RCB bow down to MI in a run-fest at Wankhede

Things didn’t go as planned for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru as they were handed another defeat and this time by the Mumbai Indians. Despite a strong show from a handful of players, the team couldn’t strike together as a unit, falling short of what would be another tame outing in the ongoing season.

 Winning the toss, MI put RCB into bat. A couple of early setbacks in the form of Virat Kohli (3) and Will Jacks (8) left the visitors reeling at 23/2. However, joining hands with Rajat Patidar, the skipper, Faf du Plessis knitted together a 82-runs stand for the third wicket, bailing RCB out of the immediate jeopardy.

Patidar’s fiery 50 from just 26 balls proved to be the platform on which RCB wanted to climb higher but quick blows in the form of his own wicket and Glenn Maxwell (0) left them short of an immediate display of fireworks.

Dinesh Karthik joined Faf in the middle which improved things for the Royal Challengers but the return of Jasprit Bumrah to the bowling crease left RCB wobbling again. RCB lost four wickets in the span of 17 runs that encompassed the likes of Faf (61), Mahipal Lomror (0), Saurav Chauhan (9) and Vyshak Vijay Kumar (0).

Things could have been way worse for the Royal Challengers had it not been for Dinesh Karthik’s grandstand finish. Almost defying physics in his own sweet fashion, Karthik blazed the MI bowlers which included a flat six in the last ball of Bumrah’s spell.

RCB posted 196/8 as DK stayed unbeaten for 53 off just 23 balls. Bumrah was obviously the pick of the lot as he clinched five wickets at the expense of just 21 runs.

The defence went all over the place for Royal Challengers Bengaluru as Ishan Kishan unloaded an early tornado which consumed the visitors completely. The opening stand of 101 runs from just 53 balls was more than enough to take the game away from RCB. Akash Deep dealt the opening blow but that did very little to dampen the spirits of MI.

Suryakumar Yadav’s introduction alongside Rohit Sharma kept the wheels rolling at jet speed for MI. Despite Will Jacks and Vyshak Vijay Kumar claiming a wicket each, the hosts seized the bragging rights of the game within just 15.3 overs and with seven wickets to spare.