Tilak, Pandya's plunder in vain as RCB defeat MI in high-scoring IPL thriller

Mumbai/IBNS: Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya's ransacking at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai proved futile as Mumbai Indians suffered a 12-run defeat against Royal Challengers Bangalore in a thriller in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 on Monday.
Tilak's 29-ball 56 and captain Pandya's 15-ball 42 kept hopes of MI alive in the chase for 222 in 20 overs for the longest time.
The duo's dismissal after power-packed innings led MI to slowly lose steam to end the run-chase at 209-9 in 20 overs.
Krunal Pandya (4/45 in 4 overs), who has been brilliant in the fielding, sent the lower-order batters including dangerous-looking Naman Dhir and Mitchell Santner packing to wrap up RCB's job for the night.
India's cricket icon Virat Kohli (67 from 42 balls) and captain Rajat Patidar (64 from 32 balls) anchored the RCB innings in the evening helping the visitors to pile up 221-5 in 20 overs.
After the stage was set perfectly by Kohli and Patidar, wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma capitalised on his colleagues' efforts amassing 40 from only 19 balls to drive RCB to a giant score.
Remaining unbeaten, Sharma slammed 2 fours and 4 sixes to prolong MI's poor run in IPL 2025.