This IPL season has presented us with numerous challenges but we have faced them head on, showing our character and fighting spirit. Our goal now is to finish the season on a positive note as we take on Rajasthan Royals in our next game in Guwahati.

Vidwath Kaverappa makes a splendid debut

After Sam Curran decided to bowl first, Vidwath Kaverappa made a remarkable debut in the IPL with an impressive opening spell. His first over was nothing short of brilliant, showcasing his skill and potential. Despite a missed opportunity to dismiss Virat Kohli, Kaverappa remained undeterred. In his second over, he claimed the crucial wicket of Faf du Plessis, validating his talent on the big stage. Kaverappa continued to apply pressure and eventually removed Will Jacks as well. By the end of his spell, Kaverappa had reaped the rewards of his efforts, finishing with figures of 2 for 36 in his allotted four overs.

Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar play crucial knocks

The dynamic duo of Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar showcased their form for RCB. Matching each other shot for shot, they were relentless, dictating the flow of the game with their aggressive strokes. Particularly noteworthy was Rajat Patidar's dynamic batting effortlessly dispatching sixes with remarkable ease and reaching his half-century in 21 deliveries. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli, continuing his exceptional run in IPL 2024, seemed poised for yet another substantial score. Sam Curran managed to break the partnership by dismissing Patidar for 55.

Rain brings the play to a halt!

By the end of the 10th over, RCB seemed to be cruising comfortably at 119 for 3. However, just when the match was reaching a crucial juncture, the Rain Gods intervened, disrupting the game momentarily. As the rain started to pour down, it soon escalated into a hailstorm in Dharamshala, forcing a temporary halt in play. The interruption was brief, and thankfully, no overs were lost as we swiftly resumed play once the weather cleared.

The bowlers found some rhythm!

Following the brief rain break, our bowlers exhibited commendable discipline as spinners Liam Livingstone and Rahul Chahar tightened the screws on the run flow. The batting duo of Virat Kohli and Cameron Green encountered difficulties in finding the boundaries, facing a formidable challenge in the form of our spin attack. With the momentum shifting in our favor, it appeared increasingly likely that we would successfully restrict them to a chaseable total.

Virat Kohli and Cameron Green upped the ante

In the final six overs, the partnership between Virat Kohli and Cameron Green intensified, particularly fueled by Kohli's exquisite stroke play. Displaying impeccable timing and finesse, Kohli effortlessly found the boundaries at will, propelling the score with each well-executed shot. Meanwhile, Green exhibited his raw power by unleashing some massive hits, adding to the mounting total. As the duo propelled RCB past the 200-run mark, it became evident that they were on track for a formidable total. Arshdeep Singh managed to dismiss Kohli agonizingly close to a century, sending him back for 92 runs.

Despite the setback, Karthik contributed with a fine little cameo for RCB, ensuring that the team concluded their innings on a high note.

Harshal Patel earns the Purple Cap

Harshal Patel extended his impressive wicket-taking spree in IPL 2024, culminating in a stellar performance where he clinched 3 crucial wickets, conceding 38 runs in total. His mastery was especially evident in the final over, where he delivered a clinical display of bowling, yielding a mere 3 runs while claiming 2 pivotal wickets. Additionally, Patel's exceptional performance catapulted him to the position of the highest wicket-taker in this season of the IPL. His last-over heroics proved instrumental in restricting the Royal Challengers Bengaluru to 241 runs in their allotted 20 overs.

Jonny Bairstow and Rilee Rossouw give PBKS a quick start!

In our pursuit of a daunting target, we faced an early setback with the loss of Prabhsimran Singh in the opening over. However, the partnership between Rossouw and Bairstow injected momentum into our chase. Rossouw's innings exuded confidence from the outset, as he wasted no time in finding the boundary ropes, dispatching boundaries off the first two deliveries he faced. His aggressive approach persisted as he continued to accelerate the run rate, consistently finding gaps and scoring freely.

On the other hand, Bairstow took a bit of time to settle into his rhythm but soon showcased his trademark elegance with a series of delightful strokes. Unfortunately, Bairstow's innings was cut short by Lockie Ferguson, but not before he had contributed significantly to our team's cause with some exquisite shots.

Rilee Rossouw notches up a fine fifty!

Rilee Rossouw's sublime form was on full display as he seemed destined for a substantial score. His exceptional batting saw him reach his second fifty of the IPL in quick time, dominating the opposition's bowling attack with ease. However, he endured a blow to the throat, leading to his dismissal on the very next ball delivered by Karn Sharma.

Despite the setback, Shashank Singh stepped up admirably, contributing a valuable 37 runs before being unfortunate to fall victim to a run-out. Following the departures of Rossouw and Shashank, our batting line-up faltered, losing wickets at regular intervals. Despite our best efforts, we ultimately fell short by 60 runs, highlighting the significant impact of Rossouw's dismissal and subsequent loss of momentum in our chase.

On to Guwahati then!

We have 2 games left in the TATA IPL 2024 and we have pride to play for. We now move to Guwahati to face the Rajasthan Royals on the 15th of May. Hoping to end the end the tournament with a bang.

Brief Scores: Royal Challengers Bengaluru 241 for 7 in 20 overs (Virat Kohli 92, Rajat Patidar 55, Harshal Patel 3/38) defeat Punjab Kings 181 all out (Rilee Rossouw 61, Shashank Singh 37, Mohammed Siraj 3/43)

Man of the Match: Virat Kohli