Match overview
Royal Challengers Bangalore defeated Rajasthan Royals by 11 runs at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, on 24 April 2025 in the IPL 2025 T20 competition. Batting first, RCB reached 205/5, a total built on a solid powerplay of 59 runs without loss and sustained pressure through the middle overs. Rajasthan's reply started brightly, 72 off the powerplay suggesting a close finish, but five wickets fell in the death overs for just 46 runs and they were bowled out for 194/9. Josh Hazlewood was named Player of the Match for his contribution with the ball in the closing stages.
The margin of 11 runs was tight enough to reflect Rajasthan's fight, yet the collapse in the final overs made the result look comfortable in the end. For Royal Challengers Bangalore, it was a third win in five matches in the 2025 campaign. For Rajasthan, it extended a run of four consecutive defeats that has put their IPL 2025 season under significant pressure.
Venue and conditions
M. Chinnaswamy Stadium is among the most batter-friendly grounds in the IPL. Across 142 matches at the venue, the average first-innings score sits at 196, and the average powerplay contributes around 43 runs. RCB's powerplay tally of 59 was well above that baseline, giving them an early platform that Rajasthan could never quite match. The death overs typically yield 40 runs on average at the ground; RCB extracted 49, and Rajasthan managed 46 despite needing more.
The chase success rate at Chinnaswamy is 55%, which made Rajasthan's pursuit a genuine contest on paper. Rajasthan Royals won the toss and elected to field, consistent with a venue where 76% of toss-winners choose to bowl first. The logic is sound in theory, particularly when dew in the evening session can make the ball harder to grip for spinners. On this occasion, the toss advantage did not translate.
The pitch phase breakdown tells the story of both innings. RCB lost no wicket in the powerplay and only one in the middle overs, meaning the bulk of their batting depth was intact for the death. Rajasthan, facing a 206-run target, went harder from the start, losing 2 powerplay wickets for 72, then 2 more in the middle for 76. The death phase, where they needed roughly 50 off the last four overs, produced just 46 and cost 5 wickets.
How to watch
IPL 2025 is available in the UK on Sky Sports Cricket, with live coverage of all matches. Subscribers can stream via Sky Go on mobile and desktop, or access matches through a NOW TV day or monthly pass without a full Sky subscription. Given the time difference between the UK and India, most IPL evening fixtures kick off between 14:30 and 15:00 UK time, with day games starting around 09:30.
Recent form
Royal Challengers Bangalore arrive at this fixture on the back of three wins from five in the 2025 IPL, with victories against Punjab Kings, Rajasthan Royals (this match), and Mumbai Indians offset by losses to Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals. Their results have been inconsistent but enough to keep them competitive in the standings.
Rajasthan Royals' recent run makes difficult reading. Four defeats in a row, against Lucknow Super Giants, Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Titans, and now Royal Challengers Bangalore, represent a sharp downturn. Their only win in that stretch came against Punjab Kings. With the playoff picture tightening across the IPL 2025 table, Rajasthan face a difficult set of fixtures to recover ground.
