Twitter Reactions: Lasith Malinga and Hardik Pandya crush RCB’s playoffs hopes

Pandya scored 22 runs in the 19th over to take Mumbai home.

Published - 15 Apr 2019, 23:56 IST | Updated - 15 Apr 2019, 23:56 IST

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The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) couldn’t hold on to their winning momentum and slumped to their seventh defeat in this edition’s Indian Premier League (IPL). The franchise, captained by Virat Kohli lost to the Mumbai Indians (MI) by five wickets at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. With the drubbing, RCB virtually got knocked out of the tournament with mathematical calculations remaining.

De Villiers blazes away

The MI won the toss and put the Challengers to bat first. Jason Behrendorff struck first blood, getting rid of Virat Kohli in his second over. Parthiv Patel played his strokes without nurturing any inhibitions to score 28 runs with four fours and an over-boundary. Thereafter, AB de Villiers and Moeen Ali put their heads down and added 95 runs for the third wicket in 61 balls to set the platform for a final flourish.

The stand was broken by Lasith Malinga, who nipped out Moeen after the Englishman notched 50 runs off 32 deliveries with one four and five sixes. At the other end, De Villiers played until the very last over and racked up 75 runs from 51 balls with the help of six boundaries and four sixes. For Mumbai, Malinga was the most successful as he finished with a four-wicket haul and restricted RCB to 171 in 20 overs.

Mumbai get home in a cliffhanger

Rohit Sharma and Quinton de Kock blazed away and put Mumbai on the driver’s seat with a partnership of 70 runs from 43 balls. With the hosts racing off, Moeen castled Rohit and gave the Challengers a much-needed breather. The MI captain scored 28 with two fours and as many sixes. Ali struck the body blow as he got rid of the dangerous de Kock after the South African batsman scored 40 from 26 balls.

Ishan Kishan came to the party and cleared the ropes to score 21 runs before perishing to Yuzvendra Chahal. The RCB spinners didn’t give anything to the hosts’ batsmen to work with and kept their team in the game. Suryakumar Yadav promised and even he gave his wicket away to Chahal. Mumbai required 22 runs off two overs and Hardik racked up those many runs in the 19th over itself off Negi.

Here is how Twitter reacted

That time of the season when @RCBTweets fans become mathematicians.
Now they will come with calculations to show how RCB can still qualify for playoffs. #IPL2019 #ViratKohli #rohitsharma
— SACHIN SOURAV JHA (@SACHINSOURAVJHA) April 15, 2019

Dey @RCBTweets Were u sleeping at time of Auction?
Where is the quality bowlers? All are junk 🖕 Full of scrap 🤬#MIvRCB #RCBvMI #IPL2019
— Hareesh Gudali ☮️ (@iHareeshgudali) April 15, 2019

RCB going out of competition in #IPL2019 followed by RR and KXIP pic.twitter.com/jPRkGntPL8
— Neeche Se Topper (@NeecheSeTopper) April 15, 2019

Saal badalti hai, @RCBTweets nahi.#SameOldStory #MIvRCB #VIVOIPL2019 #IPL2019
— Ronald D. Sampson (@RDSampson_25) April 15, 2019

#MI won the match but #RCB won our 👇👇👇#MIvRCB #ipl2019 #RivalryWeek pic.twitter.com/X7L7kF9Mes
— Faizul_quresh😍😘 (@qureshi_faizul) April 15, 2019

There are plenty of things wrong with RCB but the worst part is an international captain like Kohli having to depend on Nehra's advise during crunch moments#MIvRCB #IPL2019
— Hari Sadanandan (@iamharry_88) April 15, 2019

Can someone tell me what Kohli was thinking when he gave the 19th over to Negi?!?! #MIvRCB #RCB #IPL2019
— KapMan (@bkapilan) April 15, 2019

With the way Virat is captaining, looks like in ODI/T20 he still need MS or Rohit to support him . Lot of wrong bowling changes throughout #IPL2019 by him . Is Rohit a better captain in the shortest format #MIvRCB
— Sunil Krishnanunni (@imsunkrish) April 15, 2019

Its really disheartening as a #RCBfan to hear commentators criticizing @RCBTweets team management for their team selection and @imVkohli for his captaincy #MIvRCB #IPL2019
— Darshan Suresh (@darshsuri) April 15, 2019

I cannot fathom why RCB hasn't yet given a match to Washington Sundar. Might not pick many wickets but has the ability to keep the runs in check. Also can bowl in the power play overs and he is handy with the bat. #RCBvMI #IPL2019
— Gautam chauhan (@Gautamchauhan2) April 15, 2019

@hardikpandya7 is in some form. Hoping this continues into the world cup #MIvRCB #IPL2019
— Angad Kapur (@angad_kapur) April 15, 2019

When this great man is your bowling coach 😍😍😍 #RCBvMI #IPL2019 pic.twitter.com/QrIT10ALZU
— Tarun (@Pralaynaath) April 15, 2019

Teams conceding most sixes in #IPL2019
64 – MI
59 – RCB
51 – RR
50 – KXIP
44 – DCp
42 – SRH
40 – KKR
33 – CSK#MIvRCB #IPL
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) April 15, 2019

Virat Kohli: "At the end, we had to take the risk with the left-arm spinner, with two right-handed batsmen at the crease. Giving pace was risky, especially with a bit of dew." #MIvRCB #IPL2019
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) April 15, 2019

To me the game drifted away from the very beginning, superb opening stand. Enjoyed @ishankishan51's cameo and off course @hardikpandya7 has hit form at the right time! #MIvRCB
— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) April 15, 2019