The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) faced a heart-wrenching defeat at the hands of the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the Eliminator match of the ongoing IPL 2024. This loss meant that RCB’s dream of winning the trophy once again slipped away, leaving their star player, Virat Kohli, with an unfulfilled ambition. With this victory, Sanju Samson and his team advanced to face the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Qualifier 2, the winner of which will challenge the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for the championship.
The disappointment was palpable as Kohli, clearly distraught, flicked off the bails at one end of the wickets while leaving the field at the Narendra Modi Stadium. The gesture was a reflection of his frustration and dejection. As he walked towards the players for the customary handshake, his demeanour was notably devoid of emotion.
A video capturing this moment quickly circulated on the internet, with Kohli’s fans empathizing deeply with his sorrow over yet another unfulfilled campaign.
A comeback to winning ways when it mattered the most & how 👌👌
Upwards & Onwards for Rajasthan Royals in #TATAIPL 2024 😄⏫
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/b5YGTn7pOL #RRvRCB | #Eliminator | #TheFinalCall pic.twitter.com/NsxjVGmjZ9
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 22, 2024
On the other hand, the Rajasthan Royals were elated with their win, especially since they had been struggling with a series of losses leading up to this crucial match. At one point during the season, RR had been table-toppers, but a streak of defeats relegated them to third place, forcing them to face Bengaluru in the Eliminator.
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The match itself was a rollercoaster. RCB, led by Faf du Plessis, batted first and posted a total of 172/8 in their 20 overs. Contributions came from Rajat Patidar, Virat Kohli, and Mahipal Lomror, each scoring over 30 runs. However, the rest of the batting lineup failed to build on this foundation.
Ravichandran Ashwin’s stellar bowling, with figures of 2/19, was instrumental in dismissing key players Glenn Maxwell and Cameron Green on consecutive deliveries. Avesh Khan also shone with the ball, claiming three wickets and effectively curbing RCB’s run-scoring in the final overs.
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In response, RR started their chase steadily. Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal played a crucial innings, scoring 45 off 30 balls. The game was further tilted in RR’s favour through the composed and strategic play of Riyan Parag and Shimron Hetmyer. Their game awareness was crucial in maintaining a strong position. Finally, the Caribbean all-rounder Rovman Powell delivered the finishing blows, ensuring that RR secured their spot in Qualifier 2, leaving RCB and Kohli to reflect on another season that ended in disappointment.
