RCB vs MI Highlights | RCB Edge Mumbai Indians in IPL 2025 Thriller, Patidar Steals Show | IPL 2025 | 20th Match

Rajat Patidar’s Blitzkrieg Powers RCB Past MI in Wankhede Thriller

Summary
In a pulsating IPL 2025 encounter at the Wankhede, Royal Challengers Bengaluru edged past Mumbai Indians by 12 runs, thanks to a stunning 64-run knock from Rajat Patidar and disciplined death bowling. Despite Tilak Varma’s valiant 56 and Hardik Pandya’s 42, MI couldn’t overhaul the 222-run target, slipping to their fourth defeat of the season.

Short Scorecard
RCB: 221/5 (20)
Patidar 64 (32), Kohli 67 (42); Boult 2/57
MI: 209/9 (20)
Tilak 56 (29), Hardik 42 (34); Krunal Pandya 4/54
Result: RCB won by 12 runs
Player of the Match: Rajat Patidar

A #TATAIPL Classic in every sense ????#RCB hold their nerves to seal a win after 1️⃣0️⃣ years against #MI at Wankhede!

Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/ArsodkwOfO#TATAIPL | #MIvRCB | @RCBTweets pic.twitter.com/uu98T8NtWE

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 7, 2025

Rajat Patidar Lights Up Wankhede As RCB Clinch High-Scoring Thriller

Rajat Patidar has often flown under the radar in star-studded lineups, but not tonight. Under the floodlights of the Wankhede Stadium, Patidar unleashed a ruthless assault, smashing 64 off just 32 balls at a strike rate of 200, anchoring Royal Challengers Bengaluru to an imposing total of 221/5. It was an innings loaded with confidence, crisp timing, and fearless intent enough to leave Mumbai Indians chasing shadows for large parts of the evening.

Virat Kohli, fresh off his milestone 13,000th T20 run, set the tone early with an authoritative 67 off 42 balls. His innings included eight boundaries and two sixes and was a masterclass in controlled aggression. Alongside Devdutt Padikkal and Phil Salt, Kohli kept the momentum ticking. While Salt departed early, caught and bowled by Boult for 4, Padikkal chipped in with a rapid 37. The pair set a platform before Patidar launched into top gear post the 10-over mark.

Liam Livingstone, expected to explode, failed to score. But Jitesh Sharma’s explosive 40 off just 19 balls ensured RCB capitalized on the death overs. His cameo gave them the edge they needed, especially with a sluggish pitch turning slightly sticky under the dew.

Mumbai’s Response: Runs, Wickets and a Few Misfires

Chasing 222, MI’s hopes rested on a powerful top order featuring Rohit Sharma, Will Jacks, and Suryakumar Yadav. But their innings never found rhythm. Rohit fell for 17, bowled by Yash Dayal in the second over, setting the tone for a stuttering start. Rickelton’s 17 came with flashes of aggression but lacked substance, while Will Jacks’ 22 was breezy but brief.

It was Tilak Varma who stood tall amidst the wreckage. His 29-ball 56 reignited MI’s hope with powerful strikes down the ground and over extra cover. Combining elegance with power, Tilak looked like the only batter in sync with the chase until he holed out at long-on in the 18th over a turning point in the match.

Hardik Pandya, too, played a captain’s knock. His 42 off 34 balls was more measured than manic, as he absorbed pressure and tried to tee off in the death overs. But just as the chase demanded acceleration, Pandya fell trying to heave Hazlewood over midwicket.

Krunal Pandya Spins the Web, Hazlewood Holds the Fort

Krunal Pandya’s spell was the quiet assassin Mumbai didn’t see coming. The left-arm spinner took 4 for 54 in his four overs, cleaning up the lower middle-order with clever changes in pace and trajectory. His dismissals of Jacks, Santner, and Deepak Chahar in quick succession tilted the balance irrevocably toward the visitors.

Hazlewood, returning to form, bowled two critical overs at the death. His figures of 2/37 may not seem extraordinary, but the wickets of Rickelton and Hardik at crucial junctures proved match-defining. Yash Dayal’s double strike up front, removing Rohit and Suryakumar, set the tone perfectly.

Patidar's Rise and Kohli's Grace

The moment undoubtedly belonged to Rajat Patidar. Named captain in the absence of Faf du Plessis, he didn’t just fill in he flourished. The knock was his finest in the IPL yet, a mixture of brute force and calm temperament. The fact that he reached 64 in just 32 balls against an attack that included Bumrah and Boult speaks volumes of his maturity.

Kohli’s knock, meanwhile, showed why he remains RCB’s spine. His ability to adapt, take on the right bowlers, and rotate strike ensured MI never got control. His presence at the crease helped Padikkal and Patidar build with clarity.

MI’s Season Hanging by a Thread

This defeat marked Mumbai Indians’ fourth loss in five games. With just one win under their belt and inconsistency plaguing both batting and bowling departments, the five-time champions are facing mounting pressure. Hardik Pandya has shown flashes of intent, but questions around his leadership particularly MI’s unpredictable batting order remain.

Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah bowled his heart out again, finishing with 0/29 in four overs. His pace touched 145 kmph consistently, but he was under-bowled in the death, perhaps due to matchups or dew.

The Road Ahead: Momentum and Morale

RCB’s win not only adds two vital points but also boosts their net run rate. With Kohli in form and Patidar stepping up as captain and match-winner, the side looks balanced. Jitesh Sharma’s continued form also adds firepower to the lower-middle order.

For MI, time is running out. They’ll need their big guns Rohit, Hardik, Suryakumar to fire in unison. The bowling needs better control in the Powerplay, and Bumrah can’t be a lone warrior forever.

As the IPL 2025 moves into its crucial mid-season stretch, RCB will carry confidence from their Wankhede heist, while Mumbai must reflect quickly before the campaign slips beyond salvage.