In a riveting contest at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Rajasthan Royals (RR) demonstrated exceptional all-around ability to secure a nail-biting four-wicket triumph over Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the 2024 TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) Eliminator. This victory ensures RR’s path to the Qualifier 2, where they are set to confront Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Chennai.
Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, RR aimed to capitalize on any early advantages on offer from the pitch. Their decision was vindicated as they effectively stifled RCB’s batting lineup, which, while promising, failed to reach its full potential. Several RCB batsmen managed to get decent starts, but none could anchor the innings or escalate the team’s total to a daunting score. Each time RCB hinted at mounting substantial partnerships, RR’s bowlers adeptly intervened, seizing wickets at crucial junctures to unbalance the visitors’ momentum.
The rhythm of RR’s bowling attack was set by the formidable Trent Boult, who delivered an immaculate spell with the new ball. In his opening three overs, Boult conceded just six runs and successfully dismissed RCB’s skipper, Faf du Plessis, for a mere 17 runs, establishing early dominance.
Conversely, Sandeep Sharma encountered more difficulty, leaking 12 runs in his initial over. Avesh Khan, introduced in the fourth over, faced an aggressive greeting as Virat Kohli launched a towering six off a pull shot. Boult, undeterred, snagged du Plessis’s wicket again in the fifth over with a brilliant catch by Rovman Powell at mid-wicket, further dampening RCB’s efforts to build pressure.
RCB had initially decided to send in Cameron Green at the crucial number 3 spot, pushing Rajat Patidar down the order. Completing the powerplay with 50 runs for the loss of one wicket, RCB hoped to accelerate in the middle overs. However, Yuzvendra Chahal’s introduction into the attack in the eighth over triggered a pivotal shift. Kohli, seeking to inject pace into the innings, fell after mistiming a shot to mid-wicket for 33, delivering RR a significant breakthrough.
As RCB endeavored to regain balance, a tactical duel unfolded. Green briefly launched an assault against Chahal, while Patidar cautiously sought to regain his stroke-making rhythm. Amidst this phase, R Ashwin’s miserly spell in the middle overs tightened the pressure on RCB, compelling their batsmen into high-risk strategies. Green departed for 27 from 21 balls attempting to carve another boundary, only to be captured by Powell.
. Off the subsequent delivery, Glenn Maxwell perished after skying a catch to long-on, leaving RCB teetering at 97 for four in 13 overs.
Patidar’s late resistance appeared promising as he launched two mighty sixes, but that brief surge was curtailed by Avesh, who deceived him into a mistimed shot for 34 in the 15th over. The stage was then set for an explosive finale, with Dinesh Karthik stepping in only to fend off a vociferous leg-before shout, successfully reversed on review.
In the concluding overs, Mahipal Lomror displayed commendable aggression, clobbering a quick 32 off just 17 balls to shepherd RCB past the 160-mark. Swapnil Singh and Karn Sharma added useful boundaries in the final over, lifting RCB to a competitive total of 172.
As RR commenced their chase, the initial overs saw the RCB bowlers utilizing the wicket effectively to stifle RR’s openers Yashaswi Jaiswal and Tom Kohler-Cadmore. Jaiswal, however, turned the script in the third over, striking four boundaries off Yash Dayal’s over, one of which was a heart-in-mouth moment as a slip chance was narrowly missed. The openers crafted a burgeoning 46-run stand before Kohler-Cadmore succumbed to a cunning slower delivery from Lockie Ferguson, dismissed for 20.
Sanju Samson joined Jaiswal and maintained the required run rate effectively. Jaiswal, edging closer to his half-century, attempted an audacious scoop off Green but feathered it to the keeper. Shortly thereafter, Samson misjudged a wide by Karn Sharma and was stumped for 17, heightening the sense of unpredictability in the match.
Riyan Parag was thrusted into the fray with the responsibility to spearhead the chase. Despite a nervy period marked by Dhruv Jurel’s unfortunate run-out, Parag remained composed. Teaming up with the Impact Player, Shimron Hetmyer, Parag engineered a methodical yet aggressive response, particularly targeting the vital five-over stretch when 48 runs were required.
Hetmyer’s six off Green heralded the shifting tide, and Parag’s consecutive boundaries sealed their control over the run rate. Hetmyer’s crucial cameo, after a hiatus from playing, was testament to his adept handling of pressure and inherent game-changing capability.
Despite Mohammad Siraj returning to dispatch both Parag (for 36 from 26) and Hetmyer (for 26 off 14), the task was dramatically simplified to a run-a-ball scenario. Rovman Powell then capped off the chase with aplomb, dispatching two elegant boundaries and a towering six in the penultimate over to prop RR to victory.
With momentum firmly on their side, RR now eyes the stern test against KKR in Chennai, inspired by this pulsating win.