Virat Kohli leads RCB’s chase in Bengaluru. (Image credit: IPL)
BENGALURU: The first phase of the IPL was largely owned by emerging talent and young Turks. But the midweek match at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium here was different. It turned out to be a vintage Wednesday.
Two experienced exponents of the sport from Royal Challengers Bengaluru came out to show the Lucknow Super Giants how to get the job done.Go beyond boundaries with our YouTube channel. Subscribe now!This campaign was led by two experienced activists. 36-year-old Bhuvneshwar Kumar (03/27) set the tone with a masterclass in swing bowling, exploiting the action early before nailing his companions at the death. At the other end, 35-year-old Josh Hazlewood (1/20) was tough, working on measuring lengths that proved difficult to read.
On a spongy surface, RCB’s spinners – with Rasikh Dar (4/24) joining the party – used the short ball to unsettle the opposition before dismissing LSG for a modest 146.
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Chasing an under-par target, RCB flirted with wobbliness but eventually cruised to a five-wicket win in 15.1 overs, maintaining their unbeaten run at home this season.Phil Salt went down early, but Virat Kohli, who came in as an influential player for Suyash Sharma, found his rhythm quickly.
Consecutive boundaries off Mohammed Shami showed his trademark and timing. Kohli raced to 34 off his first 14 deliveries, putting the chase on track.However, the disciplined bowling of Avesh Khan, coupled with wickets at the other end, slowed the pace. Kohli was denied a half-century, as he fell to 49 (34b, 6×4, 1×6), caught by Nicholas Pooran at long-on. But others make sure they get the job done while saving a lot.
RCB pacer Josh Hazlewood celebrates with his teammates after taking LSG’s wicket. (Image credit: IPL)
Earlier, LSG’s slow start to the IPL season showed little signs of improvement as their batting unit faltered once again. On the eve of the encounter, the series’ World Cricket Director, Tom Moody, hoped the venue’s run-friendly reputation would act as a tonic. Instead, LSG’s struggles deepened.RCB’s tactic of using short-pitched deliveries effectively destabilized the batters. Hazlewood dominated at the top, Bhuvneshwar was clinical, and Rasikh shone with clever variations that left the batsmen scratching their heads.LSG never fully recovered after the early setback. Aiden Markram fell at number four, mistaking a full toss from Rasikh to Devdutt Padikkal over the covers. From there, the procession became slow-paced. The batsmen struggled to gauge the pace of the wicket, often committing strikes too early. RCB tightened the screws with 15 dot balls in the Powerplay, setting the tone for the collapse.Pooran’s poor run continued when he fell to Hazlewood, dragging a short ball onto his stumps as he attempted a pull.
Mitchell Marsh (40; 32b; 3×4, 2×6) and Aayush Badoni (38) offered brief resistance, compiling a 36-run stand to stabilize the innings. But Krunal Pandya (2/38) cut through, deceiving Marsh with a quicker delivery that hit the stumps before removing Abdul Samad in his next over.Mukul Choudhary 39 added some late respect, but the innings never really gained momentum.
Fear of injury to Rishabh Pant
Rishabh Pant’s difficult outing was compounded by an injury scare. He was struck first outside off by Hazlewood before a short, rising ball hit him on his right stomach. While attempting to counter-attack, he then stuck his left elbow in, leaving him in obvious discomfort. After receiving treatment, Pant departed, only to return in the 16th over with LSG in trouble at 118/5. The LSG skipper was still not entirely comfortable, as he struggled with timing and was eventually dismissed by Bhuvneshwar Kumar after facing just three deliveries.