In a high-octane clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the Rajasthan Royals (RR) emerged victorious over the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Eliminator match of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. The Royals managed to chase down a target of 173 with four wickets in hand, securing their passage to Qualifier 2, where they will face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Chennai.
The match began with RR winning the toss and opting to bowl first. RCB’s innings displayed early promise with multiple batters getting solid starts, but none could go on to make a substantial score. This recurring issue thwarted their attempt to build a sizeable total as RR’s bowlers made timely breakthroughs to keep the momentum in check.
New ball specialist Trent Boult set the tone with a superb spell, conceding only six runs in his three overs while claiming the prized wicket of RCB skipper, Faf du Plessis, who managed just 17 runs. Boult’s dismissal of du Plessis came in the fifth over, with Rovman Powell taking a sharp diving catch at deep mid-wicket.
Virat Kohli, leading from the front, tried to stabilize the innings and played an aggressive pull shot for six against Avesh Khan in the fourth over. However, Kohli’s aggressive tactics eventually led to his downfall. In an effort to escalate RCB’s run rate, Kohli holed out to mid-wicket off Yuzvendra Chahal for 33. This crucial wicket left RCB at 50 for two by the end of the powerplay.
RCB sent the big-hitting Cameron Green to bat at No. 3, hoping for quick runs. Unfortunately, Green fell for 27 off 21 balls in the 13th over, caught at cover by Powell off R Ashwin. Glenn Maxwell followed suit almost immediately, getting caught by long-on, leaving RCB stumbling at 97 for four.
Rajat Patidar also struggled to make an impact, contributing 34 runs before he was dismissed in the 15th over, skying a catch to mid-off off Avesh Khan. A moment of drama ensued when Dinesh Karthik survived a leg-before wicket appeal, with the on-field umpire’s decision being overturned by the third umpire.
Amidst the fall of wickets, Mahipal Lomror’s quickfire 32 off 17 balls injected some momentum into RCB’s innings, helping them cross the 160-run mark.
. The final over saw some critical boundaries from Swapnil Singh and Karn Sharma, pushing the total score to a competitive 172.
The run chase for RR started cautiously as RCB’s bowlers exploited the early assistance from the wicket. Yashaswi Jaiswal, however, broke the initial shackles with a series of boundaries off Yash Dayal in the third over. His aggressive approach, combined with Tom Kohler-Cadmore’s brief cameo of 20 runs, saw RR reach 46 for one at the end of the fifth over after Ferguson bowled Kohler-Cadmore with a slower ball.
Sanju Samson joined Jaiswal, and together they maintained the required run rate, finding boundaries at regular intervals. Jaiswal, nearing a half-century, attempted a risky scoop shot against Green and was caught by the wicketkeeper for 40. Shortly after, Samson was stumped off a wide delivery from Karn Sharma for 17.
With the RR innings in a delicate position, Riyan Parag took up the responsibility to guide the chase. Despite a hiccup where Dhruv Jurel was run out following an exceptional effort by Kohli, Parag remained composed. Shimron Hetmyer, brought in as the Impact Player, also played a crucial role. Their calculated aggression put pressure back on RCB’s bowlers.
In the 16th over, Hetmyer blasted a six over long-on off Green, while Parag added another six and a boundary to reduce the required rate significantly. Hetmyer’s invaluable 26 off 14 balls came at a time when RR needed to accelerate, and Parag’s stellar performance of 36 off 26 balls provided stability.
Although Mohammad Siraj managed to dismiss both Parag and Hetmyer in quick succession, Rovman Powell sealed the victory for RR with a composed finish. Powell’s unbeaten knock, punctuated by two fours and a six, ensured RR crossed the finish line in the penultimate over.
With this emphatic win, the Rajasthan Royals now look forward to their clash against the Kolkata Knight Riders in Qualifier 2 at Chennai. The team’s all-round performance in the Eliminator has certainly set the stage for an exciting battle ahead as they inch closer to the IPL 2024 final.