Mumbai, Apr 7 (UNI) A resurgent Royal Challengers Bangalore finally broke their 10-year Wankhede hoodoo on Monday night, scripting a 12-run win over Mumbai Indians in a thrilling, high-scoring IPL clash.

But more than the result, it was the sensational four-wicket haul from Krunal Pandya and clutch performances from Josh Hazlewood and Yash Dayal that stole the spotlight in a tense chase that saw MI fall agonisingly short despite a valiant blitz from their middle order.

Chasing a steep 221, MI's innings mirrored a classic T20 rollercoaster — fast starts, blistering boundaries, wickets in clumps, and the ever-present hope of a last-over miracle.

It all began with Rohit Sharma showing flashes of vintage form, whipping Bhuvneshwar Kumar for a six and two crisp boundaries inside the opening over.

Debutant Ryan Rickelton joined the fun, unfurling glorious drives and timing the ball sweetly to take 13 runs off Bhuvi’s first. The pair quickly propelled MI to 31/0 by the end of the second over.

However, RCB struck early blows to halt the momentum. Yash Dayal cleaned up Rohit with a searing inswinger that crashed into leg stump (17 off 9), and Hazlewood pinned Rickelton LBW (17 off 10) after a successful review — the delivery jagging in just enough to catch him in front.

Suryakumar Yadav threatened to take the game away with his trademark flair, peppering the off-side with boundaries off Krunal and Hazlewood. But just when MI seemed to be stabilising, SKY was undone by a slower one from Dayal, holing out to Livingstone for 28 (26), leaving MI wobbling at 99/4 in the 12th over.

The stage was then set for the Pandya brothers. Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya launched an onslaught, smashing 63 runs in just 25 balls between overs 13 to 17. Hardik, in particular, was unstoppable — smashing Hazlewood for two colossal sixes and a four in the 14th over, and Krunal for back-to-back sixes to bring up a 50-run stand in no time.

He raced to 42 off just 15 balls, threatening to single-handedly tilt the game MI’s way.

At the other end, Tilak Varma brought up his first fifty of the season (56 off 29) with a series of sweeps and reverse-hits, including a six and a four off Suyash Sharma. With 41 needed off the final three overs, MI were in striking distance.

But the tide turned in the 18th over. Hazlewood produced the moment of the night, dismissing a rampaging Hardik with a yorker that was mistimed to deep mid-wicket — Livingstone taking a clean catch. MI’s hopes flickered.

Still, the game hung in the balance with 19 needed off the final over. Krunal, brought back for the 20th, delivered under immense pressure.

He began by removing Mitchell Santner with a full, wide ball that Santner sliced to Tim David at long-off. Next ball, he dismissed Rahul Chahar thanks to a relay catch on the ropes between Phil Salt and Tim David.

Naman Dhir raised faint MI hopes with a lucky edge for four, but was then caught by Yash Dayal at fine leg trying to scoop a low full-toss — Krunal sealing his four-wicket haul. He capped it off by rapping Bumrah on the pads with a ball drifting in, and RCB players erupted in joy as Wankhede fell silent.

Krunal’s spell read 4-0-30-4, a career-best effort under lights and pressure.

A ferocious exhibition of strokeplay from skipper Rajat Patidar and veteran Virat Kohli propelled Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to a formidable 221 for 5 against Mumbai Indians (MI) in Match 20 of IPL 2025 at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday.

Opting to bowl first, MI struck early as Trent Boult removed Philip Salt for 4 in the first over. However, Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal counter-attacked with a 91-run stand that firmly swung momentum in RCB’s favour. Kohli, in vintage touch, unfurled a series of crisp strokes including a heave off Jasprit Bumrah for a 78-metre six. He raised his half-century in just 29 balls with a slogsweep for an 80m six off Vignesh Puthur, finishing with 67 off 42 balls (8x4, 2x6).

Padikkal was equally aggressive, smashing Deepak Chahar for consecutive sixes in the sixth over before falling for 37 off 22. Kohli departed in the 15th over, but Patidar took charge. The RCB skipper reached his fifty in 25 balls and launched a blistering assault with four sixes and five fours in his 64 off 32. His scoop attempt ended in a brilliant diving catch by Ryan Rickelton, widely hailed as one of the season’s finest.

Jitesh Sharma provided the final flourish with a breathless 40* off 19 balls (2x4, 4x6), punishing both Boult and Bumrah. He and Patidar added 50 off just 17 balls to push RCB past 220. Hardik Pandya (2/45) and Boult (2/34) were the only bowlers to strike in what was otherwise a bruising day for MI’s attack.

RCB’s last win at Wankhede had come back in 2015. With this win, they not only arrested their away jinx but also strengthened their campaign in emphatic fashion. UNI BDN SSP