On May 27, the Rajasthan Royals (RR) defeated the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by seven wickets at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad in Qualifier 2 of the IPL 2022. They not only set up a final encounter with Gujarat Titans on May 29 as a result of this triumph, but they also made it to the summit clash for the first time since the initial edition in 2008.
Sanju Samson, the RR captain, won the toss and chose to bowl first. Virat Kohli was bowled for seven runs early in the innings, while skipper Faf du Plessis (25) and Glenn Maxwell (24) both got starts but failed to convert them into huge scores.
Rajat Patidar rose to the occasion once more, scoring a second consecutive 50-plus score in a knockout match, helping RCB put a respectable total of 157/8 on the board. RCB’s backbone was broken by Prasidh Krishna (3/22) and Obed McCoy (3/23), while Ravichandran Ashwin and Trent Boult each took a wicket.
In response, the opening pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler broke the Bangalore bowlers’ confidence from the start, scoring at a rapid clip. Before the kid was dismissed, they accumulated 61 runs for the first wicket. While skipper Samson (23) provided excellent support to Buttler, the latter appeared unstoppable as he pulled the game away from RCB on his own.
As RR crossed the line in the penultimate over, he scored his fifth IPL century and fourth this season. With a 60-ball 106, he remained unblemished. With stats of 2/23, Josh Hazlewood was Bangalore’s best bowler, while Wanindu Hasaranga claimed one wicket.
IPL 2022: RR defeats RCB by 7 wickets – Post Match Reaction
After the match the winning captain said
“It was tough (after a loss in the last game), but we are used to bouncing back in the tournament. In IPL it’s very normal that you go ups and downs throughout the tournament. We lost a few games, we knew how to come back and we did really well.”
“I was very young and it was the first IPL season and I remember playing an under-16 game somewhere in Kerala and I remember watching the last game with my friends and remember that last run where Shane Warne and Sohail Tanvir hit the run and they were running, it was a very vague memory which I have.”
Meanwhile, the losing captain Faf du Plessis said
“When we walked off the field, we felt were a few short. Was challenging the first 3-4 overs, was movement. Felt 180 was a par score on that pitch. First six overs felt like Test cricket. Compared to the other wickets, this one was quicker off the new ball, and then it eased off later in the innings. Great season for RCB. Really proud.”
“RCB RCB got chanted in that game (DC v MI). The guys got emotional. The support you get as a cricketer in India is remarkable. You can only be in awe of the support every franchise gets. Well done to everyone and thank you very much.”
What’s next for Rajasthan and Bangalore?
RR will play their first IPL final since the inaugural edition in 2008. The Royals will face Gujarat Titans (GT), who defeated them in the qualifier 1. While for RCB, their journey of the 15th edition of IPL comes to an end and they will be looking forward to comeback stronger in he next season.
