From Faf du Plessis to Mohammed Siraj: Top 3 performers for RCB against PBKS

The Royal Challengers Bangalore moved up to the 5th position on the IPL 2023 points table as they got the better of the Punjab Kings in a modest-scoring encounter. It was a collective display of brilliance that started through the willows of Faf du Plessis (84) and Virat Kohli (59) to help RCB put on a challenging 174 on the board.

Despite a late slip-up in momentum with the bat, the RCB bowlers were bang on their money right from the word go, as they raged past the Punjab Kings. Mohammed Siraj was the tormentor-in-chief before Wanindu Hasaranga could deal a double whammy while Harshal Patel’s final blow finished things on a high for the visitors. Here are the top performers for RCB against PBKS:

1.    Faf du Plessis – 84 (56)

Faf du Plessis is in a league of his own as he retained the Orange Cap with a standout display, hammering a warring 84 despite an injury to his ribs that was copped during the fixture against the Chennai Super Kings. Kickstarting his belligerence against Harpreet Brar, Faf continued to smash the Punjab bowlers across the park and would eventually finish with five fours and five sixes in his commanding display that left Punjab with a sour taste in their mouth.

2.    Virat Kohli – 59 (47)

Virat Kohli started on a feisty note, smashing the bowlers early as RCB made merry in the powerplay. He would score at a breezy rate in the opening spell before the Punjab Kings threw a spanner in the works post the powerplay. Yet, Kohli, who was RCB’s skipper for the day was quite authoritative with the bat, registering his fourth half-century of IPL 2023. What’s more, as skipper, Kohli also nailed two LBW reviews, capping off his return as RCB captain with sheer dominance.

3.    Mohammed Siraj – 4/21

The ace RCB quick was on top of his game as he strangulated the batters as they struggled to score runs off him, and his line and length were too much to handle for the Punjab batting unit. Siraj first removed Atharva Taide with a short-of-length delivery, following which he pinned Liam Livingstone in front of the stumps and used DRS to help overturn a not-out call. In a late flourish, Siraj dealt a couple of blows to mop off the tail, bagging the scalps of Harpreet Brar and Nathan Ellis, rightfully earning himself the Player of the Match award.