IPL 2025, RR vs RCB, Highlights: RR’s middle order botches momentum; Salt takes RCB to third spot

IPL 2025, RR vs RCB Highlights: Phil Salt’s explosive 65 off 33 proves to be the difference as RCB defeat RR and climb to third place on the points table.

Brief scores: RR- 173/4 (Yashasvi Jaiswal 75, Josh Hazelwood 1/26) lost to RCB– 175/1 (Phil Salt 65, Virat Kohli 62, Kumar Kartikeya 1/25) by 9 wickets 

Yashasvi Jaiwal’s fifty goes in vain as Phil Salt puts ‘salt’ on RR’s wounds. With the latter’s blistering knock, RCB comfortably defeated the home team. Along with him, it was King Kohli who played the role of second fiddle and eventually sailed his side to victory. 

Highlights from RR vs RCB game, IPL 2025 

Yashasvi Jaiswal finds form but middle order failed to capitalise on momentum 
RR’s star opener Yashasvi Jaiswal finds his form just at the right time. In the scorching heat of Sawai Mansingh Stadium, when his other teammates were struggling to time the ball, it was him who displayed character by playing a compact innings of 75. Since wicket was on the slower side in the first innings, he took his time by chipping the balls squarer to the wicket. But later, he played those conventional shots in the ‘V’ as well. He, along with Sanju Samson, swiftly passed the power play without giving away the wicket but their dot ball ratio was on the higher side as it rose to 18 in the first six overs. 

Later, when a good start was provided by them, the middle order failed to accelerate the run rate as short cameos were played by Riyan Parag and Dhruv Jurel. They both scored thirty odd runs and the latter remained unbeaten. But, for RR to reach a competitive target, their middle order had to be more explosive and risk taking. Hence, one thing that dragged them down was their inability to convert in the second half of their batting. The big man- Shirmon Hetmyer, who usually is assigned the task to pinch hit, also failed!

Credit for RR’s slow run rate in the later half of the innings goes to RCB’s bowling unit, particularly Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Liam Livingstone. They were economical and right on money. A couple of catches were dropped in their innings as well, but the bowling unit made sure the damage was minimised with their tight spells. 

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Phil Salt negate the pitch equation with the whirlwind innings
When others were struggling to deal with the pitch conditions, it was Phil Salt who eliminated the factor with his power pack show. He was given multiple chances as his catches were dropped on several occasions, but the Englishman made sure RR paid the price for their mistakes. With five 4s and six 6s, he was batting at a lethal strike rate. 

Initially, a battle was seen between him and Jofra Archer, but it was Salt who had the last laugh. The best thing about his innings was how he countered the nick backers in the first few overs. When the first two balls missed the stump by a few inches, he responded briskly by covering the line and targeting the leg side. Later, when spinners took the charge, he made sure that anything short was left out of the park.

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Way forward 
After today’s game at Jaipur, RCB has climbed to the third spot. Unlike previous seasons, the team looks very balanced as everyone is contributing in one or the other games. Maybe this year they will break the jinx and bring the trophy home. 

RR on the other hand, seemed out of control as it’s very unlikely for them to play such non-competitive cricket. Small contributions are coming from big players and maybe that is the reason why the team is facing such a crisis!

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