New Delhi, 13 April (H.S.):

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) secured a commanding 18-run victory over Mumbai Indians at Wankhede Stadium on Sunday, etching their highest-ever score at the venue while showcasing batting firepower and clutch bowling.

Phil Salt's blistering 78 off 36 balls and skipper Rajat Patidar's ferocious 53 off 20—featuring a tournament-record fastest captain's fifty in 17 balls—propelled RCB to a daunting total. Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma's incisive spells sealed the chase's denial.

Post-match, Patidar lauded the batting unit's rhythm: We're consistently breaching 200, instilling immense captaincy confidence amid abundant talent. On his approach: I react instinctively to the ball, targeting bowlers surgically while scouting scoring windows from the dugout.

Krunal Pandya praised Salt's aggressive powerplay, Virat Kohli, and Tim David's cameos, hailing Patidar's four-innings clarity. Patidar spotlighted Rasikh's pivotal spell—slower balls and yorkers—as the game-changer despite dew, calling Krunal courageously versatile, perpetually unsettling batters.

Head coach Malolan Rangarajan saluted Rasikh's tenacity, battling cramps to deliver. Patidar anticipates electric 12th man fervor at Chinnaswamy, while Krunal cherishes Wankhede-Chinnaswamy vibes but prioritizes team wins.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar