In a gripping contest at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Rajasthan Royals (RR) edged past Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) by four wickets in the Eliminator of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. This victory not only demonstrated RR’s unwavering determination but also secured their place in Qualifier 2, where they are set to take on the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Chennai.
The Rajasthan Royals won the toss and opted to bowl first, setting the stage for a tense encounter. As the innings unfolded, it was a story of missed opportunities for RCB, as several batters managed to get good starts but failed to convert them into substantial scores. RR’s bowlers applied pressure at crucial moments, striking regularly to disrupt RCB’s momentum just as they seemed poised to increase the tempo.
The highlight of RR’s bowling attack was Trent Boult, who delivered an extraordinary spell with the new ball. Boult conceded a mere six runs in his three overs and claimed the crucial wicket of RCB captain Faf du Plessis, who was dismissed for 17. At the other end, Sandeep Sharma faced a costly over, giving away 12 runs. Avesh Khan’s introduction in the fourth over saw Virat Kohli welcoming him with a stylish pull shot for six, setting the tone for an aggressive play.
Boult struck again in the fifth over, removing du Plessis when he attempted a heave over mid-wicket. The alert Rovman Powell took a sharp catch diving forward, further denting RCB’s ambitions. With Cameron Green promoted to number three ahead of Rajat Patidar, RCB closed their powerplay at a promising 50 for one. Yuzvendra Chahal was then brought into the attack in the eighth over, and Kohli, attempting to accelerate the scoring, was caught out at mid-wicket for 33, offering RR a pivotal breakthrough.
As the innings progressed, the momentum swung back and forth. Green, taking the charge against Chahal, found himself with limited support as Patidar struggled to find his rhythm. Amidst this, R Ashwin emerged as a key figure with his tight spell in the middle overs. The pressure he built culminated in errors from the RCB camp, and though Patidar was dropped by the long-on fielder, Green eventually holed out to cover, caught again by Powell in the 13th over. Glenn Maxwell followed suit, lofting a catch to long-on the very next ball. RCB found themselves reeling at 97 for four at the end of 13 overs.
Patidar soon managed to find his footing, striking two sixes in quick succession.
. However, just as he looked to anchor the innings, Avesh Khan secured his dismissal in the 15th over as Patidar was caught at mid-off for 34. Dinesh Karthik’s arrival was marred by an immediately overturned leg-before decision, and RCB’s efforts to post a competitive total hinged on Mahipal Lomror’s aggressive approach. Lomror notched up 32 off 17 balls, ensuring RCB surpassed 160. Swapnil Singh and Karn Sharma contributed crucial boundaries in the final over, pushing RCB to a final score of 172.
Rajasthan Royals began their run chase faced with an evidently responsive pitch. RCB’s bowlers kept a tight line initially, stifling the batsmen in the first two overs. Yashaswi Jaiswal broke free in the third over, slamming four consecutive fours off Yash Dayal, even after offering a tough chance that went down at first slip. The openers swiftly moved the score to 46 before RCB struck back. Lockie Ferguson bowled a deceptive slower ball, clean bowling Tom Kohler-Cadmore for 20.
Sanju Samson teamed up with Jaiswal to maintain a steady required run rate. Jaiswal, approaching a milestone, misjudged an attempted scoop off Green, resulting in a faint edge to the wicketkeeper. Samson, trying to dominate Karn Sharma, was stumped off a wide. With the pressure mounting, Riyan Parag took center stage, tasked with marshalling the innings. Despite a setback when Dhruv Jurel was brilliantly run out via Kohli’s athletic throw, Parag, alongside Shimron Hetmyer—deployed as the Impact Player—executed a calculated offensive against the bowlers.
With RR needing 48 off the final five overs, Hetmyer instantly reduced the pressure with a monumental six over long-on off Green’s first delivery. Parag kept the momentum with a towering six over cover and a deft four through third-man, aligning the chase firmly in RR’s favor. Despite Parag (36 off 26) and Hetmyer (26 off 14) losing their wickets to Siraj, the required rate was brought down to run-a-ball.
Rovman Powell ensured there were no further anxieties as he sealed the victory in style, wrapping up proceedings with two fours and a six in the penultimate over. RR’s win over RCB in this high-stakes match has booked their spot in the next round—the Qualifier 2 in Chennai—poised for another exhilarating encounter.