RCB vs DC: In a clash where momentum swung like a pendulum and every over had the crowd at the edge of their seats, it took just six balls to tilt the contest decisively.

Amidst the fireworks from KL Rahul and the late flourish by Tristan Stubbs, the true turning point in Delhi Capitals' successful chase wasn't a six or a wicket - it was absence. And that absence came in the form of control from Josh Hazlewood's 15th over.

RCB had clawed their way back into the game after a shaky start with the ball. At 58/4, Delhi were reeling. The crowd was alive, the bowlers were disciplined, and there was genuine belief that RCB could finally break their home jinx.

KL Rahul and Stubbs were still settling in, and every dot ball brought with it a roar of hope from the Chinnaswamy faithful.

The Over That Changed the Game

Josh Hazlewood, the Australian pace spearhead known for his discipline and sharp lines, was handed the ball. At this stage, DC still needed over 50 runs with six wickets in hand. A tight over here, possibly a wicket, and RCB would've had their fingers on the trophy's edge. But instead of tightening the noose, Hazlewood's over offered Delhi Capitals a breath of fresh air - and they inhaled it with gusto.

KL Rahul, who had bided his time brilliantly till then, took the reins. The over went for 18 runs - three boundaries and a six peppered in between - and suddenly the equation looked manageable. It was the moment when the crowd's cheer dropped to a nervous murmur. The pressure, so carefully built by the RCB bowlers, was dismantled in a flash.

"He just capitalised on that one over," said Stubbs post-match. "Sometimes you don't need to do too much when you've got KL at the other end."

A Departure from Hazlewood's Script

It wasn't just about the number of runs. Hazlewood, who had bowled two overs for just four runs up until that point, surprisingly missed his lengths. For a bowler renowned for his nagging accuracy, the 15th over saw a rare lapse - full tosses, width, and predictable slower balls that sat up nicely.

And KL Rahul - in the form of his life - wasn't going to miss out.

"From wicketkeeping I figured that the ball sat in the wicket a little bit but it was consistent throughout," Rahul said after being named Player of the Match. "I knew what my shots are.

Just wanted to get off to a good start, be aggressive initially and assess it from there."

That 15th over was when assessment gave way to execution. It was the moment when Rahul turned from survivor to finisher.

Why It Mattered More Than Any Boundary

Every T20 match has its "highlight" moment - the towering six, the diving catch, or the final celebratory run. But rarely do we talk about the subtle shift of pressure that precedes those fireworks. Hazlewood's over didn't just gift runs, it deflated a bowling unit that had fought hard to keep DC in check.

It brought DC's required run-rate down under 9 and set the stage for Stubbs to finish with flair.

Axar Patel admitted the match had tense phases, but this over made it easier: "The way the team is playing, everyone is confident… but Rahul's innings made my job easy. That over was a momentum-changer."

Even RCB skipper Rajat Patidar reflected on the lapse: "I don't think so (if the batters were overconfident)… but we need to assess the situation better. That has been positive - the way Tim David accelerated was amazing, the bowling in the powerplay was special - but we let it slip in the middle."

A Moment That Echoed Through the Dugouts

The emotional shift was visible. The Delhi dugout, till then nervous and measured, burst into animated chatter after the 15th. Coaches leaned forward. Stubbs began shadow-batting with more purpose. The RCB shoulders drooped ever so slightly.

And perhaps the most telling image - a frustrated Hazlewood walking back to his mark, shaking his head, as Rahul calmly tapped his bat.

A Costly Miss for a Team Desperate at Home

RCB's Bengaluru blues continue. This was their second consecutive home defeat in IPL 2025, and this one will sting even more because it was within reach. With a total of 163 that was competitive if not intimidating, they had DC on the ropes. But in T20s, it only takes one misstep.

Hazlewood is not to blame alone - this was a collective lapse. But that one over was the slip that opened the floodgates.

In the End, It Was All Rahul - But That Over Lit the Spark

KL Rahul might have been the headline act, thumping his chest in celebration after sealing the win, but it was Hazlewood's 15th over that handed him the keys to the stage.

For Delhi Capitals, it marked a landmark - four wins in a row, and momentum rolling at just the right time. For RCB, it was another chapter in a familiar story of "what ifs" and "almosts" at home.

And for those watching closely, it was a reminder that in cricket, sometimes the biggest moments don't come with fireworks - they arrive quietly, in six balls that change everything.