RCB’s defeat, CSK

In the pivotal match against Royal Challengers Bangalore, Rajasthan Royals showcased their batting prowess by chasing down the target of 173 with precision and determination. Yashasvi Jaiswal emerged as a pivotal figure in their victory, delivering a blistering 45 runs off just 30 balls. His aggressive yet calculated approach injected momentum into Rajasthan’s innings, setting the stage for their successful chase.

Adding to the onslaught was Riyan Parag, whose contribution of 36 runs off 26 balls further bolstered Rajasthan’s innings. Parag’s skillful stroke play and ability to rotate the strike ensured that the momentum remained firmly in Rajasthan’s favor throughout the innings.

On the bowling front, Royal Challengers Bangalore’s Mohammed Siraj emerged as a standout performer, despite the team’s eventual loss. Siraj’s disciplined bowling yielded crucial breakthroughs, as he managed to claim two wickets against a formidable Rajasthan batting lineup. His ability to extract movement and maintain tight lines posed significant challenges for the opposition batsmen, showcasing his prowess as a skilled exponent of the craft.

Overall, Rajasthan Royals’ collective effort, led by stellar performances from Jaiswal and Parag with the bat, combined with Siraj’s bowling brilliance for RCB, made for an enthralling contest that epitomized the competitive spirit of the Indian Premier League.

Initially, RCB posted a total of 172/8 in their 20 overs, with Virat Kohli contributing 33 runs off 24 balls and Rajat Patidar adding 34 runs off 22 balls. In the bowling department for Rajasthan Royals, Avesh Khan took three wickets, while R Ashwin claimed two dismissals.  CSK

Reacting to CSK pacer Tushar Deshpande trolled the franchise with a meme on his Instagram story. He posted a photo of Bengaluru Cantonment railway station with the caption, “Bengaluru Cant.” However, he later deleted the story.

The reason behind Tushar Deshpande’s Instagram story stems from the previous Saturday, when eliminated CSK from playoff contention.  27-run victory over CSK secured them the fourth spot in the standings, relegating Chennai to fifth place. , CSK

In that decisive match,  set a target of 219 runs, posting 218/5 in 20 overs, thanks to a half-century from Faf du Plessis, who scored 54 runs. Shardul Thakur was notable in CSK’s bowling attack, taking two wickets. In response, CSK managed to reach 191/7 in their 20 overs. Rachin Ravindra scored a half-century with 61 runs, while Yash Dayal’s final-over heroics, with figures of 2/42, were not enough to secure a win for Chennai.

Following  elimination, captain Faf du Plessis reflected on the match and their season: “With the dew coming, we felt we were short with the bat. Did think we were 20 runs shy of what was a good score. Credit to the boys – they fought really well. That’s all you can ask for. If you look at naturally assessing the pitch and conditions, you would say it’s a 180 pitch because it was swinging upfront and was quite slow. But what we’ve found out this season, with the impact player, the par score isn’t enough any more. Also with the dew coming in. Extremely proud. Lot of teams – their wheels would’ve fallen off after 1 from 9. To come back like that, six games in a row, takes a lot of heart and character. We weren’t special tonight in terms of pushing that extra 20 runs with the bat.”

Deshpande’s meme, showing Bengaluru Cantonment railway station with the caption “Bengaluru Cant,” was a playful jab at  playoff exit, but he later deleted the story.