In what proved to be a scintillating encounter at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the Rajasthan Royals (RR) showcased a masterful all-round performance to defeat the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) by four wickets in the Eliminator match of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. This victory propels RR into Qualifier 2, where they will meet Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Chennai.
Amidst a rousing atmosphere, Rajasthan Royals won the toss and opted to field first, a decision that appeared justified as they effectively curtailed RCB’s scoring potential. Despite promising starts from numerous RCB batsmen, they were unable to translate those starts into substantial scores, due mainly to RR bowlers breaking RCB’s momentum at critical junctures throughout the innings.
Opening the bowling for RR, Trent Boult delivered an exceptional spell with the new ball, barely giving away runs. Boult conceded a mere six runs in his first three overs and claimed the crucial wicket of RCB skipper Faf du Plessis, who scored 17. This restrictive start set the tone for what was to follow.
At the other end, Sandeep Sharma conceded 12 runs during his initial over. The fourth over saw Avesh Khan’s introduction, and RCB’s star batsman, Virat Kohli, greeted him with a commanding six off a pull shot. Nevertheless, the threat of Boult persisted, as he dismissed du Plessis with a well-directed delivery in the fifth over, caught splendidly by Rovman Powell in the deep.
RCB’s decision to send Cameron Green in at number three in place of Rajat Patidar was bold. As the powerplay concluded, RCB stood at 50 for one. Yuzvendra Chahal was brought into the attack in the eighth over, resulting in an aggressive but ultimately unsuccessful attempt by Kohli to accelerate the run-rate, as he was caught at mid-wicket for 33. This wicket was a significant breakthrough for RR.
As the innings progressed, a pendulum-like battle unfolded. While Green began to take the attack to Chahal, Patidar took a more reserved approach, searching for his touch. Meanwhile, R Ashwin maintained a tight line and delivered a crucial spell during the middle overs, restricting runs at the other end, causing pressure on the RCB batters. This pressure compelled them to take undue risks. Patidar narrowly escaped when the long-on fielder dropped a running catch, but Green fell soon after for 27 from 21 balls, caught at cover. This dual setback left RCB at 97 for four after 13 overs.
Regaining his footing, Patidar briefly struck two sixes in quick succession but was soon dismissed by Avesh, holing out to mid-off for 34 in the 15th over.
. Enter Dinesh Karthik, who faced an initial LBW appeal that was overturned by the third umpire.
In the final overs, Mahipal Lomror’s swashbuckling approach lent RCB’s innings some late-game flair. His rapid 32 from just 17 balls nudged RCB past 160. Contributions from Swapnil Singh and Karn Sharma brought RCB to a competitive total of 172.
As RR began their pursuit, the RCB bowlers initially held sway. The first few overs saw the RR batsmen struggle for runs, but Yashaswi Jaiswal unleashed a flurry of boundaries in the third over off Yash Dayal, even as a catchable chance went down at first slip. The opening partnership laid a foundation of 46 before Lockie Ferguson delivered a spectacular slower ball to bowl Tom Kohler-Cadmore for 20 in the fifth over.
RR skipper Sanju Samson partnered effectively with Jaiswal, keeping abreast of the run-rate and regularly finding the boundary. Jaiswal advanced into the 40s swiftly but was caught with a faint edge trying to scoop Green, a crucial wicket for RCB. Samson followed suit with a charging but mistimed attempt against Karn, getting stumped off a wide for 17.
Riyan Parag then took on the responsibility of shepherding the chase. Despite a scare when Dhruv Jurel was run-out due to a sharp throw from Kohli, Parag, with the assistance of Shimron Hetmyer, the Impact Player, steadied the innings. They teamed up for a calculated attack on RCB’s bowlers.
Needing 48 off the last five overs, Hetmyer dispatched a Green delivery for a massive six over long-on. Shortly after, Parag lofted a six over cover and pierced through third-man for another four. These timely blows put RR firmly ahead, diminishing the required rate sharply. Hetmyer’s role was pivotal as he endured a challenging spell on his return, soaking up the pressure with aplomb. Though Siraj rebounded to claim both Parag for an impressive 36 off 26 and Hetmyer for 26 from 14 balls, the task had been simplified to a run-a-ball scenario.
Ultimately, Rovman Powell ensured there were no further hiccups, sealing the win for RR with a flourish in the penultimate over, scoring two fours and a six. As the victorious Royals advance, all eyes now shift to their upcoming clash against KKR in Chennai.