 "IPL 2024: Kohli and DK's match-winning knocks, Brar's superb spell and other top moments from RCB's win against PBKS")
It’s turning out to be quite an action packed season in the Indian Premier League (IPL) already with three final-over thrillers in as many days, the latest being Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s four-wicket victory over Punjab Kings at home on Monday.
RCB didn’t have the best of outings in the season opener against Chennai Super Kings (CSK), suffering a six-wicket defeat at the hands of the defending champions despite getting their innings off to a flying start.
PBKS, though, had quite the memorable day out in what was the newly-inaugurated Mullanpur Stadium’s debut match, as they ended up chasing a target roughly similar to the one Chennai had chased down against Bengaluru the previous day, spoiling Rishabh Pant’s comeback in the process.
RCB performed in front of their home fans at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium for the first time this season, and did not let them down as they bounced back from the defeat in the season opener with another game that went down the wire.
Here are some of the top moments from the sixth match of the 17th season:
Dhawan leads from the front
Making his first competitive appearance since last year’s IPL, Dhawan got off to a promising start against his former franchise Delhi Capitals before getting castled by pacer Ishant Sharma on 22.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsDhawan was a lot better against the Royal Challengers on Monday, top-scoring for his team with a 37-ball 45 that included five fours and a maximum — including a boundary off Mohammed Siraj off his first delivery of the day. Dhawan stitched a useful second-wicket partnership with Prabhsimran Singh worth 55 that helped Punjab recover from the early dismissal of Jonny Bairstow.
Rabada shines in powerplay
Punjab had managed to post 176 on the board thanks to useful contributions from the middle-order, including an unbeaten 21 off just 8 balls by Shashank Singh. A couple of wickets in the powerplay would then have further solidified their chances of collecting back-to-back wins at the start of the season, and that is what senior pacer Kagiso Rabada delivered for Dhawan and Co as he removed fellow South African Faf du Plessis as well as Australian all-rounder Cameron Green in successive overs, both batters departing for 3.
Kohli returns to form in style
Virat Kohli made an indifferent return to action for the first time since January on Friday as he was dismissed for a 20-ball 21 before perishing while trying to shift gears. On Monday, there were shades of 2016 in the manner in which Kohli bossed the Punjab attack in what is his second home ground in the country.
The former India and RCB captain smashed 77 off 49 deliveries, collecting 11 fours and two maximums along the way. Not only did he finally make the kind of roaring comeback from the paternity leave that fans had originally hoped for, he also ended up negating the damage caused by Rabada’s early strikes. Bengaluru would not only race to 50 for 2 at the end of the powerplay and reach a comfortable 85/2 at the halfway stage of their chased.
Kohli, however, would’ve been bummed at missing out on a century — which would’ve been the first this season — that was well within reach, and also failing to finish the game for his team.
Brar revives Punjab’s hopes
As has been the case in nearly every match this season, there’s always the late twist that makes things so much more interesting. In the latest match of the season, it was left-arm spinner Harpreet Brar’s super spell that helped Punjab fight their way back into the game after Kohli’s blitzkrieg had them staring at a defeat at the halfway stage of the Bengaluru chase.
Brar was brought back into the attack in the 11th over, and he made an instant impact by removing Rajat Patidar, who managed a run-a-ball 18 this time after a duck against CSK. He would then inflict an even bigger blow to RCB’s hopes by castling Glenn Maxwell, who would’ve been expected to finish the game if not Kohli, for 3.
Brar would concede just 13 runs for two wickets after bowling out his quota of overs in what certainly was the bowling performance of the day.
DK finishes off in style
Dinesh Karthik has already indicated that IPL 2024 will be his final appearance in the cash-rich league, and boy is he already making this a season to remember and preparing himself for a fitting finale.
After his unbeaten 38 against CSK that helped RCB post a competitive total, Karthik dished out an even more entertaining and explosive 28 not out off just 10 deliveries, striking at nearly 300 and stitching an unbroken seventh-wicket stand with Mahipal Lomror (17 not out off 8) that ultimately helped Bengaluru reach home with four wickets and as many deliveries to spare.
What a finish 🔥
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 25, 2024
What a chase 😎
An unbeaten 48*-run partnership between @DineshKarthik and @mahipallomror36 wins it for the home team 💪@RCBTweets register a 4-wicket win!#TATAIPL | #RCBvPBKS pic.twitter.com/0BFhn9BRnC
DK walked in at the start of the 16th over, right after Kohli had been dismissed off Harshal Patel’s bowling, and got off the mark right off the bat with a boundary off Sam Curran. Lomror would ease the pressure on Karthik by collecting a six and a four off Arshdeep Singh in the 18th over. Karthik would then further reduce the equation by smashing Patel for a six and a four in a penultimate over that cost the visiting team 13 runs.
Facing Arshdeep in the final over with Bengaluru needing 10 off 6, DK channelled his experience to anticipate what the left-arm seamer was going to bowl first up, and shuffled to his right to scoop the ball towards fine leg for a maximum. After a wide in the second ball, it was only fitting that DK got to finish the match with a clean smack down the ground for a four, rekindling memories of his famous finish in Colombo six years ago in the final of the Nidahas Trophy.
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