RCB vs MI: Royal Challengers Break Wankhede Jinx with Thrilling 12-Run Win | IPL 2025

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Break 10-Year Wankhede Jinx with Thrilling Win Over Mumbai Indians

Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai – April 8, 2025

In a high-octane clash that lived up to its billing, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) clinched a historic 12-run win over Mumbai Indians (MI), ending a decade-long losing streak at the iconic Wankhede Stadium. The match, filled with drama, big hits, and late-game heroics, marked a turning point in RCB's season and showcased their new leadership’s growing maturity.

RCB Batting Brilliance Sets the Stage

Batting first, RCB posted a daunting total of 221/5 in 20 overs, with Virat Kohli playing a classic knock of 67 runs off 42 balls. Captain Rajat Patidar, leading from the front, added a quick-fire 64, anchoring the innings during a crucial middle phase. The duo’s 103-run partnership laid the foundation for a mammoth total.

Late cameos from Glenn Maxwell and Mahipal Lomror helped push the total beyond the 220 mark, taking full advantage of Mumbai’s bowling woes in the death overs. MI’s bowlers, particularly the younger lot, struggled with their lengths, while Jasprit Bumrah, returning from injury, looked sharp but lacked support from the other end.

MI’s Chase Falters Under Pressure

Mumbai Indians began their chase with aggression, with openers Ishan Kishan and Rohit Sharma getting off to a flying start. However, RCB’s bowlers struck back with timely breakthroughs. Suryakumar Yadav looked threatening with a blistering 41 off 23 balls, but his dismissal triggered a middle-order collapse.

Needing 19 runs off the final over, hopes were high for the home side with big-hitters like Tim David and Romario Shepherd at the crease. But Krunal Pandya, who had been entrusted with the ball in a bold move by Patidar, produced one of the finest death-over spells in RCB history.

Krunal claimed three wickets in the final over, finishing with figures of 4 for 45, sealing the victory and silencing the Wankhede crowd. His performance under pressure earned him Player of the Match honors.

Captain’s Corner

After the match, Rajat Patidar praised his team’s resilience and Krunal’s nerve, stating, “The way Krunal stepped up in that final over was nothing short of heroic. We’ve worked hard as a unit, and it’s great to finally get over the line at Wankhede after so many years.”

Krunal, who recently transitioned from an all-rounder to a specialist bowler, said, “I just focused on executing the basics. Having the backing of the captain gave me a lot of confidence.”

Mumbai Indians in Trouble

With this loss, MI have now dropped four of their five games this season, putting skipper Hardik Pandya under increasing pressure. The team has shown glimpses of brilliance but has struggled with consistency, particularly in the bowling department and in closing out tight games.

Hardik acknowledged the issues post-match, saying, “We’re not far off, but we need to be sharper in the crunch moments. We’ve got to stick together and bounce back stronger.”

Bumrah's Bright Return

Despite the defeat, one positive for Mumbai was the return of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who bowled with good rhythm after a three-month injury layoff. His early breakthroughs kept MI in the hunt and gave fans a reason to cheer.

Looking Ahead

With momentum now on their side, RCB will look to climb the points table and build on this confidence-boosting win. For Mumbai Indians, it's back to the drawing board as they search for answers in what’s becoming a challenging season.