New Delhi [India]— With a six-wicket victory against Delhi Capitals (DC), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) secured their seventh victory and extended their stellar run in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. The victory moved RCB to the top of the standings, while the Capitals now sit in fourth position.

RCB had a rough start, losing three wickets for only 26 runs while chasing a goal of 163. Devdutt Padikkal was removed for a duck, while debutant Jacob Bethell scored 12 runs before collapsing. The team was in difficulty at 26/3 when captain Rajat Patidar was run out for 6.

But Virat Kohli and Krunal Pandya’s vital 119-run partnership kept the innings steady. Pandya was the night’s standout, staying undefeated at 73 from 47 deliveries with five fours and four sixes, while Kohli played a cool knock of 51 from 47 balls, striking four boundaries.

The two maintained the needed run rate under control and made sure RCB reached 100 in 13.3 overs.

Tim David joined Pandya in a cameo, hitting 19 runs off just five balls to complete the win when Kohli was dismissed by Dushmantha Chameera in the 17.5 overs. The goal was attained by RCB in 18.3 overs.

Axar Patel, the captain of DC, was the game’s best player with the ball earlier in the game, ending with a commanding 2/19 from his four overs. Delhi was unable to halt the RCB’s momentum in spite of his best attempts.

As the competition moves closer to the playoffs, RCB, who are currently atop the rankings, will want to continue their winning ways.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood of Royal Challengers Bengaluru bowled well earlier on Sunday, limiting the Delhi Capitals team to 162/8 in their 20 overs at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

In the current 18th season of the lucrative league, RCB captain Rajat Patidar chose to bowl first after winning the toss.

The innings began with batsmen Faf du Plessis and Abhishek Porel coming out to bat in the middle. Before Porel (28 runs off 11 balls) was sent to the pavilion on the bowling of right-arm seamer Josh Hazelwood in the fourth over of their innings, the two men put up a partnership of 33 runs off 22 balls.

Right-hander Karun Nair (4) stepped out in the middle to bat when Porel exited, but when the team score reached 44 in the fifth over, left-arm seamer Yash Dayal sent him back to the dressing.

When Du Plessis hit a boundary on the second last delivery, which was delivered by Hazelwood, the Capitals reached the 50-run milestone in the sixth over.

Du Plessis (22 runs in 26 balls) was dismissed in the tenth over by captain Hardik Pandya, costing the Delhi team its third wicket at 72. Axar Patel (15 runs in 13 balls), Tristan Stubbs (34 runs from 18 balls), and KL Rahul (41 runs from 39 balls) all contributed significant runs to their side before being removed.

Ashutosh Sharma, a right-hand batsman, was brought in as an impact replacement but failed to make an impression as he was dismissed after just five runs.

Ultimately, the Delhi Capitals team reached 162/8 at the close of the first innings thanks to a cameo of 12 runs from only six balls at a strike rate of 200 from youthful, rookie all-rounder Vipraj Nigam.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3/33 in 4 overs) took three wickets for the Bangalore team, Josh Hazelwood (2/36 in 4 overs) took two, while Yash Dayal (1/42 in 4 overs) and Krunal Pandya (1/28 in 4 overs) each took one during their respective innings.

Brief Score: Royal Challengers Bengaluru 165/4 in 20 overs (Krunal Pandya 73*, Virat Kohli 51; Axar Patel 2/19) against. Delhi Capitals 162/8 in 20 overs (KL Rahul 41, Tristan Stubbs 34; Bhuvneshwar Kumar 3/33).