In the latest Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 match, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) orchestrated a commanding 35-run victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. This win marked an end to RCB’s six-match losing streak, showcasing a robust performance across all aspects of the game on a slower pitch that favored the visitors.
The usually formidable opening pair for SRH couldn’t take flight in the powerplay, with Will Jacks dismissing Travis Head for just one run at the end of the first over. Abhishek Sharma started strong but was soon dismissed by Yash Dayal in the fourth over. The middle order, which typically supports the openers, couldn’t rescue SRH, falling prey to RCB’s spinners Swapnil Singh and Karn Sharma, who quickly dismantled their lineup.
SRH’s captain, Pat Cummins, briefly ignited hopes of a comeback with a swift 31 off 15 balls, but his efforts were in vain as SRH ultimately fell short by 35 runs, with Shahbaz Ahmed also fighting a losing battle.
Earlier, after electing to bat first, RCB’s innings was bolstered by Virat Kohli and captain Faf du Plessis, who aggressively scored off the SRH bowlers. T Natarajan broke this partnership, removing du Plessis with a clever slower bouncer. Mayank Markande also contributed significantly, taking the crucial wicket of Will Jacks, who struggled to find his rhythm.
The highlight for RCB was Rajat Patidar’s explosive batting, especially during his 27-run assault in Mayank Markande’s third over, which not only brought up his fifty but also helped establish a formidable 50-run partnership with Kohli. Kohli himself scored a resilient half-century in 37 balls before being dismissed by Jaydev Unadkat, who celebrated his 100th IPL game by also taking down Mahipal Lomror and ending the night with three wickets.
RCB closed their innings at 206/7, setting a challenging target that ultimately led to their much-needed victory.
