PBKS vs RCB: Sam Curran almost knocks out Faf du Plessis with head-high no-ball

Royal Challengers Bangalore's star South African opener Faf du Plessis was nearly cleaned up by a head-high no-ball by Punjab Kings' Sam Curran during the ongoing 27th match of IPL 2023 in Mohali. Faf du Plessis did well to escape without any injury, as the ball almost crashed into his helmet.

The incident took place when Punjab Kings' stand-in skipper Sam Curran ran in to bowl the first delivery of the 16th over of the match. However, the ball slipped out of his hand and almost took out his opposite number, who was trying to hit the head-high full toss. The English all-rounder immediately put his hand up in apology and also exchanged a few words with the RCB star.

Shantanu 🏏🎧@Shantanu630

Bro Sam he is already injured in Rib..you want to kill him or what?😐

04:39 PM · Apr 20, 2023

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RCB stutter after strong opening stand

Although Faf was unable to dispatch the free-hit, Curran should have had his man a couple of deliveries later, only for wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma to misjudge a skier. The home side did manage to break the crucial partnership in the next over after RCB's stand-in skipper Virat Kohli was dismissed by Harpreet Brar, ending the fifth-highest opening stand for the Bangalore-based franchise in IPL.

Virat's opening partner, who was striking the ball cleanly on a sluggish surface, was eventually dismissed by Nathan Ellis as Du Plessis tried to up the ante but failed to dispatch a well-disguised slower ball. The regular RCB skipper is not leading the side against Punjab Kings as he is nursing a rib injury and won't be able to participate in his side's bowling innings. Vijaykumar Vyshak will come in as an Impact Player to replace the South African in the second innings.