RCB vs DC Match Report, IPL 2025: Delhi Capitals Beat RCB by 6 Wickets as KL Rahul Shines with Unbeaten 93

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RCB vs DC Match Report, IPL 2025: The IPL 2025 clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Delhi Capitals at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium delivered yet another gripping chapter in the league's storied rivalry. But this time, the script was written by a familiar face.

KL Rahul, returning to his home turf in opposition colours, produced a masterclass in controlled aggression, anchoring a tricky chase with an unbeaten 93 to lead Delhi Capitals to a six-wicket victory.

It was a night where Rahul's calm presence outshone RCB's fiery start, as DC made it four wins from four - their best ever start to an IPL season.

For RCB, early promise fizzled into frustration. Despite flashes of brilliance, particularly from Tim David's late flourish and Bhuvneshwar Kumar's initial breakthroughs, the hosts failed to capitalise on key moments - none more critical than the dropped catch of Rahul early in his innings.

As the crowd watched in stunned silence, DC's experienced heads guided them home with ease. With mounting pressure on Bengaluru's campaign and Delhi soaring in confidence, the match perfectly captured the contrast between a side still searching for rhythm and another in full flow.

Match Highlights – IPL 2025: RCB vs DC, Bengaluru

• Delhi Capitals beat Royal Challengers Bengaluru by 6 wickets at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
• KL Rahul starred with an unbeaten 93 off 53 balls, guiding DC in a tricky chase with elegance and authority.
• Rahul and Tristan Stubbs put on an unbeaten 111-run stand for the 5th wicket – DC’s highest-ever partnership from that position.
• RCB posted 163/7 after being asked to bat first; Phil Salt top-scored with 37, while Tim David smashed a late 37* off 20 balls.
• RCB collapsed from 80/1 to 90/4, with DC spinners Kuldeep Yadav and debutant Vipraj Nigam wreaking havoc.
• Vipraj Nigam impressed with 2/18 in his 4 overs, including the key wickets of Kohli and Krunal Pandya.
• Delhi lost 4 wickets for 58 runs early in the chase but Rahul held his nerve and rebuilt calmly with Stubbs.
• Bhuvneshwar Kumar struck twice early for RCB but lacked support from the rest of the attack.
• This was DC's fourth consecutive win, marking their best-ever start to an IPL season.
• KL Rahul was named Player of the Match, continuing his purple patch in IPL chases.

RCB’s Faltering Middle Order Cancels Out David’s Late Surge

Opting to bat first on a surface that played deceptively slow, RCB’s innings stumbled despite a quickfire 37 from Phil Salt. After a strong opening stand, the middle order unravelled in dramatic fashion—losing four wickets for just 13 runs between overs six and ten. At 91/4, the innings was teetering.

Captain Rajat Patidar (25 off 23) tried to anchor, but spin duo Kuldeep Yadav and debutant Vipraj Nigam turned the screws. "We thought it was a nice batting wicket, but we didn't bat well," Patidar admitted post-match. "It wasn't acceptable to go from 80 for 1 to 90 for 4."

Tim David, however, brought late fireworks with a blistering 37 off just 20 balls, including three sixes, lifting RCB to a moderately competitive 163/7.

Nigam was the standout bowler for DC, finishing with figures of 2 for 18 in his four overs. "The way Vipraj bowled, even in the 18th over, he was confident," Axar Patel noted, praising his young bowler. "My job becomes easy with someone like Rahul in the order."

Rahul Reigns Supreme in a Clinical Chase

If there was any doubt about KL Rahul’s current form, it was laid to rest under the lights in Bengaluru. Despite the early loss of Faf du Plessis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, and Abishek Porel within the first five overs, Rahul held fort with ice in his veins and elegance in his strokeplay.

Scoring an unbeaten 93 off 53 balls, Rahul was clinical from the start, threading boundaries with finesse and finding gaps seemingly at will. He raised his bat and thumped his chest at the end, a quiet declaration that this ground was still very much his.

"This is my ground, this is my home. I know this better than anybody else. Enjoyed playing here," Rahul said. "From wicketkeeping I figured that the ball sat in the wicket a little bit... I knew what my shots are."

Tristan Stubbs played the perfect foil, finishing on 38* from 23 balls in an unbroken 111-run stand for the fifth wicket—the highest ever for Delhi Capitals from that position or lower. “To be honest, I didn’t have to do much, with the way KL Rahul batted,” Stubbs said.

What Could Have Been for RCB

At 22/2, RCB had their chance. A crucial dropped catch of Rahul—when he was still settling in—may haunt the Bengaluru camp for days to come. That moment proved to be the turning point. Rahul simply never looked back.

"We have a good batting line-up, but we need to assess the situation," Patidar said. "The way Tim David accelerated was amazing... the bowling in the powerplay was special. But we need to put it all together."

RCB’s bowlers lacked sting in the middle overs. Bhuvneshwar Kumar struck early but couldn’t find support from the other end. Suyash Sharma briefly brought DC to 58/4 by removing Axar, but by then, Rahul was already in his zone.

Capitals on a Roll

This win marked DC’s first ever 4-0 start to an IPL season, and Rahul’s purple patch continues. With 1208 runs in 25 successful IPL chases at an average of 71.05, he’s now statistically among the most reliable finishers in the tournament’s history—only behind David Miller in average among those with 500+ runs.

"Everyone is confident and feels good to win four out of four," said DC skipper Axar. "The way they are bowling—Kuldeep has been doing it for years, but a special word for Vipraj."