IPL 2022: Match 67, RCB vs GT – Full List of Award Winners, Player of the Match, Who Said What

The 67^th match of the IPL 2022 went special for Royal Challengers Bangalore as not only they claimed two crucial points against Gujarat Titans but also witnessed the stellar class of run machine Virat Kohli. RCB won the game by eight wickets with eight balls to spare at the Wankhede Stadium to keep their playoff hopes very much alive. Choosing to get the scoreboard ticking first, Hardik Pandya and his men posted 168 runs on the board.

Saha continued his shining run as he chipped in with crucial 31 runs off 22 deliveries. The evening was special for skipper Hardik as he let his bat talk with a fine knock of 62* runs which was well accompanied by David Miller’s 34 off 25. Wanindu Hasaranga claimed respectable bowling figures from RCB’s end while picking a wicket and giving away 25 runs.

Virat Kohli makes chasing easy for RCB

When RCB came to chase, it was all about Virat Kohli flaunting class and displaying sheer determination to roar back to form. Faf du Plessis (44 off 38) and Kohli (73 off 54) did the majority of work for RCB before other batters followed in. However, the game also witnessed perfect hitting from Glenn Maxwell who took RCB over the line with 40* off 18. Rashid Khan picked both the wickets for Gujarat Titans while R Sai Kishore bowled a wonderful spell giving just 20 runs in four overs.

Winning Skipper, Faf du Plessis said:

Throughout the season we haven’t done as much as have liked. But you still need to back these big players. Virat had been putting in the hard yards in the nets. I play the role with him and get him pumped up. He has got so much emotions and he pulls you through. It is as if you are playing a rugby game. That catch was awesome. We were trying to get some wickets in the powerplay. The run-out was pretty cool as well. When I hit the stumps, I was like what do you say about my arm now? I think tonight was important for obvious reasons. You always want to finish strongly. A few inconsistent performances have put us in this situation. I am banking on Rohit to come good.

Losing Skipper, Hardik Pandya said:

We had just a par score. The ball was stopping here and there and we were happy with 168. We wanted to give Lockie the opportunity, but the wicket was holding a bit. So we wanted to go for bowlers who bowled slower ones and took pace off the ball. We pulled things back in the middle but the way Maxwell played in the end made us feel we were 10 runs short. We are on the right tack and we just need to look after losing back to back wickets. The learning is to make sure we don’t do it in the playoffs. It is always good to score runs. The way the boys are gelling and the way we are going, it is a learning for the players. I don’t know about Saha’s injury. He was feeling his hamstring and it was a precautionary measure to keep him off the field.

Player of the match, Virat Kohli said:

I can keep going. It was an important game. I was disappointed that I have not done enough for the team. Today was a game where I was able to create an impact for the team. Puts us in a good position. You need to keep the perspective right. You can forget the process in order to live up to the expectations. I have worked really hard. I batted 90 minutes in the nets yesterday. I came in very free and relaxed.  It is in that spur of the moment why is it happening to me. It goes back to 2018 in England when I was dropped on 21 and the juggernaut could have started again like it did on the 2014 tour. With the very first shot of Shami, I felt I could hit lengths balls over the fielder’s head. I knew that tonight was the night when I could kick on. It has been wonderful that I have got so much support in this edition. I am forever grateful to all the love that I have never seen before.

Full list of awardees from RCB vs GT match

Super Striker of the match – Glenn Maxwell

Game Changer of the match – Glenn Maxwell

Most Sixes – David Miller

Power Player of the match – Glenn Maxwell

Most Valuable Asset of the match – Virat Kohli

Most Fours – Virat Kohli

Fastest Delivery of the match – Lockie Ferguson