In a thrilling showdown at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the Rajasthan Royals (RR) exhibited a commanding all-round performance to clinch victory over the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) by four wickets in the Eliminator of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. The victory propels them into Qualifier 2, where they will face the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Chennai.
Winning the toss, Rajasthan Royals opted to field first, a decision that paid dividends as their bowling attack consistently disrupted RCB’s batting momentum. Although RCB’s innings appeared promising at intervals with several players getting off to good starts, none could capitalize and convert them into substantial scores. Each time RCB seemed poised for a bigger total, RR’s bowlers struck crucial blows to halt their progress.
The RR bowling attack was spearheaded by Trent Boult, who delivered an exceptional spell with the new ball, conceding just six runs in his first three overs and claiming the valuable wicket of Faf du Plessis, who scored 17 before falling in the fifth over. Contrasting this superb start, Sandeep Sharma’s second over of the match conceded 12 runs, setting a tempo that RCB hoped to build upon.
However, the stand-in skipper for RR, Avesh Khan, faced Virat Kohli in the fourth over, who greeted him with a powerful pull shot that sent the ball over the boundary. Boult’s brilliance shone again as he dismissed du Plessis with a well-planned delivery that resulted in a skillful diving catch by Rovman Powell at mid-wicket, showcasing RR’s prowess in the field.
Rising to the challenge, Cameron Green was promoted to No. 3, replacing Rajat Patidar. As the powerplay concluded, RCB reached 50 for the loss of one wicket. The introduction of Yuzvendra Chahal in the eighth over added further drama, as Kohli, trying to accelerate the run-rate, fell victim, sending an easy catch to mid-wicket after scoring 33. This breakthrough was crucial for RR, setting the stage for an intense contest.
In the subsequent overs, the match became a see-saw battle. Green took an aggressive stance against Chahal, whereas Patidar preferred a measured approach, taking his time to settle in.
. Ravichandran Ashwin played a pivotal role in the middle overs, controlling the flow of runs and building immense pressure on the RCB batsmen, forcing them into risky shots.
A key moment came when Patidar, having been granted a reprieve after a fielding error, fell for 34 in the 15th over, mistiming a shot to mid-off from Avesh Khan’s bowling. The middle-order anchors, Glenn Maxwell and Dinesh Karthik, faced relentless pressure from RR’s bowlers, with Maxwell dismissed for naught in an enthralling back-to-back ball sequence.
The tail end of RCB’s innings saw a spirited assault led by Mahipal Lomror, who smashed 32 runs off 17 balls. His robust hitting ensured RCB crossed the 160-run mark, eventually setting RR a target of 172 as Swapnil Singh and Karn Sharma steered the latter part of the innings with vital boundaries.
In response, RR’s innings began cautiously against RCB’s disciplined bowling. Yashaswi Jaiswal lifted the scoring rate in the third over by playing exquisite strokes, including four boundaries off Yash Dayal. Despite initial resistance, RR’s openers managed a steady partnership, adding 46 runs before Lockie Ferguson dismissed Tom Kohler-Cadmore for 20 with a deceptive slower ball.
Sanju Samson joined Jaiswal to maintain a steady chase. However, following Jaiswal’s exit, trying to outsmart Green, Samson faltered against Karn, falling stumped for 17. The responsibility then shifted to Riyan Parag, requiring him to anchor the innings amidst pressure and a skilful run-out of Dhruv Jurel, courtesy of Kohli’s brilliance.
Partnered with Shimron Hetmyer, the two set a carefully paced assault on RCB’s bowlers. Heading into the final stretch with a requirement of 48 runs from the last five overs, Hetmyer’s timely six over long-on against Green and Parag’s calculated shots, including a four and a six, significantly narrowed the gap in RR’s favor.
Mohammed Siraj attempted to pull RCB back into the contest by dismissing both Parag and Hetmyer, but by then, RR required just a run-a-ball. Powell stepped in to finish the proceedings emphatically with two boundaries and a six, sealing the victory for RR with an over to spare.
The Jaipur-based franchise now focuses its sights on the next challenge in Chennai, where they will lock horns with the Kolkata Knight Riders in what promises to be another exhilarating contest in this high-octane IPL season.