The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad witnessed a nail-biting encounter between RR vs RCB on May 22nd, 2024, as the Rajasthan Royals (RR) edged out the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by 4 wickets in a thrilling Eliminator match of the IPL 2024 playoffs.

Rajasthan Royals Win the Toss and Opt to Bowl

RR captain Sanju Samson won the toss and elected to field first, looking to capitalize on the Ahmedabad pitch’s early swing bowling assistance. The decision seemed justified as the Royals’ Pace attack, led by Trent Boult and Sandeep Sharma, kept the RCB batsmen in check initially.

Openers Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli struggled against the tight bowling, with both falling cheaply. However, the middle-order duo of Rajat Patidar and Mahipal Lomror steadied the ship for RCB with a crucial partnership. Patidar, in particular, impressed with a well-paced 34, while Lomror provided valuable support with a gritty 32.

Despite the fightback, RCB’s batting faltered in the death overs. Ravichandran Ashwin’s experience with the ball proved invaluable for RR, as he picked up two crucial wickets to restrict RCB to a below-par total of 172/8.

Rajasthan Royals Get Off to a Steady Start

Chasing a modest target, RR openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Tom Kohler-Cadmore started cautiously. Jaiswal played some delightful strokes, scoring a vital 45, before being dismissed by the Cameron Green. Sanju Samson, the RR captain, fell cheaply, adding pressure to the chase.

The young Riyan Parag stepped up with a mature knock of 36, stitching together a crucial partnership with Dhruv Jurel. However, with wickets falling around him, the onus shifted to the big-hitting Rovman Powell. The West Indian did not disappoint, smashing a six off the penultimate ball of the match to seal a thrilling victory for RR. Ravichandran Ashwin, with his economical bowling figures of 2/19, was deservedly adjudged the Player of the Match.

This win propelled the Rajasthan Royals into Qualifier 2, where they will face the Sunrisers Hyderabad for a place in the IPL 2024 finals. Royal Challengers Bangalore, meanwhile, were left heartbroken as their tournament journey came to an end.

This match Between RR VS RCB was a perfect example of the IPL’s unpredictable nature, showcasing a thrilling contest that went down to the wire. Rajasthan Royals will look to carry this momentum forward as they aim for a place in the finals, while RCB will have to regroup and learn from their mistakes for the upcoming season.