Royal Challengers Bengaluru who executed an impressive performance in the second half of the IPL 2024 league stage lost their most important clash against Rajasthan Royals on Wednesday.
RCB were in need of winning the Eliminator to advance to Qualifier 2 but Faf du Plessis and Co. failed to execute the winning performance. Rajasthan Royals beat RCB by 4 wickets and scattered their dreams of winning their maiden IPL title.
Post the match, RCB players and fans were left heartbroken who were waiting 17 long years for their first IPL title. But the team’s performance this season has won them a lot of acclaim from fans, experts and players alike.
In a video posted by RCB’s official X handle, RCB players were seen expressing their views over the defeat. Virat Kohli who is the leading run-scorer this season so far accepts that their team’s performance was under-par and they were not able to live up to their standards as cricketers.
“To be really honest, the first half of the season was a really under-par performance from us. The standards that we have as cricketers, we were not able to live up to them. Then we started expressing ourselves, played for our own self-respect.
Our confidence came back. The way turned things around and qualified was truly special. It is something I will cherish and remember, because it took a lot of character and heart from the boys,” he said.
Virat Kohli went to thank the fans who showed immense support for RCB during their difficult times this season.
“The support and love of RCB fans is absolutely unwavering. We thankful that and always grateful to that for fans love & support. The way they turned out not in just Bangalore & but every ground in India is absolutely special. Thank you so much to fans”.
Unfortunately, sport is not a fairytale and our remarkable run in #IPL2024 came to an end. Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis and Dinesh Karthik express their emotions and thank fans for their unwavering support. ❤️#PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB pic.twitter.com/FYygVD3UiC
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) May 23, 2024
Batting first, Royal Challengers Bengaluru made a struggling start by adding 37 runs for the first wicket. Following the skipper’s dismissal, Virat Kohli too lost his wicket for 33 runs while RCB scored 56 runs.
Though Green and Patidar made a 41-run stand, their partnership was broken by Ashwin in the third delivery of the 13th over. In the very next delivery, Ashwin dismissed form-out Maxwell and drastically changed the game flow.
With Lomror’s 32 off 17 deliveries, RCB scored 172 runs for 8 wickets loss at the end of 20 overs.
Chasing the 170-plus target, RR was expected to make a struggling start without their inform opener Jos Buttler. But Yashasvi Jaiswal and Tom Kohler-Cadmore made a steady opening by scoring 46 runs for the first wicket.
Jaiswal’s 45 off 30 deliveries made RR settle in a better position but RCB bowlers dismissed Jaiswal and Samson in back-to-back overs and stirred RR’s settled camp.
Riyan Parag took the responsibilities on his shoulders, scored a crucial 36 and helped his team to get back in the game. Rovman Powell with his 8 balls 16 made Rajasthan Royals to reach the target with an over left.
With the victory, RR advanced to Qualifier 2 which will be played against Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 24 in MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai.
