Royal Challengers Bengaluru pacers dismantle Delhi Capitals in record-breaking win.

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru secured a commanding nine-wicket victory over Delhi Capitals after Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar executed a bowling masterclass at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. The host's batting lineup collapsed to a staggering 13/6 within the first six overs, marking the lowest powerplay score in the history of the tournament. Chasing a meager target of 76, Bengaluru needed only 6.3 overs to finish the contest, further cementing their second-place position on the points table.

Josh Hazlewood led the destruction with clinical figures of 4 for 12, while veteran swing specialist Bhuvneshwar Kumar provided lethal support with 3 for 5. The Delhi top order appeared helpless against the moving ball, losing six wickets for just eight runs within the first 23 deliveries. Only Abishek Porel and David Miller offered resistance, dragging the total to 75 to avoid the ignominy of the lowest team total ever recorded in the league.

Kohli Reaches Milestone in Rapid Chase

Virat Kohli used the brief chase to etch his name deeper into the record books. He became the first player to surpass 9,000 runs in the competition, finishing unbeaten on 23. His innings concluded with back-to-back sixes against T Natarajan to seal the win. Devdutt Padikkal complemented the effort with a blistering 34 off just 13 balls, ensuring the net run rate received a significant boost.

Historically, the Arun Jaitley Stadium - formerly Feroz Shah Kotla - has favored spinners, but the fresh surface provided unexpected seam movement that the Bengaluru veterans exploited perfectly. This victory marks Bengaluru's largest win by balls remaining, showcasing a side that looks increasingly ready to defend its crown.

Inputs from Agency Threads and Image Courtesy: ANI