IPL 9, Match 35: RCB v RPS - 5 Talking Points

Virat Kohli played an unbelievable innings as the RCB snapped their losing streak courtesy of a 7-wicket win over the Rising Pune Supergiants. Two half-centuries and a century provided amazing entertainment for the Bengaluru faithful who marked their attendance. Shane Watson also came good for the Challengers perhaps for the first time in the campaign with three wickets and a quickfire 36. Chris Jordan made his debut as the Challengers clinched a fantastic win.

1. RCB rue poor fielding:

The Royal Challengers Bangalore have some of the world’s best fielders. AB de Villiers, Virat Kohli and Shane Watson certainly sends shivers down the spine of the batting side, especially the ones that back themselves to launch the big ones into the stands. With Chris Jordan included in the side for the first time, the fielding seemingly deserted them. The catches simply did not stick as the Challengers allowed the Supergiants to notch up a massive score. Stuart Binny and Sachin Baby dropped two catches of consecutive deliveries as Saurabh Tiwary was rewarded with a new batting life. Needless to say, the southpaw had a massive say in proceedings.

2. Rahane and Tiwary shine:

Ajinkya Rahane and Saurabh Tiwary would have perhaps been the last people MS Dhoni would have expected to star for the Pune batting. While Ajinkya Rahane has been in splendid form thus far, Saurabh Tiwary’s inning was somewhat unexpected. The dismissal of Usman Khawaja came at an appropriate time as the duo moved on, brutally punishing the RCB bowlers. While Tiwary was the beneficiary of a few dropped catches, Ajinkya Rahane hogged the lions’ share, smashing 74 runs in 48 deliveries. Saurabh Tiwary made good of his chances as he slammed a whirlwind 52 in their 106-run stand.

3. Shane Watson makes late impact:

Recently retired Shane Watson’s big bucks have not been justified thus far. All the quids that have been spent on him has seen substandard performances with both the bat and ball. However, on the night, Watson made hay in the warm Bangalore sunshine with some amazing bowling in the death overs. He bowled exceedingly well, picking up three wickets in the death, all of which included power hitters. Watto replicated his form with the bat. He smashed a hapless Rajat Bhatia to all parts of the Chinnaswamy Stadium, smashing a whirlwind 36 off just 12 deliveries. His compilation included 5 boundaries and 2 sixes.

4. Kohli and Rahul get Challengers off to a flier:

With the pressure certainly on and the backing of the RCB faithful, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul made their way out to bat. The latter began the onslaught by smashing a few sixes despite the quiet start they had to the start of the innings. Skipper Virat Kohli joined in on the act with his trademark and virtuoso stroking of the cricket ball. KL Rahul was seemingly the aggressor of the innings as he slammed a quickfire 38 despite being rather subdued towards the end. Kohli on the other hand played the long innings, eager to bat till the end. Needless to say, the duo set a solid foundation with a massive 76-run partnership.

5. Virat Kohli steals the show:

Words seem to be running out to describe Virat Kohli. He isn’t Sachin Tendulkar. He isn’t your archetypical batsman. Only two words can hold a candle to the bundle of fire that he is. He is Virat Kohli. It wasn’t until the fall of AB de Villiers that Kohli was left with no choice but to cut loose. He slammed 108 valuable runs as the Challengers have seemingly got back onto the winning track.