IPL 2024: RCB survive mini GT scare to keep faint playoff hopes alive

04/05/2024

RCB kept their faint IPL 2024 Playoff hopes alive as they survived a mini-scare from GT by x wickets at the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru on May4, Saturday. The Bengaluru bowling was disciplined throughout the Gujarat batting innings before Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli set up the win with a fine partnership in the powerplay overs. The win means that RCB went off the foot of the table and have 8 points to their name with 3 matches remaining.Â

RCB had won the toss on the day and put GT into bat. The Gujarat innings had the worst possible start as Mohammed Siraj dismissed Wriddhiman Saha and Shubman Gill. Sai Sudharsan also failed to make an impact as GT got 23 runs in the first 6 overs. Shahrukh Khan, who scored a fifty the last time both teams met, would come to haunt them again and he received good support from David Miller at the other end. The duo put on 61 runs as they ensured that the GT run-rate would reach a respectable position.Â

RCB vs GT: Highlights

RCB continued to be disciplined with their bowling approach as they got the wickets of Shahrukh, who was dismissed thanks to a fine run-out from Virat Kohli. Rahul Tewatia scored an important 21-ball 35 as GT would end up being bundled out for 147.Â

The RCB innings got off to an absolute flyer as Faf du Plessis and Kohli would score 92 runs in the powerplay. The RCB skipper scored his 42nd IPL fifty and departed for 64 off 23 balls. This would trigger a major collapse for Bengaluru as they went from 92 for 1 to 116 for 6, with Josh Little picking up 4 wickets.Â

The RCB batters started to fall like nine pins as they were looking to secure a big win. The wicket of Kohli would open the game up in the 11th over with Rashid Khan yet to bowl. However, Dinesh Karthik and Swapnil Singh got the team home in the end

What more can Virat Kohli do?

Kohli was in some mood with the bat as he tried to match Du Plessis in the powerplay. The Indian star was criticised by Sunil Gavaskar for his rant at the critics in the reverse fixture before the match started. Kohli seemed like he was set for a big score on the day and get his side home before the collapse started.Â

Kohli was at 35 from 16 balls before wickets started to tumble at the other end. He would end up with 42 off 27 balls and was dismissed by a beauty from Noor Ahmed. Kohli ended with a strike-rate over 155 and hit 2 boundaries and 4 sixes.Â

Certainly in this game, Kohli was once again forced into the anchor role as wickets started to tumble at the other end. While critics have the right to question the intent, Kohli seems to be struggling for support from the other end. When he did have it in the form of Du Plessis in this game and Will Jacks, in the previous one, he was able to set himself up and help with the run-chase.Â

What more can Virat Kohli do?

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