IPL 2022: Qualifier 2, RR vs RCB – Full List of Award Winners, Player of the Match, Who Said What

The Rajasthan Royals beat the Royal Challengers Bangalore by seven wickets in Qualifier 2 of IPL 2022 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on May 27. By virtue of this win, they not only set up a final date with Gujarat Titans on May 29 but also made it to the summit clash for the first time after the inaugural edition in 2008.

RR skipper Sanju Samson won the toss and elected to bowl first. Batting megastar Virat Kohli was dismissed early for seven while skipper Faf du Plessis (25) and Glenn Maxwell (24) got starts but failed to convert them into big knocks. It was Rajat Patidar once again who rose to the occasion and registered a second straight 50-plus score in a knockout clash, courtesy of which RCB posted a respectable total of 157/8 on the board. Prasidh Krishna (3/22) and Obed McCoy (3/23) broke RCB’s backbone while Ravichandran Ashwin and Trent Boult picked up a wicket each.

Jos Buttler powers RR into the final

In reply, the opening duo of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler shattered the confidence of the Bangalore bowlers right from the word go, scoring at a brisk rate. They added 61 runs for the first wicket before the youngster was dismissed. While captain Samson (23) did play a great supporting role to Buttler. The latter looked unstoppable as he single-handedly took the game away from RCB. He brought up his fifth IPL century and fourth this season as RR got past the line in the penultimate over. He remained unbeaten, scoring a 60-ball 106. Josh Hazlewood was the pick of the bowlers for Bangalore with figures of 2/23 while Wanindu Hasaranga took one wicket.

Losing skipper, Faf du Plessis said:

“When we walked off the field, we felt were a few short. Was challenging the first 3-4 overs, was movement. Felt 180 was a par score on that pitch. First six overs felt like Test cricket. Compared to the other wickets, this one was quicker off the new ball, and then it eased off later in the innings. Great season for RCB. Really proud. My first season coming in and seeing how special the fans are everywhere we go. A big thank you to everyone coming out and supporting us. Have had some incredible performances for us. Harshal has been amazing. DK.. all the guys picked for India. Obviously disappointed tonight. Came up against a really strong Rajasthan team who probably deserve it more than us. That’s the incredible thing, not just the bubble but also you have a deep respect of the people in India. When you go back to your hotel and there’s always people working till 3am, and then up at 7am for breakfast again. Grateful for all the kindness shown to us as a team, but I know it happens all across India. It’s a very good part of Indian culture. Nice young talent in our squad, and obviously with a 3-year plan.. that’s what you try to maximise.. you get them raw at the beginning but they can turn into superstars. We’ve seen that Rajat, since he’s came in, has looked at home. A great future of Indian cricket. You can always pick three Indian teams after the IPL with the amount of young talent coming through. That’s been the most obvious thing when I joined the franchise. RCB RCB got chanted in that game (DC v MI). The guys got emotional. The support you get as a cricketer in India is remarkable. You can only be in awe of the support every franchise gets. Well done to everyone and thank you very much.”

Winning skipper, Sanju Samson said:

“It was tough (after a loss in the last game), but we are used to bouncing back in the tournament. In IPL it’s very normal that you go ups and downs throughout the tournament. We lost a few games, we knew how to come back and we did really well. The wicket was a bit sticky and was helping the fast bowlers a bit, it had really good bounce and was easier playing the spinners. We closed the innings really well, having DK and Maxi at the end we knew what they could do but having belief and composure in our skills is what got us through. It (winning the toss) made it easier to win this game, toss plays a huge role and I think the wicket played completely different in the first and second innings. This is his (Obed McCoy) first IPL, he is very calm and composed and backs his strengths and we really trust him to do well. Very grateful to have someone like Jos, and the way he is batting, touchwood, we have one more game to go. I was very young and it was the first IPL season and I remember playing an under-16 game somewhere in Kerala and I remember watching the last game with my friends and remember that last run where Shane Warne and Sohail Tanvir hit the run and they were running, it was a very vague memory which I have.”

Player of the Match, Jos Buttler said:

“I came into the season with very low expectations, but with a lot of energy and excitement and to be stood here now and have the season I had with such a great team and get us into the finals is incredibly exciting. I had a tournament of two halves. I had some really honest conversations with some close people around me, Kumar Sangakarra and Trevor Penny. I was feeling a bit of pressure, getting distracted and I was tried to suppress it and it was only until a week ago or so I opened up inside and talking about that made me feel a lot better going into Kolkata and that innings gave me the confidence that helped today. I am always trying to play the game, what is the game asking me to do any particular time and what skillset do I have to try and use on that particular day. Some days I have been slow to start with, I wish I was never like that, I wish I could play fast all the time. Certain times I found it tough and maybe a younger version of myself would have gone for big shot and got out and something Sanga has been saying to me that the longer you stay there, at some point it will come. I came today so excited and the thought of playing in front of 100 thousand people, incredible support, fantastic stadium and brilliant game of cricket. I just enjoyed today so much. To be able to get the opportunity to go and play in the final of the biggest T20 tournament in the world is incredibly exciting. Shane Warne is such an influential figure for the Rajasthan Royals and having led the team to success in the first season, we will miss him dearly, but we know he is looking down on us with a lot of pride today.”

Full list of awardees from the RR vs RCB match

Super Striker of the match – Jos Buttler

Game Changer of the match – Jos Buttler

Most Sixes – Jos Buttler

Power Player of the match – Jos Buttler

Most Valuable Asset of the match – Jos Buttler

Fastest delivery of the match – Prasidh Krishna

Most Fours – Jos Buttler