Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Thrilling Victory in IPL 2024: FAF and Bowlers Shine
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) emerged victorious against Gujarat Titans (GT) in a see-saw battle that showcased Faf du Plessis’ stellar performance and the bowlers’ effective strategies in a thrilling encounter at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
After a fast start, RCB lost six wickets for just 25 runs in the chase, but Karthik and Swapnil came back to finish first and secure the victory.
Gujarat Titans 147 (Shahrukh 37, Tewatia 35, Dayal 2-21, Vyshak 2-23, Siraj 2-29) were defeated by Royal Challengers Bengaluru 152 for 6 (du Plessis 64, Kohli 42, Little 4-45) by four wickets.
Apart from four crazy overs, Royal Challengers Bengaluru dominated Gujarat Titans for the second time in a week at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium by playing an almost flawless game.
Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli’s explosive opening partnership, combined with their excellent seam-bowling, allowed RCB to control the first 26 overs of the match. However, they were momentarily put on the back foot by a middle-order collapse in which GT claimed six wickets for only 25 runs. But Swapnil Singh (15*) and Dinesh Karthik (21*) counterpunched to finish with a four-wicket victory.
With 38 balls remaining, RCB wins, moving them up to seventh place in the points table from tenth. Both of them, together with GT in ninth place, are in eighth place and have little chance of qualifying for the playoffs.
RCB’s Better Use of the Conditions
The pitch on which Sunrisers Hyderabad pumped 287 was pitch number eight. However, the pitch on Saturday was altered due to the brief downpour on Friday night, which caused the pitch to become damp during the night.
Yash Dayal and Mohammed Siraj made good use of that little help to move the ball in both ways during the powerplay, particularly when it came to balls that were hit from behind at a decent length. After Wriddhiman Saha was removed from the game for the fourth time in six innings, Siraj forced Shubman Gill to play beyond his body in order to make a catch at deep point. Sai Sudharsan was likewise unable to get going, and GT’s powerplay score of only 23 for 3 was their lowest ever during that phase.
To keep the GT innings going, M Shahrukh Khan, David Miller, and Rahul Tewatia all scored in their 30s. Even with the sporadic borders, the RCB seamers prevented them from escaping.
Both Cameron Green and Vijaykumar Vyshak forced them back with short balls, and their combined pressure—along with some brilliant fielding—quickly brought to a collapse of the lower order. From 131 for 5 to 147 all out, GT’s innings featured two run-outs, including Shahrukh’s removal by a direct smash from Kohli.
Kohli and FAF Take the Game Away
In the opening over of the chase, Kohli put an end to any nerves he had after narrowly avoiding a run-out opportunity on the opening delivery by hitting Mohit Sharma for a six over cover and another over midwicket. The RCB were off after Du Plessis took Josh Little for 20 runs in the following over.
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Manav Suthar, who was making his IPL debut, and Mohit were both faced by Du Plessis, and in just 3.1 overs, the team fifty was reached. Subsequently, Kohli unleashed a barrage of sixes over long on Suthar. As RCB surpassed their previous best powerplay score of 88, du Plessis then reached his fifty off 18 balls, continuing the onslaught. RCB had already ripped 92 off the target when Little removed him in the sixth over.
Karthik and Swapnil secure the Win
But after that, wickets began to fall. Although RCB was likely hoping to end the game early to increase their slender prospects of qualifying for the playoffs, their hitters failed to capitalize on GT’s bowlers.
Will Jacks was removed by the spin of Noor Ahmad, while Little’s short balls removed Glenn Maxwell, Rajat Patidar, and Green. RCB had faltered to 117 for 6 when Noor’s googly had Kohli edging behind for 42 in the eleventh over.
When Rashid had four overs remaining—he had not bowled earlier because of a blow to his shoulder during the batting match—GT looked for a seventh wicket to apply the final squeeze, but Dinesh Karthik refused to let the spinner settle, hitting three fours in his opening over to rekindle the passions of the Chinnaswamy crowd. Swapnil treated Rashid the same way when he came back for his second over, smashing a six over the bowler’s head to claim the two points.
Siraj on His Performance
In his opening over, Siraj dismissed opposing captain Shubman Gill and opener Wriddhiman Saha to put GT on the back foot. This helped to limit the visitors to a manageable 147.
Mohammed Siraj proved that mind over matter on Saturday when he overcame his physical limitations to win the Player of the Match award as RCB defeated Gujarat Titans by four wickets in an IPL match held here. In his opening over, Siraj dismissed opposing captain Shubman Gill and opener Wriddhiman Saha to put GT on the back foot. This helped to limit the visitors to a manageable 147. “I spent the last few days feeling pretty sick. After the game, Siraj remarked, “I thought I might not be able to play today, but I really wanted to play, so it was great that I was able to.”
Even though he wasn’t feeling well, he had an idea in his head about how he would bowl that precisely pitched up delivery that would grow large on the batter. Against Wriddhiman, who had the skill to control such a ball, there couldn’t have been a greater execution.
“I felt I should take a nap and that I won’t be able to play when I got up in the morning. Siraj stated, “I manifested what I wanted to do when I woke up, and that’s exactly what happened.” Faf du Plessis, the captain of the RCB, was content after winning three straight games. We’ve done pretty well with the bat and ball the past two games. On the pitch, we’ve been amazing. A score of 180–90 would have been excellent, according to Du Plessis. After the game was completed in just under 14 overs, Du Plessis’s 63 off 24 balls, which included 10 fours and three sixes, was a major factor in RCB’s ascent to seventh place.
 “It’s probably not the best, but at least you’re making an effort to improve your net run-rate. From that perspective, it makes sense, but there are some lessons to be learnt from it when you have to exhibit a little poise and calmness—probably about four down.”
Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill stated that the team’s only goals going forward are to win the games they still have and maintain control over the variables. It’s contingent upon the wicket. You get a decent sense in the first few overs and play accordingly. On this wicket, I believe 170-80 would have been a respectable score. The game was won by our batting during the powerplay and their bowling,” he remarked.
“We changed our planning and lost three wickets in the powerplay, but we would have had one extra bowler.” It’s crucial that we forget about this game and start over in our next contest. Make sure you don’t make the same mistakes twice. From now on, it’s all about winning.”
