hazlewood dismissed Jaiswal for a well-made 75 off 47 balls in the 16th over. With Dhruv Jurel contributing 35 off 23 balls in the closing stages, Rajasthan finished with a competitive total of 173/2 in 20 overs.

RCB openers Virat Kohli and Phil Salt got off to a blazing start, racing to 37/0 within the first four overs. Despite a few missed chances in the field, the Royals couldn’t break the partnership early. Salt was in destructive form and struck at 204, guiding RCB to 65/0 by the end of the powerplay. The Englishman continued his onslaught, reaching his half-century in just 28 balls before falling to Kumar Kartikeya in the ninth over for a blistering 65 off 33. However, the momentum didn’t dip as Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal carried the score to 124/1 in 13 overs. With only 50 needed off 42 balls, the chase looked well under control, and Kohli brought up his 100th T20 half-century off 39 deliveries. In the end, RCB cruised to a commanding nine-wicket win in 17.3 overs, dealing a heavy defeat to Rajasthan.

Ouch!!!

A spicy Bouncer from Jofra Archer to Devdutt Padikal.
— HomeLander_Raj (@RajHomelander)

Baapre!

Jofra kaadu ko zabardasti bouncer daal ke tora dikhana hai
— Nikhil. (@fundoozx)

LOL!

RCB fans right now!
— Esha ♡ (@stfuesh)

Hahaha!

rcb was worst on the field, rr have been even worse
— aish (@noaishforaish)

RRRCCCBBB!

RCB ❤️❤️❤️❤️
— Hermione🎀🎀 (@dosaowner)

Great win!

RCB is unstoppable this season 🔥 🙌

Playing really well by both the openers

Phil Salt and Virat Kohli

Clean hitting 💥🔥🙌

Easy Chase
— The_Hardy (@AdityaSindhi)

LOL! Hilarious!

RCB unstoppable everywhere but confused at chinnaswamy

Just like my daughter excellent in all subjects but math is mystery 😭😭😭
— $hru (@crazyDravidian)

He is the KING!