In a high-stakes clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Rajasthan Royals (RR) emerged victorious by four wickets against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Eliminator of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. This win propels RR to Qualifier 2 where they will meet the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Chennai.
The match began with RR winning the toss and opting to bowl first. RCB’s innings oscillated between promising moments and frustrating collapses as their batsmen failed to capitalize on solid starts. At every critical juncture, RR’s bowlers stepped up to dismantle the momentum RCB’s batsmen tried to build.
Trent Boult spearheaded RR’s bowling attack with a magnificent spell, conceding only six runs in his three overs and taking the pivotal wicket of RCB’s captain Faf du Plessis, who scored 17. On the other end, Sandeep Sharma initially bled runs, giving away 12 in his second over. Avesh Khan entered the fray in the fourth over and was greeted with a towering pull shot for six by Virat Kohli, underscoring RCB’s aggressive intent.
However, Boult struck back in the fifth over, removing du Plessis when he attempted a big shot over mid-wicket. Rovman Powell took an impressive forward-diving catch, sending du Plessis packing. Cameron Green walked in at No. 3, surprisingly ahead of Rajat Patidar. RCB ended their powerplay at 50 for one, teetering on a knife-edge.
Yuzvendra Chahal was introduced into the attack in the eighth over, and Kohli tried to accelerate the run-rate by targeting him but ended up holing out to mid-wicket for 33 – a crucial breakthrough for RR. This precipitated a period of fluctuating stability and precariousness for RCB. Green began to counter Chahal, while Patidar cautiously sought his form.
Ashwin’s spell in the middle overs proved crucial as he choked the flow of runs from his end, creating pressure on the RCB batsmen. This pressure led to poor shot selections and hasty decisions. Patidar was given a lifeline when a catch was dropped at long-on. Green scored 27 off 21 balls before being dismissed in the 13th over, caught by Powell at cover. Off the very next delivery, Glenn Maxwell aimed for a big hit but was caught at long-on, reducing RCB to 97 for four in 13 overs.
Patidar found his form soon after, hitting two sixes in quick succession. However, his innings ended when he was dismissed for 34 in the 15th over by Avesh Khan.
. Dinesh Karthik walked out and was immediately greeted with an LBW shout. The on-field call was overturned after a review.
In the final overs, Mahipal Lomror’s aggressive batting gave RCB’s innings the boost it desperately needed. He scored a quick-fire 32 off 17 balls, ensuring RCB crossed the 160-run mark. Contributions from Swapnil Singh and Karn Sharma pushed RCB to a final total of 172.
RR’s run-chase started slow, with RCB bowlers making early inroads. Yashaswi Jaiswal, however, broke the initial shackles in the third over, hitting four boundaries off Yash Dayal. The edge gained was partially due to a dropped catch at first slip. The openers added 46 runs before the first breakthrough came in the fifth over, as Lockie Ferguson bowled a deceptive slower ball to dismiss Tom Kohler-Cadmore for 20.
Sanju Samson and Jaiswal continued to keep the required run-rate within reach, regularly finding the boundary. Jaiswal looked set for a big score before narrowly edging a scoop shot to the wicketkeeper off Green’s delivery when on 40s. Samson was next to go, stumped off a wide delivery from Karn Sharma.
With the responsibility now on Riyan Parag, a moment of concern arose when Dhruv Jurel was brilliantly run-out by Virat Kohli. However, Parag remained calm and, along with Shimron Hetmyer, the Impact Player, initiated a calculated assault on the RCB bowlers.
In the final five overs, RR required 48 runs. Hetmyer stepped up, hitting a six over long-on off Green’s first ball. Parag followed suit, lofting a six and deftly guiding a four through the third-man area. These boundary shots eased the pressure, making the required run-rate manageable. Hetmyer, back after a hiatus, demonstrated his experience and value to the team, delivering when needed most.
Though Mohammed Siraj managed to dismiss both Parag (36 off 26) and Hetmyer (26 off 14) in quick succession, the equation had been simplified to a run-a-ball. Rovman Powell ensured there were no further hiccups, finishing the match in style with two boundaries and a six in the penultimate over.
With this emphatic win, Rajasthan Royals now head to Chennai for the Qualifier 2 against Kolkata Knight Riders, keeping their title hopes alive in the TATA IPL 2024. Over to Chennai!