Hazlewood’s Late Spell Crushes Rajasthan Dreams
The tension at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium was heavy as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) finally snapped their home ground jinx, pulling off an 11-run win over Rajasthan Royals (RR) in a high-stakes IPL 2025 clash. This wasn’t just relief for the crowd—it was release, after a string of painful results at their supposed fortress. At the heart of this turnaround? Josh Hazlewood, the methodical Australian quick, served a reminder why he’s regarded as one of the world’s smartest death bowlers. He posted figures of 4/33, but it was the timing of his destruction that stole the show.
It all boiled down to the 19th over. With RR sensing a win—Yashasvi Jaiswal had already blitzed 49 from just 19 balls, and Shimron Hetmyer hovered as a threat—Hazlewood stepped up. He unleashed his full arsenal: slower balls, sharp yorkers, and deceptive hard lengths. He gave away a single run. One run, in an over where game direction pivots. He prized out both Jaiswal and Hetmyer, draining the Rajasthan momentum and underlining that raw pace isn’t always the answer—head and heart matter just as much.
RCB’s Batting Clicks, RR’s Familiar Pain
RCB didn’t run away with the game from the start. The Kohli-Padikkal partnership, though, set the platform. Virat Kohli, with his trademark measured aggression, steadied the innings and anchored as he does so often. Padikkal, ever the reliable second fiddle, provided the solidity RCB has struggled to find at times. Together, they stitched runs methodically, nudging and driving past boundary riders. Their stand nudged RCB to a competitive total—a total that, at one point, looked like it could be swallowed by Rajasthan’s top order firepower.
Rajasthan’s chase wasn’t devoid of hope. Jaiswal’s early assault rattled the RCB attack, while the middle order promised intent on paper. But things started fraying in those crucial last overs. When the pressure rolled in, experience and temperament failed them once again. Hazlewood’s wickets proved doubly precious: not just for who he got out, but when. With Hetmyer and Jaiswal both cooling their heels in the dugout, RR’s batters played into RCB’s hands. The end result? Another Rajasthan collapse. Their struggles to finish tight matches aren’t new—look at recent seasons, and you’ll spot the same pattern of late-innings fumbles. Even captain Riyan Parag had no sugar-coating for the defeat, saying they lost all control at the finish line.
Head coach Andy Flower wasn’t shy with his praise for Hazlewood. He called his bowler a ‘class operator’, pointing out just how crucial it is to mix lengths and deceive with subtlety, not just speed. Flower knows what everyone saw out there: in the battle of execution versus nerves, Hazlewood’s cold, clinical approach reigned supreme.
The playoff picture, now, just got a little more intriguing. RCB, revived by this vital home win, keep their postseason hopes ticking. For Rajasthan Royals, the question remains whether they can crack the code in the closing overs, or if they’ll keep self-destructing at the end. With every heartbreaking finish, the pressure only grows.
