The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) emerged victorious by four wickets against the Gujarat Titans (GT) in a thrilling encounter of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, held at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. This exhilarating match saw RCB’s bowlers excel in restricting GT to a modest total of 147, followed by an assertive opening stand that set the platform for their win. Despite some tense moments during the chase, RCB showcased their resilience and ultimately secured the crucial two points.
Opting to bowl first, RCB capitalized on a pitch that was conducive to bowling, making early inroads into GT’s batting lineup. The opening bowlers were relentless, making full use of the favorable conditions. GT found themselves in deep trouble right from the start, finishing the powerplay at a woeful 23 for three – the lowest score in the first six overs of the TATA IPL 2024, underscoring RCB’s dominance.
GT’s struggle during the powerplay was further highlighted by the fact that they managed just two boundaries in those six overs. RCB started with left-arm spinner Swapnil Singh but quickly switched to a pace attack, which proved to be highly effective. Mohamed Siraj was particularly lethal, taking two crucial wickets – getting Wriddhiman Saha to edge to the wicketkeeper in the second over and dismissing Shubman Gill with a top-edge caught on the off-side. Sai Sudharsan, GT’s top scorer this season, was also dismissed in the powerplay, trying to pull Cameron Green but only managing to get caught at mid-off.
David Miller and Shahrukh Khan then formed a much-needed partnership for GT, adding a substantial 61 runs from 37 balls and providing a glimmer of hope for their side. Miller launched the first six of the match in the 10th over, sending a delivery from Karn Sharma flying over mid-wicket. Shahrukh Khan followed suit in the next over with a six off Green, keeping the momentum alive. However, Miller’s attempt to hit another big one off Karn Sharma in the 12th over ended in his dismissal, and GT once again found themselves on the back foot when Shahrukh Khan was run out by a direct hit from Virat Kohli.
At 87 for five in the 13th over, GT was in dire straits. Rashid Khan and Rahul Tewatia tried to stage a fightback, with Tewatia aggressively targeting Karn Sharma in the 16th over to score 19 runs, including a six and three fours. Rashid contributed with two boundaries and a six before being bowled by Yash Dayal while attempting an ambitious scoop.
. Tewatia’s dismissal soon followed as he tried to pull but ended up getting caught at third-man, where Vijaykumar Vyshak took a stunning catch.
With the introduction of Vijay Shankar as their impact substitute, GT hoped to strengthen their batting. However, a flurry of wickets in the final over saw them bowled out for a paltry 147.
In response, RCB came out all guns blazing, led by their captain Faf du Plessis and the ever-reliable Virat Kohli. Kohli set the tone in the very first over, hitting Mohit Sharma for a six and following it up with a flick through mid-wicket for another boundary. Du Plessis joined the onslaught in the next over, taking 20 runs off Joshua Little, including three fours and a massive six. Manav Suthar, making his IPL debut for GT, also faced the wrath of du Plessis, who dispatched him for a six and a four.
Du Plessis was in sublime form, reaching his fifty off just 18 balls and making the boundary ropes appear much closer. Kohli, meanwhile, played second fiddle, watching from the other end as his captain unleashed a flurry of aggressive strokes. Kohli eventually got his turn, hitting back-to-back sixes off Suthar in the fifth over. However, the powerplay ended with du Plessis’s departure for a swashbuckling 64 off 23 balls, leaving RCB at a commanding 92 for one.
A twist in the tale emerged when Noor Ahmad and Joshua Little struck in quick succession to bring GT back into the game. Noor dismissed Will Jacks, who had previously scored a century against GT, while Little accounted for Rajat Patidar and Glenn Maxwell in the span of three balls. The run-rate slowed down considerably, and in the 10th over, Cameron Green was caught at third-man, resulting in Little’s fourth wicket.
The real tension set in when Kohli, batting on 42 off 27 balls, edged one off Noor Ahmad to the wicketkeeper, reducing RCB from a dominant 92 for no loss to a precarious 117 for six. However, Dinesh Karthik’s experience and Swapnil Singh’s steadying hand guided RCB through the nervy phases.
Karthik and Swapnil ensured RCB crossed the finish line comfortably in the 14th over, sealing a significant victory for the home side. This win not only bolstered RCB’s standing in the league but also sent a strong message to their competitors about their form and resilience.
