Mumbai, Apr 7 (UNI) A ferocious exhibition of strokeplay by skipper Rajat Patidar and veteran Virat Kohli lit up the Wankhede Stadium as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) stormed to a commanding 221 for 5 in their 20 overs against Mumbai Indians (MI) in the 20th match of IPL 2025 here on Monday.
Put into bat by MI skipper Hardik Pandya, RCB lost Philip Salt early to Trent Boult for 4 in the opening over. But what followed was a brutal assault by Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal, who stitched together a 91-run partnership to wrest control.
Kohli, in particular, was in vintage touch. He opened his account with successive boundaries off Boult and later made a statement by heaving Jasprit Bumrah for a 78-metre six over deep midwicket in the 4th over. The RCB fans erupted with chants of "Kohli! Kohli!" as he brought up his 50 in style with a powerful slog sweep for an 80m six off leg-spinner Vignesh Puthur in the 9th over. Kohli eventually made 67 off 42 balls (8x4, 2x6).
Padikkal matched Kohli stroke for stroke during the powerplay. He smashed Deepak Chahar for two massive sixes in the sixth over — 77 and 79 metres — en route to a 22-ball 37 before holing out to Will Jacks off Puthur.
After Kohli’s dismissal in the 15th over, caught trying to force the pace against Pandya, the momentum was carried forward by Patidar. The skipper raised his 50 in just 25 balls with a monstrous six over long-off, showcasing power and finesse alike. He followed it up with back-to-back maximums and a crisp flicked four off Pandya in the 17th over. One such six, a clean strike over square leg off Mitchell Santner, sailed into the second tier.
Patidar’s 64 off 32 balls (5x4, 4x6) ended in spectacular fashion when he attempted a scoop but was brilliantly caught by Ryan Rickelton running back from behind the stumps — a catch already being dubbed as one of the season’s best.
Jitesh Sharma then ensured RCB crossed the 220-run mark with a stunning cameo. He tore into Boult and Bumrah in the final two overs, executing a hockey-sweep over square leg, a scoop over fine leg, and a towering 83-metre six over long-on. His unbeaten 40 off 19 balls (2x4, 4x6) came at a jaw-dropping strike rate of 210.53. He also shared a 50-run partnership with Patidar in just 17 balls.
Pandya ended with 2 for 45, including the wickets of Kohli and Liam Livingstone (0), while Boult picked up 2 for 57. Bumrah was the most economical with 0/29 in his 4 overs.
RCB’s innings featured 13 sixes and 18 fours overall, as they posted the second-highest total of the season so far.
Mumbai Indians now face a stiff chase of 222 runs to register their third win of the tournament.
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