Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) faced a heartbreaking defeat against Gujarat Titans (GT) in a thrilling match. GT successfully chased down the target of 198 runs with 5 balls to spare, emerging victorious by 6 wickets. RCB captain Faf du Plessis was left disappointed as his team struggled to take wickets during the crucial middle overs. Faf himself regretted not converting his promising start, getting dismissed for 28 runs off 19 balls.
GT’s star batter, Shubman Gill, exhibited complete control throughout the run chase. The right-handed dynamo paced his innings intelligently, utilizing the crease and showcasing an array of innovative shots. Shubman Gill smashed a match-winning century, amassing 104 runs from just 52 balls.
The partnership between Vijay Shankar and Shubman Gill proved vital, as the duo combined for an impressive 123-run stand in just 71 balls. Vijay Shankar played a flamboyant knock of 53 runs off 35 balls, featuring 7 fours and 2 sixes. Despite a collapse in the middle order, Shubman Gill remained unfazed, displaying his aggressive brand of cricket. In the 20th over, he sealed his consecutive century in IPL 2023 by smashing a six off Wayne Parnell’s delivery.
RCB’s pacers had a forgettable outing, failing to find effective variations against GT’s batting onslaught. Harshal Patel was the standout bowler, conceding 29 runs in his four-over spell and claiming one wicket. RCB’s bowlers struggled to maintain discipline in their line and length.
Earlier in the match, Virat Kohli showcased his brilliance with a remarkable knock of 101 runs off 61 balls. Virat’s century marked his seventh in the history of the IPL, the highest individual record to date. GT’s left-arm spinner, Noor Ahmad, emerged as their top bowler, taking two wickets while conceding 39 runs in his four overs.
RCB fans were left shell-shocked by the loss. The team concludes their IPL 2023 campaign in the sixth position on the points table, accumulating 14 points with a net run rate of +0.13. On the other hand, GT currently tops the table with 20 points from 14 matches and an impressive net run rate of +0.80.
Expressing his disappointment, Faf du Plessis highlighted GT’s impressive performance, particularly Shubman Gill’s century. He mentioned the challenging dew conditions during the second innings, which affected RCB’s grip on the game.
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“Very disappointed. We faced a formidable team tonight, and Shubman played an amazing innings. The dew played a significant role in the second innings. It was slippery throughout the match, but we had to change the ball multiple times during the second innings,” shared Faf du Plessis.
“Virat played an unbelievable knock that gave us a chance, and we believed it was a good score. However, Shubman’s incredible performance took the game away from us. The top four batsmen contributed well,” he added.
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Faf acknowledged the middle-order woes, emphasizing the need for consistent runs in that segment of the lineup. He praised Virat Kohli for his exceptional performances in IPL 2023 and stressed the importance of having power hitters at positions five, six, and seven in successful teams.
“We missed out on crucial runs from the middle order throughout the season, especially in the later stages of the innings. Additionally, we couldn’t take as many wickets as we would have liked during the middle overs. Virat played excellent cricket throughout the season, and our opening partnership consistently provided solid starts. We need to improve our game in finishing matches, particularly in the backend,” Faf du Plessis explained.
“Last year, Dinesh Karthik had an outstanding phase, finishing games brilliantly. However, it didn’t materialize for us this season. If we observe the successful teams, they possess power hitters at positions five and six, and sometimes even at seven,” he concluded.
