If there is one thing cricket fans have come to expect out of matches at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, it is fireworks. Thursday’s match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Delhi Capitals was full of fire and fumes, even though it was not the way RCB fans would have liked it. Continue reading the blog as Spinmatch experts walk you through the IPL match highlights Spinmatch, which showed the strength of the Delhi Capitals.
A Tale of Two Power
Royal Challengers Bengaluru won the toss and chose to bat first. Phil Salt was merciless in his performance, particularly during the third over, when he destroyed Mitchell Starc with a sequence of 6, 4, 4, 4, and 6—earning 24 runs off an individual over! The English batter’s aggressive moves helped RCB hit 50 runs in just three overs, their second-fastest team fifty in IPL cricket match history.
Salt’s 37-run knockoff in just 17 balls and his association with Virat Kohli (22 off 14) gave RCB a dream start, scoring 61 runs in merely 24 balls. All was well for the home team until a mix-up in communication resulted in Salt’s run-out in the fourth over.
This dismissal was the pivot of the innings. Having been riding high at 62/0, RCB’s innings soon began to unravel at the seams.
Spinners Turn the Game Around
The addition of young leg-spinner Vipraj Nigam in the fifth over changed the face of the game. His penetrative bowling, which conceded only two runs for the over, mounted pressure that RCB could not handle.
With increasing dot balls, Devdutt Padikkal (1) attempted to free himself but only succeeded in getting Axar Patel with a docile shot off Mohit Sharma. Kohli, having begun to settle down with a six over long-on, fell to Nigam while trying to play a wide ball, leaving RCB at 74/3.
The middle-order collapse continued with Livingstone (3) and Jitesh Sharma (4) bowled cheaply, leaving RCB reeling at 102/5 in the 13th over – a dramatic slip from their explosive beginning.
The standout moment in the IPL cricket game was Delhi’s spinners’ masterful demonstration of bowling. Kuldeep Yadav (2/17) and Vipraj Nigam (2/18) adjusted their length to perfection.
Tim David’s Late Flourish
With RCB in trouble, Tim David’s late onslaught provided some respite. Starting slowly with four runs in the first eight balls, the Australian hard-hitter shifted to overdrive in the death overs. He took 17 from Axar Patel in the 19th over and continued the onslaught in the final over.
David’s 37, not out of 20, interspersed with some gigantic shots, took RCB into the 160s. The total would otherwise have been much less competitive. David has been in reasonable form in IPL 2025 thus far, scoring 22* vs. CSK and 32 vs. GT in previous matches.
DC’s Horror Start
Chasing 164, Delhi Capitals got off to a nightmare beginning, which indicated RCB’s collapse. Faf du Plessis, returning from a niggle that kept him out of the previous game against CSK, skied a simple catch off Yash Dayal for just 2 runs.
The fright fest went on with Jake Fraser-McGurk and Abhishek Porel exiting similarly, while DC limped along at 30/3 quite deep within the power play. Momentum at this point had turned RCB’s direction, and Chinnaswamy fans were enjoying a feel-good win on the cards.
The Rahul Masterclass
KL Rahul walked in and played an innings full of skill and composure; the wicketkeeper-batsman produced a match-winning 93* off a mere 53 balls. His innings contained seven boundaries and six huge sixes, but much more significant was how he timed it.
Rahul’s innings was a lesson in risk management. After being dropped on 5 by Rajat Patidar off Yash Dayal, he started nervously before slowly increasing his tempo. He was particularly clever against leg spinner Suyansh Sharma, playing him cautiously and waiting for chances to score on the slow surface.
To Josh Hazlewood’s rhythm, Rahul showed his class by utilizing the speed of the bowler. One over, especially against Hazlewood, paid off for 22 runs as Rahul hit boundaries with ease all around the park.
The Match-Winning Partnership
While Rahul grabbed the spotlight, Tristan Stubbs also deserves credit. After Axar Patel got out with the score at 58/4, Stubbs stayed calm and scored an unbeaten 38.
Together, Rahul and Stubbs formed an unbroken 111-run fifth-wicket partnership that stole the game from RCB. Stubbs’ composed nature allowed Rahul to play more freely, and their partnership never allowed the needed rate to spiral out of control.
The visitors eventually departed with 13 balls still to spare, Rahul fittingly finishing off the chase with a massive six off Dayal and celebrating the moment with a sword-on-the-ground gesture.
Captain’s Corner
During the post-match interviews, DC captain Axar Patel was understandably delighted with his team’s fourth consecutive win. He lauded the effort of the bowlers but specifically mentioned young spinner Vipraj Nigam: “The way they are bowling – Kuldeep has been doing it for years, but a special word for Vipraj. The way he bowled, even in the 18th over, he was confident.”
RCB skipper Rajat Patidar conceded the batting failure of his team as the deciding factor behind their defeat: “I don’t think the batters were overconfident; all the batters were in a good space of mind, showing correct intent. But it wasn’t acceptable to fall from 80 for 1 to 90 for 4.”
Key Takeaways from the Match
This IPL match highlights package would not be complete without closely examining the key reasons that resulted in the match being decided in favor of:
The Spinner’s Heroics: Against a wicket that was likely to favor batsmen, DC’s spinners, headed by Kuldeep and Nigam, flipped the game on its head with their line discipline and intelligent variations.
KL Rahul’s Magic: After dominating the Champions Trophy, Rahul has carried the confidence to the IPL too, showing why he is one of India’s greatest batsmen across all formats.
RCB’s Middle-Order Blues: Despite their fiery start, RCB‘s middle order didn’t capitalize, raising questions about the batting depth of the team.
DC‘s Unbeaten Streak: With four wins in four matches, Delhi Capitals are becoming serious contenders for the title this season.
Tactical Captaincy: Axar Patel’s decision to introduce spin early on was the game-changer, showing his growing maturity as a captain.
The Points Table Shuffle
This victory took Delhi Capitals to the second position on the table, remaining unbeaten in four games. RCB, although defeated, is well placed at third position with three victories in five games.
The IPL live match between these two teams showcased why cricket’s most exciting T20 league, the Indian Premier League, is still so exciting. There were fireworks of batting and wise bowling; there was a war of strategy and even of individual genius. There was everything for a cricket fan in this game.
For KL Rahul, this inning in Chinnaswamy Stadium, a stadium he knows so well, will be one of his best. His post-match declaration, “Mera ground hai ye” (This is my ground), spoke volumes about his confidence and identification with this ground.
Conclusion
As we move deeper into IPL 2025, matches such as these remind us why this tournament is still so well loved by cricket fans worldwide. The story, the stars, the atmosphere – all combine to create sporting drama of the highest order. Catch more IPL live match spinmatch action as the tournament gathers momentum in the coming weeks. If this match is anything to judge by, we’re in for a bumpy ride this season! Sign up on Spinmatch and stay updated about all the quick updates of the game.
