The spinners and Kohli preserve the RCB’s slim prospects of qualifying

Punjab Kings lost to RCB by 60 runs credit to Virat Kohli. The team’s hope of qualifying for the IPL 2024 playoffs is still strong after this victory. In the meanwhile PBKS has put an end to based on this outcome.

The RCB bowlers’ all-around performance ensured that PBKS were bowled out for 181 in just 17 overs after they had established a record 241 for 6.

Variation: Midway overs

Punjab Kings lost way too many wickets, which left them with far too much to catch up with in the dying overs, even though they managed to maintain the necessary pace in the middle overs. During that same era, RCB established the groundwork for a flourishing death-overs phase, spearheaded by half-centuries from Rajat Patidar and Kohli.

Bengaluru Royal Challengers

Powerplay: VK Presents

Phase rating: 56/2 [RR: 9.33, 8 x 4, 2 x 6]

On his debut, Vidwath Kaverappa ought to have been responsible for the RCB’s top being dismissed. However, he only had two wickets to his name—Faf du Plessis and Will Jacks—due to four missed catches during the powerplay. He was able to cause the RCB hitters some trouble with his high bounce and outswing, but several mishandled catches allowed the visitors to recover and score at a reasonable rate in the opening session.

Center: The other VK assumes control

Score for the phase: 108/1 [RR: 12.00, 6 x 4s, 6 x 6s]

Soon after the Powerplay, Kohli and Patidar attacked Kaverappa, hitting the seamer for two sixes. Earlier in the innings, they had been concerned. After being dropped by Jonny Bairstow in the eighth over, Patidar struck three sixes off Rahul Chahar to make a brisk half-century that dictated the tone of the RCB innings. Following a short stoppage caused by a hailstorm, Kohli and Cameron Green escalated the attack.

Death: After the RCB attack, Harshal takes control

Phase rating: 77/4 [RR: 7.4x4s, 8x6s, 15.40]

In the latter stage of the play, Kohli put his innings into overdrive. Before Arshdeep’s slower one terminated his knock eight short of a fantastic century, he attacked both Sam Curran and him. Before Harshal Patel delivered a clean last over in which he took three wickets and let up just three runs to ensure that RCB didn’t beyond the 250-run threshold, Dinesh Karthik and Green carried on the assault.

Kings of Punjab

Powerplay: Rossouw and Bairstow propel PBKS to a fast start

Phase rating: 75/2 [RR:13x4s, 2x6s, 12.50]

Swapnil Singh leg-trapped Prabhsimran Singh in the opening over, which put Punjab Kings behind early. Soon after, they could dismiss Rilee Roussow. But Mahipal Lomror saved a simple chance at backward square leg. Taking advantage of the chance, the southpaw hit Mohammed Siraj for eighteen runs in the fourth over. Bairstow joined the party shortly afterward but they fired him toward the end of the phase.

Middle-overs: PBKS falters in the face of spin

Phase rating: 89 out of 5. [RR: 7.4s, 5x6s, 9.89]

Even though their extensive list of powerful hitters was still producing the necessary rate, RCB maintained making inroads into PBKS’ progress. It was led by three strikes from their spinners, Karn Sharma and Swapnil Singh. To make matters worse, Kohli’s amazing diving throw that forced Shashank Singh out further increased the hosts’ suffering. After trapping Ashutosh Sharma’s leg-before-wicket to complete this phase, Mohammed Siraj left Sam Curran to score at a rate of almost 15 runs per over in the last over with the lower-order.

Death: destroyed PBKS

17/3 in 2 overs was the phase score (RR: 8.50, 3x4s, 0x6s).

Three balls into the final over, Lockie Ferguson removed Curran, the final potential threat to the RCB total. Siraj didn’t have to work very hard to tidy up Punjab Kings’ tail after they lost their final three wickets in just 12 deliveries. They fell far short of the goal.

Brief Scores: Punjab Kings 181 in 17 overs (Rilee Rossouw 61, Shashank Singh 37; Mohammed Siraj 3-37, Swapnil Singh 2-28) were defeated by Royal Challengers Bengaluru 241/7 in 20 overs (Virat Kohli 92, Rajat Patidar 55; Harshal Patel 3-38, Vidwath Kaverappa 2-36) by 60 runs.