RCB Bold Diaries: What happened at RCB’s first Practice game?

With just a few days left to go for the IPL season for RCB to begin, the squad was split into two parts with Faf du Plessis and Harshal Patel leading the two sides. “We’ve tried to mix up the batters v the bowlers, people that are likely to bat together, potentially. And also matchups. Obviously, we know what Punjab Kings are likely to throw at us, making sure we’re facing similar types of bowlers in different phases of the game,” explained Mike Hesson. It was time for the first practice game of the season for the RCB entourage.

Batting first, on a surface that the Head coach Sanjay Bangar and Mike Hesson reckoned should produce plenty of shots, Faf du Plessis and Anuj Rawat made the most of the conditions with the duo putting on a show for the opening stand. While the captain scored 76 off just 40 balls, the young wicket-keeper batsman from Delhi looked in imperious touch for his 25-ball 46. The West Indian Sherfane Rutherford finished off the innings nicely with 59 off just 31 to set Harshal Patel’s XI a mammoth target of 215.

After having lost a couple of early wickets, Suyash Prabhudessai took it upon himself to anchor the run-chase. Batting the situation to perfection, he took the game deep, while also keeping the required rate in check. Dinesh Karthik added impetus at the right time. A 46-ball 87 by Suyash took his team home nearly before Akash Deep produced a brilliant last over to win the game for the Faf du Plessis XI by just 1 run. 

RCB captain Faf du Plessis said that he was impressed the most with Akash Deep who produced the most crucial spell on the day, picking up 4/29 in his 4 overs in a game that saw both teams crossing 200. “I was impressed the most today with Akash Deep,” said Faf du Plessis. “He was excellent with the new ball, bowled really good hard lengths; surprised by his pace as well. And then towards the end, he had some really good options. That’s really pleasing for us, another young fast bowler stepping up,” gleamed the RCB skipper.