IPL 2025: RCB go top of table as Krunal Pandya shines with bat, ball against DC

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) climbed to the top of the IPL 2025 points table after a match-winning all-round performance by Krunal Pandya helped them secure a six-wicket win over Delhi Capitals (DC) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday.

After being opt to bowl first on a tricky pitch, RCB restricted DC to 162 for 8. Bhuvneshwar Kumar led the attack with figures of 3 for 33, while Josh Hazlewood picked up 2 for 36. Spinners Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma kept things tight in the middle overs, building pressure with accurate bowling.

DC started well with a quick 28 off 11 balls from Abishek Porel, and ended strongly thanks to Tristan Stubbs' 34 off 18. But in between, their batting struggled. KL Rahul and Faf du Plessis couldn’t find momentum, and the team never really recovered. A late cameo from Stubbs and Vipraj Nigam gave DC a small boost, but Bhuvneshwar’s tight final over, despite an over-rate penalty, kept them in check.

Chasing 163, RCB were in early trouble at 26 for 3. But Krunal Pandya and Virat Kohli turned the game around with a crucial 119-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Kohli made a composed 51 off 47 balls—his sixth fifty of the season—while Krunal accelerated brilliantly, finishing unbeaten on 73 off 47 balls. His knock included a flurry of big hits, showing excellent control on a slow surface.

Tim David ensured there were no late hiccups, finishing the match in style with a series of boundaries in the 19th over, as RCB reached the target with nine balls to spare.

Krunal’s all-round effort—tight bowling followed by a match-winning knock—earned him well-deserved player of the match award and was key to RCB’s rise to the No. 1 spot. The victory also marked their seventh win on the road this season, highlighting their strong form.