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Rajat Patidar was named the player of the match for his batting performance in the first innings. The right-handed batter played with aggressive intent and ended up scoring 64 runs at a strike rate of 200. Patidar’s innings allowed, RCB to score heavily in the death overs which meant they ended up with an above par winning total.
Rajat Patidar played a captain’s knock in the first innings. The right-handed batter played a fiery knock for his team. He scored 64 runs in only 32 balls and was the biggest reason behind RCB scoring 221 runs in the first innings. Patidar took his time to settle in. He had scored only eight runs off the first 10 balls he faced. But once Patidar had gotten used to the conditions, the Madhya Pradesh-born batter took the attack against the MI bowlers.
Even though Virat Kohli has retired from the T20 internationals, the right-handed batter shows no signs of slowing down in the format. In an important clash for RCB, Kohli put on a show in the powerplay. The right-handed batter made full use of the restrictions in the powerplay. He received a great supporting hand from Devdutt Padikkal. The former RCB skipper scored 64 runs in only 32 balls hitting five fours and four sixes.
Josh Hazlewood has revitalized his T20 form on the back of test cricket bowling. The Australian pacer has this uncanny ability to hit the length area something that the fast bowlers do in test cricket. Tonight on a pitch that was tailor-made for the batters, Hazlewood picked up two crucial wickets. He dismissed Rohit Sharma in his first over and Hardik Pandya in his fourth over.
Krunal Pandya had to defend 19 runs off the last over. It is never easy for a spinner to bowl the last over of a T20 match. However, the left-arm spinner not only successfully defended in the last over, he also picked up three wickets. Krunal ended up with his best figures in the history of the IPL.
Hardik Pandya has been in some great form with the ball in hand in the season so far. In the first innings tonight, the Indian all-rounder picked up a couple of wickets but proved to be pretty expensive. He took crucial wickets of Virat Kohli and Liam Livingstone.
But it was his batting performance that lit up the Wankhede Stadium. He came in to bat when the hosts needed 106 runs in the last seven overs. He smashed a couple of sixes and two fours on the first four balls he faced. He then hit a couple of sixes in a row against his elder brother, Krunal Pandya. The MI skipper played a 42-run knock off only 15 balls. He hit four sixes and three fours in his 15-ball knock.
It was a clinical performance from the visitors in the first innings. Virat Kohli top-scored for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru as he returned to form after a couple of low scores in the last two games. He received great support from Devdutt Padikkal as the two batters bossed the powerplay. However, it was Rajat Patidar who played a blinder of a knock for the visitors which allowed them to get to a score of 221 runs. The RCB skipper scored 64 runs in only 32 balls, hitting five fours and four sixes.
For MI, it was a tough night with the ball in hand. Skipper, Hardik Pandya and Trent Boult picked up two wickets each. However, both of them went for a lot of runs with the Kiwi pacer registering his most expensive spell in the history of the IPL.
It was a close game at the end in spite of RCB scoring 221 runs in the first innings. Krunal Pandya picked up four wickets on a pitch that was batter-friendly. Josh Hazlewood too bowled with a great amount of control conceding only 37 runs in his four overs.
However, the fireworks came from the bat of Hardik Pandya. The MI skipper scored 42 runs in only 15 balls and almost snatched a victory from the jaws of defeat. He received some great support from Tilak Varma. The left-handed batter had endured a tough night in the previous game against LSG and had to be retired.
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