**RR vs RCB IPL 2025 Live Cricket Score: Virat Kohli's Century of Half-Centuries Powers RCB to Dominant 9-Wicket Victory Over Rajasthan Royals**
*Comprehensive Match Report and Analysis*
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### **Match Overview**
In a high-octane clash at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) delivered a clinical performance to defeat Rajasthan Royals (RR) by 9 wickets, chasing down a target of 174 with 15 balls to spare. The victory, anchored by Phil Salt’s explosive 65 (33 balls) and Virat Kohli’s milestone 100th T20 half-century (62* off 45), propelled RCB to third place in the IPL 2025 standings. Rajasthan Royals, despite Yashasvi Jaiswal’s valiant 75 (47), struggled with dropped catches and a lack of bowling firepower, succumbing to their fourth loss in six games .
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### **Key Moments and Turning Points**
#### **1. Rajasthan Royals’ Innings: Jaiswal Shines Amidst Middle-Order Struggles**
- **Yashasvi Jaiswal’s Masterclass**: The 23-year-old opener single-handedly carried RR’s batting, scoring 75 off 47 balls (10 fours, 2 sixes). His innings featured innovative shots like the reverse sweep and a daring scoop off Josh Hazlewood, showcasing his adaptability on a sluggish pitch. Jaiswal’s strike rate of 159.57 stood out, especially as other batters struggled to accelerate .
- **Middle-Order Stagnation**: Captain Sanju Samson (15 off 19) and Riyan Parag (30 off 22) failed to convert starts, while Shimron Hetmyer (9) and Dhruv Jurel (35* off 23) provided late fireworks. RR’s death-over run rate of 10.86 (17th–20th overs) was below par, contributing to their suboptimal total .
- **RCB’s Bowling Discipline**: Josh Hazlewood (1/32) and Krunal Pandya (1/29) stifled RR’s momentum, with Hazlewood trapping Jaiswal LBW in a pivotal moment. Yash Dayal’s variations in pace and Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s economical spell (1/38) restricted RR to 173/4 .
#### **2. RCB’s Chase: Salt’s Blitz and Kohli’s Milestone**
- **Phil Salt’s Powerplay Onslaught**
: Salt demolished RR’s bowling attack in the first six overs, racing to 65 runs at a strike rate of 196.96. His 33-ball knock included 5 fours and 6 sixes, with Jofra Archer (0/44) and Sandeep Sharma (0/35) bearing the brunt. Salt’s aggressive approach set the tone, as RCB plundered 65 runs in the powerplay .
- **Kohli’s Century of Fifties**
: Virat Kohli notched his 100th T20 half-century, becoming the second male batter after David Warner (108) to achieve this feat. His 62* off 45 balls blended caution with aggression, including a signature straight six off Wanindu Hasaranga to reach the milestone. Kohli’s partnership with Devdutt Padikkal (40* off 28) ensured RCB’s seamless chase .
- **RR’s Fielding Collapse**: Dropped catches haunted Rajasthan, with Riyan Parag spilling a skier from Kohli (7*) and Yashasvi Jaiswal missing Salt (40*). These errors cost RR dearly, as RCB capitalized on the reprieves to build an unbroken 81-run stand between Kohli and Padikkal .
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### **Detailed Match Analysis**
#### **Pitch and Toss Impact**
- **Slow Surface**: The Sawai Mansingh Stadium pitch offered low bounce and minimal pace, favoring spinners and slower deliveries. RCB captain Rajat Patidar’s decision to bowl first proved astute, as RR’s batters struggled to accelerate early .
- **Dew Factor**
: As the evening progressed, dew settled in, making it harder for RR’s spinners (Hasaranga, Theekshana) to grip the ball. This aided RCB’s batters in the chase .
#### **Tactical Decisions**
- **RCB’s Batting Depth**: RCB’s lineup, featuring Tim David and Liam Livingstone, provided insurance against a collapse. However, Salt and Kohli’s dominance rendered their middle-order redundant .
- **RR’s Over-Reliance on Jaiswal**: With Samson and Parag underperforming, RR’s batting lacked collective firepower. Their decision to promote Nitish Rana (12* off 5) as an Impact Player in the death overs yielded limited returns .
#### **Player Performances**
- **RCB’s Standouts**:
- **Phil Salt**
: The English opener’s aggressive intent dismantled RR’s powerplay plans. His 65 included audacious pulls and lofted drives, making him the Player of the Match .
- **Virat Kohli**:
The “Chasemaster” anchored the innings, rotating strike efficiently and accelerating post-Salt’s dismissal. His 100th fifty marked a career highlight .
- **Devdutt Padikkal**
: The left-hander’s unbeaten 40* (28) showcased his evolved aggressive approach, including a six off Tushar Deshpande .
- **RR’s Silver Lining**:
- **Yashasvi Jaiswal**:
His 75 was a class act, blending technical prowess with inventive strokeplay. However, lack of support from teammates undermined his effort .
- **Kumar Kartikeya**: The Impact Player dismissed Salt with a clever change of pace, but RR’s other bowlers failed to build pressure .
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### **Post-Match Reactions**
#### **Sanju Samson (RR Captain)**:
- **On the Loss**:
“We knew Salt and Kohli would come hard, but our fielding let us down. Catches win matches, and we dropped too many.”
- **On Jaiswal**: “Yashasvi batted brilliantly, but we needed partnerships. We’ll regroup for the next game.” .
#### **Devdutt Padikkal (RCB)**:
- **Batting Approach**: “I’ve worked on being more aggressive with Dinesh Karthik and Andy Flower. It’s great to contribute to RCB’s away wins.”
- **Team Momentum**: “We’ve been unlucky at home, but this win boosts our confidence for the playoffs race.” .
#### **Rajat Patidar (RCB Captain)**:
- **Toss Decision**: “The pitch looked slow, so bowling first was the right call. Our bowlers executed the plans perfectly.”
- **Kohli’s Milestone**: “Virat’s experience is invaluable. His 100th fifty is a testament to his longevity.” .
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### **Statistical Highlights**
1. **Virat Kohli’s 100th T20 Fifty**: Only David Warner (108) has more half-centuries in T20 cricket .
2. **RCB’s Away Dominance**: Fourth consecutive away win, a first in their IPL history .
3. **Powerplay Contrast**: RCB scored 65/0 in the powerplay vs. RR’s 45/1 .
4. **Drop Catches**: RR dropped 4 catches in 4 overs, including Kohli (7*) and Salt (40*) .
5. **Jaiswal’s Form**: Averaging 169.5 against spin since IPL 2023, the highest among active players .
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### **Tactical Breakdown**
#### **RR’s Bowling Flaws**
- **Archer’s Pace vs. Salt’s Aggression**: Archer’s 148+ kph deliveries were negated by Salt’s cross-bat pulls and sweeps. Salt’s pre-meditated movements disrupted Archer’s line .
- **Spin Ineffectiveness**: Hasaranga (0/34) and Theekshana (0/29) struggled with dew, failing to replicate their middle-over dominance .
#### **RCB’s Calculated Chase**
- **Salt’s Early Assault**: Targeting Archer and Sandeep Sharma, Salt’s 28-ball fifty ensured RCB needed just 7.1 runs per over after the powerplay .
- **Kohli’s Anchoring Role**: After Salt’s dismissal, Kohli shifted gears, scoring 32 off his last 18 balls to seal the win .
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### **Impact on IPL 2025 Standings**
- **RCB**: Rise to 3rd place with 8 points (4 wins in 6 games). Their net run rate (+0.89) strengthens playoff prospects .
- **RR**: Slump to 7th with 4 points (2 wins in 6). Must win at least 5 of their remaining 8 games to qualify .
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### **Conclusion: A Royal Rout in Jaipur**
RCB’s comprehensive victory underscored their balance between explosive batting (Salt) and composed chasing (Kohli). For RR, the defeat highlighted over-reliance on Jaiswal and systemic fielding issues. With the playoffs approaching, RCB’s away form positions them as title contenders, while RR face an uphill battle to revive their campaign.
**Final Scorecard**:
- **RR**: 173/4 (20 overs) | Jaiswal 75, Jurel 35* | Hazlewood 1/32
- **RCB**: 175/1 (17.3 overs) | Salt 65, Kohli 62*, Padikkal 40* | Kartikeya 1/29
*For detailed scorecards and highlights, refer to [ESPNcricinfo](https://www.espncricinfo.com) and [IPL T20](https://www.iplt20.com).*
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This report synthesizes insights from live updates, player interviews, and tactical analysis to provide a holistic view of the match. Key citations are embedded to ensure accuracy and depth.
