In what turned out to be a thrilling contest, Rajasthan Royals (RR) emerged victorious by four wickets over the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Eliminator of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. The exhilarating match, hosted at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, has taken RR one step closer to the championship, propelling them into Qualifier 2 where they will face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Chennai.
The match began with RR winning the toss and electing to bowl first—a decision that would soon prove strategic. RCB’s innings looked promising at multiple junctures, with various batters getting decent starts. Yet, none of them were able to capitalize and convert those starts into a substantial score. Every potential surge of momentum by RCB was curtailed effectively by RR’s bowlers, keeping the run rate in check and chipping away with crucial wickets.
Trent Boult set the tone for RR with a remarkable opening spell, conceding a mere six runs in his three overs and claiming the wicket of RCB’s captain Faf du Plessis for 17 runs. Although Sandeep Sharma’s second over gave away 12 runs, Virat Kohli greeted Avesh Khan with a mammoth pull shot for six when he was introduced in the fourth over. However, du Plessis’ attempt to accelerate further was cut short by Boult in the fifth over when Rovman Powell took an impressive diving catch at mid-wicket.
As Cameron Green came in at No. 3, RCB finished the powerplay at a decent 50 for one. Yuzvendra Chahal’s introduction in the eighth over turned the tide when Kohli, aiming to up the ante, mistimed a shot and was caught at mid-wicket for 33. RR had secured a critical breakthrough, and a see-saw battle ensued. Green appeared aggressive against Chahal, while Rajat Patidar played cautiously to regain his form.
The middle overs saw an excellent spell by veteran off-spinner R Ashwin, who kept RCB’s run rate tightly controlled. The mounting pressure led to RCB’s batters making some high-risk shots. Patidar was given a lifeline when the long-on fielder dropped a catch, but soon, Green (27 off 21 balls) was caught at cover by Powell off the bowling of Chahal in the 13th over. Glenn Maxwell fell off the next ball, hitting straight to long-on, leaving RCB at 97 for four.
Patidar then seemed to find his rhythm, smashing two sixes within seven balls. Nevertheless, his streak was cut short by Avesh Khan in the 15th over when he holed out to mid-off for 34. Dinesh Karthik’s arrival saw immediate drama, with a successful leg-before appeal that was overturned by the third umpire.
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In the slog overs, Mahipal Lomror’s aggressive batting was instrumental in pushing RCB to a competitive total. His quickfire 32 off 17 balls ensured that RCB crossed the 160-run mark. The last over featured crucial contributions from Swapnil Singh and Karn Sharma, driving RCB to a final score of 172.
RR’s innings began cautiously, with the RCB bowlers making early inroads. The quiet start was broken by Yashaswi Jaiswal in the third over, where he smacked four fours off Yash Dayal, despite a tough chance dropped at first slip. The opening partnership between Jaiswal and Tom Kohler-Cadmore took RR to 46 in the fifth over before Lockie Ferguson bowled Kohler-Cadmore for 20 with a clever slower ball.
Sanju Samson and Jaiswal managed to maintain the pace with required boundaries. Jaiswal, nearing his half-century, attempted to scoop Green but edged it to the wicketkeeper, falling for a brisk 40. Samson then attempted to go after Karn Sharma but was stumped for 17.
The onus was then on Riyan Parag to anchor the chase. Despite a brief scare when Dhruv Jurel was run-out magnificently by a direct hit from Kohli, Parag remained composed. Partnered with Shimron Hetmyer, the designated Impact Player, Parag launched a calculated assault on RCB’s bowlers.
With five overs remaining, RR needed 48 runs. Hetmyer blasted a six off the first ball from Green, followed by Parag lofting a six over cover and threading a four through third-man. This momentum swing put RR in a dominant position, reducing the required run rate significantly. Hetmyer’s crucial experience shined through, even as Mohammed Siraj returned to dismiss both Parag (36 off 26) and Hetmyer (26 off 14 balls), leaving RR needing a run-a-ball.
Rovman Powell ensured there were no further stumbles, finishing the game in grand style with two boundaries and a six in the penultimate over. With this win, RR confidently advances to the next challenge in Chennai.
The journey continues for Rajasthan Royals as they gear up to face the formidable Kolkata Knight Riders in Qualifier 2. Will they carry forward their momentum and eye the IPL crown? Cricket fans are in for an enthralling contest.