KL Rahul, Tristan Stubbs power DC to six-wicket win over RCB

Bengaluru, April 10: A night of high-stakes cricket at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium unfolded with KL Rahul delivering a knock of calm brilliance, anchoring Delhi Capitals to a composed six-wicket victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their latest IPL 2025 encounter.
The seasoned campaigner carried his bat through the innings, compiling a classy, unbeaten 93 off just 53 deliveries — a performance that not only steadied the chase but also stamped his authority as one of the tournament’s most reliable finishers.
Chasing a target of 164, which at one point seemed like a par score on a typically lively Bengaluru pitch, Delhi Capitals encountered early hiccups.
The top order wobbled under pressure as RCB’s pace attack, led by the ever-dependable Bhuvneshwar Kumar, found early inroads. Bhuvneshwar, with his usual guile and discipline, returned figures of 2 for 26 from his quota of four overs — a spell that temporarily stalled Delhi’s rhythm and injected hope into the RCB camp.
But cricket, as they say, is a game of partnerships. And it was Rahul and South African power-hitter Tristan Stubbs who stood tall amidst the chaos, crafting a match-winning stand that will be remembered for its balance of composure and flair. Stubbs, playing a mature supporting role, contributed an unbeaten 38 off 23 balls. While Rahul caressed the ball around with finesse — seven boundaries and six towering sixes — Stubbs provided the fireworks at the back end, ensuring Delhi crossed the line with seven deliveries to spare.
This was a game that underlined the importance of temperament in T20 cricket. While Rahul played the role of the architect, building the innings brick by brick, Stubbs played the part of the executioner — ruthless and decisive when the moment demanded it.
Earlier in the evening, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, after being put into bat, posted a total of 163 for seven in their allotted 20 overs — a score that looked competitive, but never truly daunting given the batting firepower Delhi possesses. Their innings was built on the quickfire contributions of two contrasting characters — the ever-aggressive Phil Salt and the calm, calculative Tim David.
Salt got things rolling with an electrifying cameo of 37 runs off just 17 balls. His innings was a flurry of boundaries, keeping the crowd on its toes and giving RCB early momentum. But once he departed, the middle overs became a struggle for the home side as Delhi’s spinners, particularly Kuldeep Yadav and Vipraj Nigam, choked the flow of runs.
The pair shared four wickets between them — Kuldeep finishing with 2 for 17, while Nigam impressed yet again with 2 for 18, continuing his rise as a dependable all-rounder for the Capitals.
Just as RCB seemed to be meandering towards a below-par total, Tim David stepped up with a timely blitz. His 20-ball unbeaten 37 included some late-innings fireworks that pushed RCB beyond the 160-mark, giving their bowlers something to work with. However, the lack of substantial partnerships and wickets in hand meant they never quite put Delhi under the kind of scoreboard pressure needed to turn the screws.
Despite flashes of brilliance from Bhuvneshwar and some sharp fielding, RCB’s effort with the ball was always going to be a tall order in defending a modest total against a side boasting depth and quality in their batting ranks.
KL Rahul, named Player of the Match for his outstanding knock, seemed unfazed by the pressure of the chase. With his silken timing and surgical shot selection, he constructed an innings that mixed patience with aggression, showcasing once again why he remains one of the most elegant stroke-makers in the game.With this win, Delhi Capitals continue their march towards the playoffs, gaining valuable points and further boosting their net run rate. Royal Challengers Bengaluru, on the other hand, will return to the drawing board, as they struggle to find consistency in what has so far been a stop-start season. (PTI)