In a disappointing turn of events for Virat Kohli, Royal Challengers Bangalore exited the IPL on Wednesday after a defeat to Rajasthan Royals by four wickets in Ahmedabad.
Rajasthan successfully restricted Bangalore to 172-8, a target they chased down with six balls to spare in the crucial play-off match held at the world’s largest cricket stadium.
This loss means Kohli and his team continue to wait for their first IPL title. Meanwhile, Rajasthan will face Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final play-off match on Friday in Chennai, determining the opponent for Kolkata Knight Riders in the final showdown on May 26.
Kolkata secured their spot in the final after a dominant victory over Hyderabad in the initial play-off match on Tuesday in the scorching heat of Ahmedabad.
Rajasthan, the winners of the inaugural IPL in 2008 under the leadership of late Australian legend Shane Warne, made a remarkable comeback after enduring four defeats in five matches, including a washout.
Bangalore’s journey in the tournament came to an end despite their impressive turnaround from the bottom of the table after eight matches to winning six consecutive games and making it to the playoffs. “After starting with one win out of eight, a lot of teams would have lost their way,” commented Bangalore captain Faf du Plessis. “But we made sure to give our best, and bouncing back like this – winning six games in a row – shows a lot of character.”
Rajasthan’s disciplined bowling attack, spearheaded by Trent Boult (1-16) and Ravichandran Ashwin (2-19), played a crucial role as they elected to bowl first.
Although Rajasthan faced some hiccups during their chase, with key players Yashasvi Jaiswal and skipper Sanju Samson departing in quick succession, contributions from Riyan Parag (36) and Shimron Hetmyer (26) steadied their innings. Rovman Powell’s unbeaten 16, which included a crucial six, sealed the victory for Rajasthan.
With the momentum on their side, Rajasthan’s dressing room exuded confidence, according to Samson.
Meanwhile, the scorching temperatures in Ahmedabad, soaring above 43 degrees Celsius (109 degrees Fahrenheit), tested both players and fans alike. Despite the extreme heat, the stadium witnessed an impressive turnout of over 85,000 spectators.
Substitutes worked tirelessly to keep players hydrated, running with towels and water bottles along the boundary ropes throughout the match. Across India’s northern states, authorities issued heatwave alerts in response to the sweltering conditions.
Additionally, reports surfaced of Bollywood actor and IPL team owner Shah Rukh Khan being hospitalized in Ahmedabad due to a heatstroke, a day after celebrating Kolkata’s victory at the same venue.
In the match, Du Plessis departed early after a stunning catch by Powell off Boult’s bowling, while Kohli’s innings ended at 33 runs, falling prey to Yuzvendra Chahal’s leg-spin. Despite Kohli’s stellar performance throughout the season, amassing 741 runs in 15 matches, Bangalore fell short against Rajasthan’s disciplined bowling attack.
In the end, Rajasthan emerged victorious, marking the end of Bangalore’s IPL journey for the season.
