2022 wrapped: 5 best moments for RCB from 2022

We are almost on the cusp of 2022 coming to an end as a grand new 2023 awaits us all. It was one swashbuckling ride for all of us and most importantly there were revelations of a lifetime that would drive us forward in our pursuit of excellence. As we gear up to put a close to a phenomenal year, here are the five best displays of IPL 2022 from the Royal Challengers Bangalore or shall we call it 2022 wrapped?

Rajat Patidar – 112* vs LSG, Eden Gardens

It was the Eliminator of 2022 and RCB were up against the might of LSG at the Mecca of Indian cricket, the Eden Gardens. KL Rahul won the toss and opted to bowl first, hoping to put RCB in a bit of blue funk with the surface posting its own shenanigans. Faf du Plessis departed early and after a brief spell of resistance, Virat Kohli returned to the pavilion too, opening up the floodgates for the Giants to bring in their brick and mortar to stall the run-cascade of the Royal Challengers. Teetering at 115 for 4 from 13.1 overs, Dinesh Karthik walked out to bat and paired with Rajat Patidar. Rajat chose violence and started unleashing a full-blown assault on the hotshots of the Giants. From Dushmantha Chameera to Avesh Khan, they all bore the full brunt of Rajat Patidar’s excellence as the Challengers sailed hammer and tongs to a score north of 200 and Rajat brought up his maiden IPL century in style, the first Indian uncapped player to score a century in the IPL Playoffs.

Faf du Plessis – 96 vs LSG, DY Patil Stadium

Despite the opposition being the same, it was a captain’s special at the DY Patil as the Super Giants were tamed emphatically by the Challengers. Once again being put to bat first, RCB’s top order barring Faf du Plessis came apart at the seams as they wobbled at 62 for 4 at one point in time. Shahbaz Ahmed stepped up to be the anchor at one end while Faf du Plessis did the heavy lifting. He hacked his way through a maze of LSG bowlers and eventually propelled RCB to a momentous 181 with his phenomenal knock coming to an end for 96. There were 11 fours and 2 sixes in his innings as he rocked and rolled his way through.

Dinesh Karthik – 66 vs DC, Wankhede

This was a very special knock for the Finisher Supreme as it paved the path for the Royal Challengers to justify their purchase of Dinesh Karthik fully as the latter dished out a coming-of-age innings that was complete in its truest sense. Karthik walked out to bat with RCB teetering at 92 for the loss of 5 from 11.2 overs. With almost the entire batting chips down, the Challengers’ last hopes were a struggling Shahbaz Ahmed and an incoming Dinesh Karthik. DK started on a reticent note, soaking in the early pressure before he opted to go all guns blazing. What started off as a cautious walk towards safety shortly gave way to a ceiling-shattering crescendo while the Delhi bowlers found themselves twisted in an almost undoable knot as Karthik made merry. He hammered 5 fours and 5 huge maximus en route to his unbeaten 66 from just 34 balls while RCB posted 189 for the loss of 5.

Wanindu Hasaranga – 5 for 18 vs SRH, Wankhede

This was a battle for revenge as the Royal Challengers were skittled out for an ignominious score in the first fixture of this rivalry. However, the second time around, the skipper took matters in his own hands while Dinesh Karthik administered an impeccable blitz towards the end to help RCB pile up 192 on the board. The bowlers started on a grand note with the Australian duo of Maxwell and Hazlewood dealing an early double whammy. However, it was the Sri Lankan talisman who came forth breathing fire as he weaved a web of almost inexplicable and unplayable turn around the Sunrisers, claiming an impressive fifer that offered a dosage of their own medicine to the Orange Army. His exploits included the big wicket of Aiden Markram, the hard-hitting Caribbean keeper, Nicholas Pooran, a resolute Jagadeesa Suchith, a meek Shashank Singh and at the end of it all, Umran Malik with an absolute ripper. 

Josh Hazlewood – 4 for 25 vs LSG, DY Patil

We have already talked about this match earlier as Faf du Plessis posted a belter, while it was Josh who grabbed the headlines, announcing his arrival in the most grandiose fashion, bringing down the Giants to their knees. He claimed the big wickets of Quinton de Kock, Manish Pandey, Ayush Badoni and capped it off with the match-changing scalp of Marcus Stoinis, sending his timbre for a walk down the park. This was just the beginning of an even grander scheme of things as he would prove to be a mainstay in the RCB echelons.