27th Match, IPL: Royal Challengers Bangalore 174 for 4 (Du Plessis 84, Kohli 59, Brar 2-31) beat Punjab Kings 150 (Prabhsimran 46, Jitesh 41, Mohammed Siraj 4-21) by 24 runs

Faf du Plessis revealed that he could never have played this game had the Impact Player rule not been set up. Too many issues were being caused by his bruised rib. However, the new regulations gave him the opportunity to influence the game solely through his batting, and he did so. Giving over the captaincy to Virat Kohli so he could play as a substitute, he hit 84 off 56 balls on a lazy Mohali pitch to pull Illustrious Challengers Bangalore to 174 for 4, regardless of a late log jam. After that, all he did was rest in the dugout while observing Mohammed Siraj excel in the powerplay and death to assist them in defending that total.

After being on 137 for 0 in 16 overs, Royal Challengers were only 37 for 4 in their final four overs. However, after a narrow home loss to Chennai Super Kings, they dominated the powerplay with bat and ball to defeat Punjab Kings and give their campaign a boost.

The opening salvo

After a calm beginning – du Plessis was on 3 off 7 balls at a certain point – he made swinging room against left-arm finger spinner Harpreet Brar and sent him over his head for six. He gave him more room with two more balls and hit him over midwicket for six more. Royal Challengers outscored Royal Challengers 59 to 0 in the powerplay after Kohli’s strong start, driving Brar and then pulling the seamers for fours. Even after the powerplay, Du Plessis batted with the same high intent, reaching his half-century off 31 balls.

The slowdown

However, Kohli slowed down after the powerplay, particularly against leg spinner Rahul Chahar and Sam Curran’s slower variations. Subsequent to being on 29 off 19 balls toward the finish of the powerplay, he oversaw just 30 off his next 28 balls.

When he spliced a sweep off Brar, his innings came to an end, and Kings made their breakthrough when wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma made a stunning one-handed catch. After that, Brar got Glenn Maxwell to hole out for a duck on the next ball, and Nathan Ellis, who was picked ahead of Kagiso Rabada, got du Plessis fooled with a slower variation to stop Royal Challengers at the last moment.

They were 91 for 0 of every ten overs and later 137 for 0 out of 16 overs however wound up with seemingly a shoddy finish at that stage. Kings would ultimately discover that 24 was too many.

Mohammed Siraj bosses the powerplay and death

Illustrious Challengers immediately recaptured lost ground when Siraj struck two times in the powerplay to trap both Atharva Taide (4) and the returning Liam Livingstone (2). Siraj increased his powerplay total this season to six with those two wickets. No other bowler has more wickets during this stage in IPL 2023.

Siraj returned in the final moments to conclude Kings’ pursuit after discovering late inswing in the initial exchanges. Kings had 30 off 18 balls when Jitesh struck late, giving them a glimmer of hope. In the 18th over, however, Siraj struck out Brar and Ellis for just four runs. Siraj was likewise at it in the field, affecting an immediate hit from mid-off to get Harpreet Bhatia short at the non-striker’s end.

Jitesh, Prabhsimran flicker for Kings

From being 43 for 4 on the powerplay, Kings’ Impact Player Prabhsimran Singh and Finisher Jitesh contributed to their team’s closeness to the goal. Indeed, even as five wickets fell around him, Prabhsimran pursued the RCB assault. He took Wanindu Hasaranga for 18 off of eight balls, which was particularly severe. The chase, on the other hand, slipped further out of Kings’ reach when he missed the half-century mark by just four.

Jitesh momentarily kept Lords in the pursuit with his own counterattack, however Siraj and Harshal Patel at last excused them for 150 and hauled RCB up to fifth on the standings.