Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s 6-match winning streak came to an end in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 Eliminator clash against Rajasthan Royals on Wednesday. RCB posted a fighting total of 172/8 on the board and even managed to unnerve Rajasthan Royals batter to some extent but the score was never going to be enough for Faf du Plessis and Co to go through. As RCB missed out on another chance to go all the way in the tournament, courtesy of their defeat against RR in the Eliminator, Chennai Super Kings star Tushar Deshpande shared an Instagram story mocking the Bengaluru side. But later, deleted it.
Taking to Instagram, the CSK pacer Deshpande shared a story that read: “CSK fans are built different” with a picture of ‘Bengaluru Cant’ railway station. Understanding the backlash over such a post, Deshpande then deleted it.
Tushar Deshpande’s Instagram story. pic.twitter.com/bXSed8pf7Y
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) May 22, 2024
As for the match, chasing 173, Rajasthan ended with 174/6 as Rovman Powell (16 not out) provided the finishing touches in a tense finish.
As he has done several times before this season, Riyan Parag (36 off 26) showcased deep resolve in an adverse situation to help Rajasthan stay alive in the tournament. It was Royals’ first win after four losses and an abandoned game.
2008 winners Royals face Sunrisers Hyderabad in Chennai on Friday for a place in the IPL final.
The returning Shimron Hetmyer also played his part to perfection, scoring a crucial 26 off 14 balls.
In a contest wherein fortunes swung from one side to another, RR remained ahead with impactful performances throughout even though Mohammed Siraj (2/33) raised late hopes for RCB with wickets of Parag and Hetmyer in the 18th over, With 13 needed off last two overs, Powell found two fours off Lockie Ferguson to seal the deal in favour of his side.
Earlier, it was Yashasvi Jaiswal (45 off 30) who gave them the impetus at the top.
Off to an unconvincing start with his initial runs coming off the outside edge, Jaiswal grew in confidence when Yash Dayal fed him a few deliveries to capitalise on and the RR opener cracked four fours in the third over to break the shackles.
At the other end, Tom Kohler-Cadmore (20) also hit a couple of fours against Siraj and while getting a lifeline from Glenn Maxwell, who spilled a sitter at deep square leg off Dayal.
With RR’s acceleration rapidly shaving runs off the target, RCB needed a breakthrough and Lockie Ferguson provided the first success when he foxed Kohler-Cadmore with a slow yorker which crashed into the stumps.
The gradual progression of Jaiswal’s innings saw the batter finding his rhythm, but the extreme heat sapped him out completely having faced a mere 29 balls.
In between the ninth and the 10th over, Jaiswal received on-field treatment and got back up only to play a loose shot — an attempted ramp off Cameron Green but only gloved it to the ‘keeper.
Soon after, Karn Sharma dealt a body blow by having Sanju Samson (17) stumped.
With their tails up, RCB continued making inroads with Dhruv Jurel (8) being run out after a brilliant effort from Virat Kohli and Cameron Green. Kohli fired a sharp throw from deep midwicket to the non-striker’s end, where Jurel was found short of his crease.
RR were firmly under pressure heading into the 15th over when they chose to go after Green, who had been all over them with three tidy overs and a wicket up until then.
Hetmyer smacked the Australian for a six and Parag followed his partner in hitting another, while also finding a four to collect 17 runs.
With PTI inputs
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