RCB Trounces PBKS, Reaches First IPL Final Since 2016

Mullanpur: Royal Challengers Bengaluru have done it. Rajat Patidar, in his very first season of captaincy, has taken the team into the final of the Indian Premier League. Historically known for their batting might, RCB stormed into the final of the tournament on the back of a sensational bowling display, where they bowled out Punjab for just 101 runs in 14.1 overs.

The incredible bowling performance set the base for a dominating win on a spicy Mullanpur pitch, which aided the fast bowlers in both innings of the game on May 29. The victory was set up by the entire RCB bowling unit, who bundled out Punjab for just 101 runs on a pitch that aided fast bowlers in both innings of the game.

Josh Hazlewood and Suyash Sharma starred with 3 wickets each, but credit must be given to Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Yash Dayal, who wrecked the famed Punjab Kings top order inside the first four overs of Qualifier 1. After a brilliant start, Bengaluru’s bowling unit made sure that they did not loosen the screws and ruthlessly came at Punjab with every single ball. In contrast, Punjab, playing playoffs for the first time since 2014, crumbled under pressure and fell like a pack of cards at their home stadium, where the rescheduled game was being played.

Blame lay on Punjab batters as well, who failed to read the situation and tried to be needlessly aggressive, a template that has not worked for any team this season. The likes of Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, who have played sensible innings this season, failed to save the team in the clutch game. The good thing, perhaps, about this disastrous performance is probably that they get one more shot at reaching the final this season.

The fact that RCB were going to chase this down was never going to be in question. Unlike in previous seasons, RCB have shown that they have more arsenal in their batting order than Virat Kohli. In the ongoing edition of the tournament, Kohli has been aided by Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Rajat Patidar, Romario Shepherd, and even Krunal Pandya at different stages of the tournament.

And that was at the forefront of things once again, as, despite the loss of Kohli in the 4th over of the game, RCB raced to the total in just 10 overs, clinching the match by 8 wickets on Thursday.

Barring one over from Kyle Jamieson (4th), where RCB lost the wicket of Virat Kohli, they had the chase in control and made sure that they did not let this chase turn into a low-scoring thriller, unlike Punjab’s match against KKR at the same venue earlier in the season.

Phil Salt starred with the bat, hitting his fastest IPL fifty (23 balls). He was measured with the bat at the start, but latched onto anything short and wide bowled to him by the fast bowlers. Salt, remained unbeaten at 56 off just 27 balls, guiding RCB to a massive victory. He had the company of Rajat Patidar, who returned to the captaincy on Thursday and hit an unbeaten 15 runs off just 8 balls. Patidar finished the match with a massive six to finish the game, adding a special touch for RCB tonight.