In an exhilarating clash at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) triumphed over the Gujarat Titans (GT) by four wickets. This match, part of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, saw strategic plays and magnificent performances that led to RCB’s victory, securing them two vital points.
The match commenced with RCB winning the toss and electing to bowl first, a decision influenced by the pitch conditions, which were favorable for bowlers. The RCB bowlers capitalized on this advantage, delivering an impressive performance that left the GT batsmen struggling for runs. By the end of the powerplay, GT was in disarray with a score of only 23 for three, marking the lowest powerplay score of the IPL season.
The RCB bowling attack, led by Mohd. Siraj, wreaked havoc early in the innings. Siraj dismissed Wriddhiman Saha with an edge to the wicketkeeper in the second over and removed Shubman Gill, who top-edged to the off-side. The powerplay ended with Cameron Green dismissing Sai Sudharsan, GT’s top scorer this season, caught at mid-off. The GT innings saw little respite as wickets tumbled, and boundaries were scarce during the initial six overs, highlighting RCB’s dominance.
Trying to stabilize their innings, GT’s middle-order batsmen, David Miller and Shahrukh Khan, built a crucial partnership, adding 61 runs off 37 balls. Miller and Shahrukh showed sensible batting, rotating the strike efficiently and finding boundaries to rebuild momentum. Miller hit the first six of the match in the 10th over off Karn Sharma, and Shahrukh followed suit in the next over against Green. However, their efforts were cut short; Miller fell to Karn Sharma, and Shahrukh was run out by a direct hit from Virat Kohli.
At 87 for five in the 13th over, GT found themselves in deep trouble again. Rashid Khan and Rahul Tewatia attempted to accelerate the scoring with some aggressive shots, with Tewatia attacking Karn in particular, claiming 19 runs off his over including a six and multiple fours. Rashid supported with two fours and a six in his brief cameo before Yash Dayal bowled him out. Tewatia’s innings also came to an end as he edged a pull to third-man, where Vijaykumar Vyshak took a stunning catch.
.
In a desperate bid to bolster their batting, GT introduced Vijay Shankar as their impact player. Unfortunately, the plan did not bear fruit as GT lost three wickets in the final over, culminating in their total score of 147, below par given their batting prowess and the conditions.
RCB’s response was fierce and commanding from the outset, led by their captain Faf du Plessis and superstar Virat Kohli. Kohli set the tone by hitting a six off Mohit Sharma in the first over and continued with a boundary to end the over. The onslaught intensified with Joshua Little conceding 20 runs in the second over, where du Plessis hammered three fours and a six. Manav Suthar, making his IPL debut for GT, also faced the wrath of du Plessis, who launched him over long-on for a six and followed it with a drive for four.
Du Plessis was in imperious form, racing to his fifty off just 18 balls, and carried RCB to a fiery start. Kohli, having less of the strike, played support initially but joined the party with two consecutive sixes off Suthar in the fifth over. The powerplay concluded with du Plessis’ dismissal by Little for a blistering 64 off 23 balls, leaving RCB at 92 for one and in prime position to chase down the target.
However, GT staged a comeback as Noor Ahmad and Little tightened the screws. Noor claimed the prized wicket of Jacks, who had previously scored a century against GT, while Little dismissed Impact Player Rajat Patidar and Glenn Maxwell in quick succession. Maxwell and Green both fell trying to play aggressive shots, and the run-rate decelerated. Noor then delivered another crucial blow by dismissing Kohli, who edged to Saha after scoring 42 off 27 balls, causing a few nervous moments in the RCB camp.
Despite the stutter from 92 for no loss to 117 for six, RCB’s experience shone through. Dinesh Karthik and Swapnil Singh steadied the ship with calm and composure, guiding their team to safety. The duo’s sensible batting ensured that RCB reached the target in the 14th over, sealing a well-deserved victory by four wickets.
This thrilling encounter not only showcased the prowess of RCB’s bowling attack but also their ability to handle pressure situations with poise. For GT, it was a match of missed opportunities and learning curves, as they would look to bounce back stronger in their upcoming fixtures.
