Royal Challengers Bengaluru extended their winning streak as they picked up a crucial victory against Gujarat Titans. Languishing at the bottom of the IPL 2024 points table and virtually knocked out of the playoffs, the win against GT at M Chinnaswamy stadium comes as a consolation win. Having made the finals two times in the previous years, GT now find themselves in a precarious position, with their chances of making it to the top four looking simply impossible.
As for Bengaluru, they would need to go on and win each match from this stage if they want to even remotely stand a chance of making it to the top. Joshua Little was the star of the night for GT with the ball, having picked up four wickets. RCB’s bowlers mustered courage to produce a unlikely performance at a venue that is generally known as the ‘bowlers’ graveyard’. On that note, let’s take a look at some of the eyeball grabbing headlines from Saturday.
A Kohli-Faf powerplay
The match was already over after the end of the powerplay in the second inning. The Gujarat Titans scored 23/2 in their first six overs, while the Royal Challengers Bengaluru scored 92/1. More than four times what GT had scored and needed just 56 runs from 84 balls to seal a third consecutive win. Virat Kohli combined scored 106 runs, ensuring they breezed to the target.
IPL’s latest gem unearthed, it’s Johsua Little
Gujarat Titans pacer Joshua Little turned up the heat as the side took on a dominating RCB in Bengaluru. The Aussie picked up the wickets of skipper du Plessis, Cameron Green, Rajat Patidar and Glenn Maxwell. Despite losing the match, Little proved his worth with a 4/45 spell that may have casted aspersions in RCB’s minds over picking up an easy win.
Another catch of the tournament contender
Vijaykumar Vyshak grabbed a screamer at the third-man region. With the dangerous Rahul Tewatia still at the crease, the match wasn’t over. but Vyshak had other plans. He threw his body at the ball and ensured that the Gujarat Titans didn’t come back into the RCB vs GT match.
Good sign for India, and RCB!
Mohammed Siraj emerged as the pick of the bowlers in the crucial powerplay phase. He dismissed both Wriddhiman Saha and Shubman Gill, unsettling the GT batting order. Siraj’s wicket-taking prowess and aggressive approach, according to RCB’s assistant coach Adam Griffith, make him the leader of the bowling group.
RCB survive GT scare
RCB went from 92/0 in 5.4 overs to losing six wickets for just 25 runs in the next six overs. They scored 6.25 runs an over and lost a wicket on every fourth. At 117/6, it seemed like the unthinkable would happen. RCB were rescued by veteran Dinesh Karthik took his side home with a brisk 21-run knock off 12 deliveries.
GT’s brand new record
IPL 2024 season is going downhill for the Gujarat Titans. Under their new skipper, Shubman Gill, the franchise has struggled. They registered the lowest powerplay score of the IPL 2024 against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, putting up just 23 runs in the six overs of powerplay at the start of the game.
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