TATA IPL 2024: RCB Keeps Playoff Hopes Alive with Four-Wicket Victory Over GT
Faf du Plessis led the charge with a rapid 64 runs, supported by Dinesh Karthik, who sealed the victory after a shaky batting start, securing a crucial four-wicket win for Royal Challengers Bengaluru over Gujarat Titans at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. With Yash Dayal, Vyshak Vijaykumar, and Mohammed Siraj each claiming two wickets, RCB's bowlers put on a stellar display, restricting GT to a modest 147 runs. Du Plessis and Virat Kohli set the tone with a scintillating 92-run partnership in just 35 balls, laying a strong foundation for RCB's successful chase.
Du Plessis was more aggressive of the two, hitting 10 fours and three sixes in his 23-ball stay at the crease. After he fell, GT triggered a spectacular RCB batting implosion by picking up six wickets from overs 6-11. It took Karthik’s 21 not out and Swapnil Singh’s unbeaten 15 to get RCB over the line and help them jump to seventh place in the points table. RCB’s win also meant GT slid to ninth place and Mumbai Indians became the new occupants of tenth position in the points table.
Chasing 148, Kohli began by lofting and whipping Mohit Sharma for a brace of sixes in the opening over. Du Plessis greeted Joshua Little with a pulled four, followed by taking two fours and a six in the 20-run second over. He then took the attack to debutant spinner Manav Suthar, taking a six and four in the third over, followed by heaving Mohit over mid-wicket to bring up RCB’s fifty in just 19 balls. There was just no stopping du Plessis as he took three more fours off Mohit in an 18-run fourth over.
After a sublime Kohli dispatched Suthar for two sixes, du Plessis completed his fifty in 18 balls and went on to slam Little for two fours and a six in the last over of power-play. But Little had the last laugh by cramping du Plessis for room, and a short fine leg took the catch on top-edge as RCB ended the Power-play at 92/1.
The fast and furious styled scoring from RCB in power-play was brought to a halt afterward by GT as Will Jacks, Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, and Cameron Green perished quickly. When Kohli nicked behind off Noor Ahmad to fall for a 27-ball 42, the RCB supporting home crowd was left stunned over the batting meltdown resulting in the hosts’ being at 116/6 from 92/0.
In the midst of intense pressure on RCB, a composed Karthik emerged to ease the tension during the run-chase by dispatching Rashid Khan for three boundaries - a stylish whip over mid-wicket, a confident pull over square leg, and a solid carve over cover in a pivotal 16-run 12th over. Then, Swapnil Singh showcased his skills with two elegant sweeps off Noor, before smashing Rashid for a massive six down the ground, ultimately guiding RCB to victory with 38 balls to spare. Relief was palpable among the RCB camp as they crossed the finish line, their faces reflecting the sense of release.
