The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium — once a fortress, later a graveyard of RCB hopes. But on April 24, 2025, history was rewritten.
For the first time this season, Royal Challengers Bengaluru finally gave their home crowd something to cheer about — and they did it in style.
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This wasn’t just a win. This was a redemption arc. A curse lifted. A moment where heartbreak turned to high-fives. And standing tall in the middle of it all was Sir Josh Hazlewood.
RCB batted first and looked in complete control. Virat Kohli, the heartbeat of the franchise, was in his element — 70 off 42 balls.
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He timed, he ran, he punished. Along with Padikkal, he set the tone with class and intent. By the time Tim David and Jitesh Sharma came in, the fireworks were already primed — they took RCB to 205/5.
Yashasvi Jaiswal of Rajasthan Royals came out swinging. He was fearless. Aggressive. Sharp on anything short or wide.
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For a while it looked like he might pull off a heist. The momentum was with RR, especially after Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s 18th over went for 22 runs.
Suddenly RCB’s hard work looked like it might be undone. But then…
Josh Hazlewood: The Gamechanger When all hope seemed lost, Josh Hazlewood walked in with the ball and turned Chinnaswamy into a theatre of dreams. 19th over: 6 balls, 1 run, 2 wickets.
In one over he ripped RR’s chase apart and choked their momentum. The highlight?
His perfect blend of line, length and lethal accuracy — a textbook reminder of why he’s called Mr. Consistent.
This over wasn’t just a match-turner — it was a moment of legend. Kohli knew it. Fans knew it.
And when Kohli ran towards Hazlewood after that final delivery — arms out, pure emotion — it was a moment that said: “You did it, mate.”
And if that wasn’t enough, this match also saw Hazlewood achieve a major personal milestone —
150 T20 wickets.A bowler who’s been the quiet warrior, the tactical destroyer and the death-over sniper. Doesn’t matter if it’s a new ball or old — Hazlewood delivers.
Today he reminded everyone that he’s not just an overseas player — he’s an RCB legend in the making.
So who won it for RCB? Kohli with his 70? Tim and Jitesh with the late charge? The entire team effort?
Yes — but one name must be etched in bold: Josh Hazlewood. The man who gave only 1 run in the 19th over, took 2 wickets and pulled RCB back from the brink.
The man who now has 150 T20 wickets and is still humble and lethal. The man who made Kohli run like a fanboy.
Josh Hazlewood plays for my franchise. That’s not just pride. It’s arrogance, privilege and an elite level flex.
