In a high-stakes battle at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Rajasthan Royals (RR) displayed a commendable all-around performance to clinch a four-wicket victory against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Eliminator of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. This crucial win now propels RR into Qualifier 2, where they are set to face the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the prestigious M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
The match commenced with RR opting to bowl first, having won the toss. The RCB innings opened with much promise as several of their batsmen managed solid starts, yet none capitalized on it by converting those into significant scores. Every time RCB seemed poised to take charge, RR’s bowlers would decisively step in, disrupting their momentum with timely wickets.
Trent Boult delivered a spectacular opening spell with the new ball, restricting the oppositions’ runs to a mere six in his three overs and claiming the critical wicket of RCB captain, Faf du Plessis, who departed for 17 runs. Although runs flowed at the other end with Sandeep Sharma conceding 12 runs in the second over, the introduction of Avesh Khan in the fourth over saw Virat Kohli welcoming him with a confident pull shot for a six.
Boult proved instrumental again in the fifth over by dismissing du Plessis, who attempted a big shot over mid-wicket only to be caught in a breathtaking dive by Rovman Powell in the deep. With Cameron Green walking in next at number three, preferring him over Rajat Patidar, RCB completed their powerplay with a score of 50 for one.
As the game progressed to the eighth over, Yuzvendra Chahal was brought into the attack, compelling Kohli to go on the offensive. Kohli, in trying to ramp up RCB’s scoring rate, found himself holing out to mid-wicket for 33 runs, handing RR their much-needed breakthrough. A gripping battle ensued over the subsequent overs, with Green aggressively taking on Chahal while Patidar was still taking the time to settle in and anchor the innings.
Meanwhile, the tactical prowess of R. Ashwin came to the fore in the middle overs as he maintained tight line and length, choking up the runs from the other end, thereby pressuring RCB’s batsmen into attempting risky shots. Patidar, although momentarily free from the pressure thanks to a missed catch by the long-on fielder, soon witnessed his partner Green (27 off 21 balls) and Glenn Maxwell depart in the same over, both succumbing to Powell’s catches.
RCB found themselves teetering at 97 for four after 13 overs, yet Patidar seemed to find his rhythm shortly after, belting two sixes in quick succession within the span of seven balls. However, the recovery was short-lived as Avesh Khan struck in the 15th over, claiming the crucial wicket of Patidar for 34 runs.
. Dinesh Karthik walked in thereafter but faced an immediate and loud appeal which was later overruled by the third umpire, saving him from an early dismissal.
In the closing overs, Mahipal Lomror showcased his aggressive batting style, scoring a swift 32 off 17 balls to push RCB’s innings past the 160-mark. The tail-end contributions from Swapnil Singh and Karn Sharma added a few boundaries, taking RCB to a defendable total of 172.
Facing a challenging task, RR began their run chase under pressure, as RCB bowlers initially found success from the pitch, containing runs effectively in the first two overs. It was Yashaswi Jaiswal who broke free, taking advantage in the third over by scoring four boundaries off Yash Dayal’s deliveries. Out of those, one boundary was a relief following a difficult dropped catch at first slip. The RR openers managed to stitch together a 46-run partnership before RCB got their first breakthrough when Lockie Ferguson bowled Tom Kohler-Cadmore out with a deceptive slower ball.
The run-chase saw skipper Sanju Samson joining Jaiswal at the crease, as both attempted to keep the required run rate in check. Jaiswal, with the halfway mark looming, attempted an ambitious scoop off Green but was dismissed, caught behind for a well-fought 40. Soon after, Samson too fell prey to Karn Sharma’s bowling, resulting in a stumping dismissal for 17 runs off a wide ball.
Under mounting pressure, Riyan Parag took up the baton to drive RR’s chase forward. Despite a mix-up leading to Dhruv Jurel’s stunning run-out, masterminded by Kohli’s sharp fielding, Parag remained composed. With invaluable support from Shimron Hetmyer, the designated Impact Player, RR mounted a calculated offensive on RCB’s bowlers.
Entering the decisive final stretch, RR needed 48 runs in the last five overs. Hetmyer initiated the assault with a towering six over long-on off Green, followed by Parag launching a six over cover and carving out a four through third-man. This strategic batting sequence heavily favored RR, effectively easing the required run rate and bringing the match firmly within RR’s grasp. Hetmyer’s crucial innings saw him making a huge impact post his comeback, blending experience and calmness under pressure, despite his eventual dismissal by Mohammed Siraj.
With the equation cut down to a simple run-a-ball, Rovman Powell made his presence felt, ensuring an RR triumph by closing out the match in the penultimate over, smashing two fours and a six to seal the victory.
An exhilarating encounter concluded with Rajasthan Royals firmly setting their sights on Chennai, where the stakes and expectations will be even higher as they lock horns with Kolkata Knight Riders in Qualifier 2.