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Glenn Maxwell
Glenn Maxwell (Image Credit: Twitter)
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Glenn Maxwell’s Run-out After Scoring A Brisk 40 Turned The Game: Mike Hesson

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Mike Hesson, Royal Challengers Bangalore head coach, said that Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell was the only batsman who managed to get any flow on the Abu Dhabi pitch against Sunrisers Hyderabad and his run out hurt their progress in the chase on Wednesday.

Glenn Maxwell’s run-out was probably the turning point of Wednesday’s Indian Premier League (IPL) match between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH). RCB was denied a chance at fighting for a spot in the top two as SRH stunned them with just their third win of the season.

Glenn Maxwell had scored 40 off 25 balls when he was dismissed.
Glenn Maxwell had scored 40 off 25 balls when he was dismissed. (Courtesy of BCCI)

Mike Hesson: Glenn Maxwell Only Batsman Who Was Fluent And Set But His Runout Turned The Game

Glenn Maxwell and Devdutt Padikkal had put up 54 runs in 44 balls for the fourth wicket in what was RCB’s highest partnership in the match. However, they went for an ill-advised single in the 15th over, which ended with SRH captain Kane Williamson managing a direct hit and running out Glenn Maxwell. He had scored 40 off 25 balls.

“Glenn was the only batsman who got any fluency on that surface and he was set, so he was probably the man we wanted at the crease so, it probably was. It bounced up nicely for the fielder and then an exceptional piece of work for the runout. Probably turned the game but, we just left a little bit too much to do at the end. We weren’t quite good enough in those key moments to get over the line,” Hesson told the media after the match.

Mike Hesson will look to take RCB to the IPL Trophy | RCB
Mike Hesson will look to take RCB to the IPL Trophy | RCB

Chasing the target of 142 runs, RCB lost three early wickets, but then Glenn Maxwell (40) and Devdutt Padikkal (41) added 54 runs for the fourth wicket. However, Devdutt Padikkal struggled in the middle and played with a strike of less than 80. Umran Malik was the best bowler for SRH when it came to bowling figures. The 21-year-old pacer from Jammu and Kashmir also bowled the fastest delivery by an Indian in IPL history.

Mike Hesson Reasons Why Dan Christan Was Promoted

Chasing a target of 142, RCB had sent in Dan Christian at No.3. Mike Hesson said that this was done to maximize the powerplay overs, but the ploy failed, with Dan Christian being dismissed for just one run of four balls.

“We felt that the powerplay was probably the easiest time to score. So we gave Dan Christian a bit of a license in the last couple of games – just to go out, try and attack and get us ahead of the game. Obviously, it hasn’t worked on either occasion,” said Mike Hesson.

Dan Christian
Dan Christian[photo: Twitter]
Dan Christian has failed to show any form with the bat in IPL 2021, managing only five runs in 7 games averaging 1. However, he also picked up three scalps. After representing RCB in 2013, Dan Christian is back to the RCB fold in the IPL 2021. The Australian brings with him a rich experience of playing over 200 T20 games. Dan Christian has represented the Delhi Capitals, Deccan Chargers, and the Rising Pune Super Giants and Sunrisers Hyderabad sides.

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Umran Malik is already part of the Sunrisers Hyderabad set up as a net bowler. | Courtesy: Twitter (@SunRisers)
Umran Malik is already part of the Sunrisers Hyderabad set up as a net bowler. | Courtesy: Twitter (@SunRisers)
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Umran Malik Clocks 153 Kph Against RCB, The Fastest Delivery Of IPL 2021

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Umran Malik, SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) pace sensation has said that bowling fast comes naturally to him, and ever since the onset, he has bowled quickly to disrupt the batters’ concentration.

SRH pacer Umran Malik clocked 153kph to bowl the fastest delivery of IPL 2021 against Royal Challengers Bangalore on Wednesday. Umran Malik achieved this feat in the 4th delivery of the 9th over against Devdutt Padikkal. The RCB batsman got the outside edge and scored a run on the fastest delivery of IPL 2021.

Umran Malik
Umran Malik. (Photo Source: Twitter/Indian Premier League)

Umran Malik Said Former Pacer Irfan Pathan Told Him He Can Improve

Roped in as a replacement for injured and Covid-19 affected T Natarajan, Umran Malik has been one of the very few positives for the Sunrisers Hyderabad franchise in an otherwise forgettable campaign.

After making noise against Kolkata Knight Riders with his searing pace, Umran Malik went a step ahead against RCB as he clocked at 153kmph in the ninth over while delivering to RCB opener Devdutt Padikkal. Umran Malik was warmed up nicely, having delivered the previous three deliveries at 147, 150 and 152kmph, respectively. With a 153kmph thunderbolt, he bettered Lockie Ferguson’s 152.75 km record for the current season.

“From the very starting, I used to bowl fast. When I played cricket with Cosco ball, I used to bowl fast then also. We used to play one over matches and I used to run in and bowl fast yorkers. In 2018, U-19 trials came and I was bowling, the selectors saw me. I was bowling with jogger shoes, then my friend gave me spike shoes and I then came into the U-19 team. Then I played Under-23 cricket,” Umran Malik told teammate Bhuvneshwar Kumar in a video posted on iplt20.com.

Sunrisers Hyderabad's Umran Malik in action (Image Courtesy: BCCI)
Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Umran Malik in action (Image Courtesy: BCCI)

“In 2018, I was practicing regularly. After Under-23, I played Vijay Hazare and Ranji Trophy. I thank the SRH franchise for giving me an opportunity. Irfan Pathan came and he told me where I can improve. I was scared at first when I had to bowl to Warner and Williamson in the nets. I prayed to God that I just bowl good balls. I kept on learning and this has helped me,” he added.

Against KKR, debutant Umran Malik, 21, clocked 151.03 km ph (93.84 mph), the fastest delivery by an Indian pacer this season of IPL 2021. Also, 11 out of his 24 legitimate deliveries against KKR were above 145 km ph (90mph).

Umran Malik Was Determined To Pick Up His Maiden Wicket Against RCB

A spirited bowling performance saw Kane Williamson-led SRH defeat RCB by four runs at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium on Wednesday. Bhuvneshwar Kumar defended 13 off the final over to help his side register a thrilling victory.

“I was determined to take a wicket against RCB and I just wanted to take a wicket,” said Umran Malik.

Umran Malik began by hitting 141kph and conceded just a single off his first four deliveries. The fifth one produced a wicket, KS Bharat caught behind a searing short ball.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Bhuvneshwar Kumar[photo: Twitter]
Earlier, Jason Roy played a knock of 44 runs as SRH posted a total of 141/7 in the allotted twenty overs. For RCB, Harshal Patel returned with the figures of 3-33. SunRisers Hyderabad will next take on Mumbai Indians on Friday at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

With 13 needed off the last over, bowled by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, AB de Villiers drilled the fourth ball for six but fell short in the end. The defeat means Royal Challengers’ chances of finishing inside the top two in the points table are effectively over, as the eliminated Sunrisers Hyderabad pinched their third win of the season following contributions from almost all their bowlers, and batsmen Jason Roy and Kane Williamson.

Sunrisers Hyderabad 141 for 7 (Roy 44, Harshal 3-33, Christian 2-14) beat Royal Challengers Bangalore 137 for 6 (Padikkal 41, Maxwell 40, Malik 1-21) by four runs

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Shubman Gill (Image Credit: Twitter)
Shubman Gill (Image Credit: Twitter)
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Shubman Gill’s Place In Test Squad Is Doubtful And Several Players Have Moved Ahead Of Him In T20s: Ajay Jadeja

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Shubman Gill scored his first half-century of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 to help Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) secure a crucial win over bottom-ranked Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Sunday.

In a low-scoring affair, opener Shubman Gill scored 57 off 51 balls to help KKR chase 116 to stay in the fourth spot, with qualification for the playoffs still in their hands. Former India batsman Ajay Jadeja, however, remained critical of Shubman Gill and said that several players had moved ahead of the KKR opener since he got injured after the World Test Championship final against New Zealand.

Shubman Gill Photo Credit: (BCCI)
Shubman Gill Photo Credit: (BCCI)

Shubman Gill Didn’t Have A Good Year: Ajay Jadeja

Ajay Jadeja said that Shubman Gill’s Test spot was already in jeopardy following the resurgence of KL Rahul in the recently concluded Test series against England and consistent stellar performances from Rohit Sharma. Ajay Jadeja opined that now in the T20s as well, other young openers like Prithvi Shaw, Devdutt Padikkal, and Ruturaj Gaikwad have surpassed Shubman Gill with their showings this season.

Ajay Jadeja
Ajay Jadeja (Photo- Twitter)

“This year has not been a good one for Shubman Gill. When he came back from injury, other players had moved way ahead of him. Because he had become a favourite in the Indian team after the series in Australia. After his injury, KL Rahul, who wasn’t even in the team, has established himself, Rohit Sharma too. So even his place in the Test squad is now in doubt, and in T20s, all these names are also there ahead of him now,” Jadeja told Cricbuzz.

Shubman Gill was acquired by the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2018 and turned in useful contributions for them in his debut season and 2019 season, managing above 200 runs in both editions, averaging about 33. He averaged similarly in 2020, where he managed 440 runs, but he could score only 239 runs in 12 games in IPL 2021, averaging below 20 before this match against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Shubman Gill has played only 8 Tests and 3 ODIs but is touted as a future star in the making. However, he was injured after the WTC Final and didn’t play any of the 4 Tests against hosts England.

Ajay Jadeja: Shubman Gill Is A Boundary Player As He Doesn’t Take A Lot Of Singles

Ajay Jadeja said KKR opener Shubman Gill has good game sense and is good in low-scoring chases, but needs to improve his skillset.

“The players who score a lot of runs when they are young, they have a great game sense. He has a good idea of the game, so when the game is in control, he won’t throw it away, but if he makes some additions to his skills, he can be even better,” he said.

Shubman Gill | Vipin Pawar / Sportzpics for BCCI
Shubman Gill | Vipin Pawar / Sportzpics for BCCI

Ajay Jadeja opined that Shubman Gill has consistently played short knocks that have given KKR the much-needed momentum they need in their innings. Still, he has had an otherwise poor season as he failed to capitalize on good starts and failed to convert starts to big innings.

Ajay Jadeja went on to explain: “He’s not made a big score before this. He has played impressive knocks, but short ones. Whenever an innings has needed some momentum or impetus, he has provided that, so it doesn’t feel like he has had a poor season. “

“But he hasn’t played a long knock after the field has spread after the Powerplay. Because that’s his style. He is a boundary player. He doesn’t take a lot of singles. So when he hits a four, you think oh, what a shot, but then one or two dots around the boundary brings him back to run-a-ball.”

Shubman Gill has scored 296 runs in 13 matches this year, at a strike rate of 117.92. While he had seven half-centuries in the three seasons before this one, this was his first in this edition of the IPL.

Brief Scores: Kolkata Knight Riders 119/4 (Shubman Gill 57, Nitish Rana 25; Jason Holder 2/32) beat Sunrisers Hyderabad 115/8 (Kane Williamson 26, Priyam Garg 21; Varun Chakravarthy 2/26) by 6 wickets. 

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Ruturaj Gaikwad
Ruturaj Gaikwad (Image Credit: Twitter)
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Brian Lara Praised ‘Orthodox’ Orange Cap Holder Ruturaj Gaikwad But His 101* Goes In Vain

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Brian Lara, the former West Indies captain heaped rich praise on CSK opener Ruturaj Gaikwad, saying the young CSK opener is a testament to the fact that big runs can be scored in T20 cricket by playing orthodox cricket.

Brian Lara, the legendary batsman and former West Indies captain said he is hugely impressed by Ruturaj Gaikwad’s batsmanship in the ongoing 2021 Indian Premier League (IPL) after the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) opener hit a record-breaking century, albeit in a losing cause against Rajasthan Royals in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

Ruturaj Gaikwad
Ruturaj Gaikwad (Image Credit: Twitter)

Brian Lara: Ruturaj Gaikwad Is In KL Rahul’s Category

Brian Lara said CSK opener Ruturaj Gaikwad proves that a batsman can score much-needed runs in T20 cricket with orthodox shots and it gives him great pleasure watching the CSK opener dominate the opposition with his silky gameplay.

Brian Lara’s comments came after Ruturaj Gaikwad took the Rajasthan bowlers to the cleaners on Saturday. The opener got off to a slow start, hitting 30 runs off his first 29 balls but he ended up with 101 not out in just 60 balls, helping CSK post a mammoth 189/4 in 20 overs after RR sent them in to bat.

Ruturaj Gaikwad showcased his class, hitting spinners inside-out and sending pacers on a leather hunt with his elegance. He needed a six off the last two balls of the CSK innings against RR to get to his maiden hundred and he missed the penultimate delivery.

However, Ruturaj Gaikwad held his stance and smashed the final delivery into the mid-wicket stands to become the youngest batsman to score a hundred for CSK in the IPL.

Brian Lara (Image Credit: Twitter)
Brian Lara (Image Credit: Twitter)

“Yeah, he could have been 135 if he had got more strike in the end overs. But it was a complete show of batsmanship. That’s what I like about him, seeing how he put that innings together, how he surged in the second half of the innings. He was just tremendous to watch,” Brian Lara told Star Sports.

“He shows that you can play good cricket shots and still score big runs. And that’s what I am proud of as a batsman. It was just remarkable and unbelievable. I will put him now in the KL Rahul category,” Brian Lara said. 

Ruturaj Gaikwad also bagged the Orange Cap from Punjab Kings skipper KL Rahul, becoming the first batsman in IPL 2021 to get to 500 runs. Ruturaj Gaikwad now has 508 runs in 12 matches at an average of over 50 and a strike rate over 140. But Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 50 and Shivam Dube’s unbeaten 64 saw Rajasthan reach 190 in the 18th over.

Ruturaj Gaikwad Carrying CSK’s Batting At The Moment: Ajit Agarkar

The 24-year-old grabbed the limelight in IPL 2020, providing CSK fans something to cheer for with three fifties in a season where the 3-time champions failed to qualify for the play-offs. He has grown from strength to strength, leading the CSK batting unit. Lauding the young opener, former India pacer Ajit Agarkar said Ruturaj Gaikwad is carrying the CSK batting unit on his shoulders in IPL 2021.

“He took a little bit of time to get his first 30 rims and after that, he just took off. For me, he has been the find for CSK in the last season and a half. He is improving with every game. He is carrying their batting at the moment. He needed 6 off the last two balls. He misses one and hits the last one, it’s incredible,” Agarkar said.

Ajit Agarkar Photo: AFP
Ajit Agarkar Photo: AFP

Ruturaj Gaikwad, promising Chennai Super Kings batsman recalled how he overcame his early struggles in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 where he scored just 5 runs in the first three games.

Gaikwad smashed a hat-trick of half-centuries in the last three games to amass 204 runs averaging 51 in 6 games after scoring 5 runs in the first 3 outings. He scored unbeaten 65, 72, and unbeaten 62 as CSK won the last 3 games but finished 7th.

He has played 12 games in IPL 2021 so far amassing 508 runs averaging 50.8 besides being the 4th batsman to score a ton in IPL 2021 after Devdutt Padikkal, Jos Buttler, and Sanju Samson.

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Glenn Maxwell
Glenn Maxwell (Image Credit: Twitter)
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Glenn Maxwell Said Srikar Bharat Is A Genuine Top Class Batsman After The Duo Helped To Chase Down 150

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Glenn Maxwell, who was RCB’s top-scorer with an unbeaten 50 off 30 balls, said Srikar Bharat is a genuine top-class batter. Despite the presence of AB de Villiers and Glenn Maxwell in the Royal Challengers Bangalore team, young wicketkeeper-batter Srikar Bharat has been trusted to bat at no.3 in the UAE leg of IPL 2021.

The talented right-hander, who has been on the fringes of the Indian side, finally lived up to the faith shown on him by scoring a fluent 44 off 35 balls against Rajasthan Royals in Dubai.

Glenn Maxwell
Glenn Maxwell (Image Credit: Twitter)

Glenn Maxwell: Srikar Bharat Is A Genuine Top Class Batsman

Srikar Bharat’s knock ensured there were no jitters in the RCB line-up despite losing openers Devdutt Padikkal and Virat Kohli in quick succession in the 150-run chase on Wednesday.  Reacting to Srikar Bharat’s knock, Glenn Maxwell, who was RCB’s top-scorer with an unbeaten 50 off 30 balls, said he is a genuine top-class batter.

“It is nice to have a bunch of guys doing different things and not relying on one guy. Everyone is chipping in and it has been a really enjoyable group so far. I wouldn’t call it an experiment, he’s (Bharat) a genuine top-class batter and the way he has gone about his innings is outstanding,” Maxwell told host broadcaster Star Sports after the game ended.

Srikar Bharat
Srikar Bharat of Royal Challengers Bangalore during a press conference in Dubai on Wednesday night. Image Source: IPLT20.COM

Glenn Maxwell and Srikar Bharat put together a 69-run stand for the third-wicket that took RR out of the game.

“Whatever hard work you do on the backend always counts on the bigger platform like this. You tend to explore lots of cricket, domestic as well as franchise cricket, it all helps. It is a good feeling winning this game, I and Maxwell were just communicating in the center and we did what the team required of us at that particular time,” said Bharat during a virtual press conference.

“Definitely, you play with Virat Kohli, Maxwell, and AB de Villiers, you tend to learn a lot of good things in terms of cricket and how to handle things out of cricket. Maxwell and I discussed what areas we can access, the boundary options and how many overs a certain bowler is going to bowl,” he added.

Glenn Maxwell and Srikar Bharat struck 50 and 44 respectively as RCB won the match by seven wickets and 17 balls to spare chasing 150 while Yuzvendra Chahal (2/18) and Harshal Patel (3/34) did the damage with the ball to RR in the first innings.

Srikar Bharat: Yuzvendra Chahal Varies His Pace Exceptionally Well

Earlier, Harshal Patel’s three-wicket haul helped RCB restrict Rajasthan Royals to 149/9 in the allotted twenty overs. For Sanju Samson’s side, Evin Lewis top-scored with a knock of 58 runs from 37 balls. Yuzvendra Chahal was adjudged as Man of the Match for his two-wicket haul.

Yuzvendra Chahal
Yuzvendra Chahal[photo: Twitter]

“Chahal is a very good bowler, he varies his pace exceptionally well. You have to be right in the game at every point, you cannot fade off even at the moment. I was trying to keep myself in the game as a wicketkeeper and you know, to read him from his hands. You have to be in the game, Chahal keeps the keeper interested always,” said Bharat.

Srikar Bharat was one of the substitutes for Team India during historic India’s first-ever pink ball Test match in 2019 against Bangladesh. He was also a part of the Indian Test dressing room for England’s recently concluded tour to India. At the IPL 2021 Player Auction, he was bought by the RCB for his base price of INR 20 lakhs.

In IPL 2021, he played 4 IPL games amassing 92 runs averaging 30.33. RCB will next square off against Punjab Kings on Sunday in the ongoing IPL.

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AB de Villiers
AB de Villiers. Image Credits: Twitter
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Kevin Pietersen : This Is Just Not The AB de Villiers That Is Used To Seeing In IPL 2021 UAE Leg

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Kevin Pietersen, the former England captain said AB de Villiers would not want to see captain Virat Kohli and Glenn Maxwell do the bulk of the scoring in every match.

It’s not usual to see AB de Villiers short of runs in a tournament let alone the IPL. But the UAE leg of IPL 2021 has not been a happy run-scoring country for some of the biggest stars of cricket and AB de Villiers is one of them.

AB de Villiers
AB de Villiers[photo: Twitter]

Kevin Pietersen: Experienced Senior AB de Villiers Won’t Want To See Virat Kohli And Glenn Maxwell Do The Bulk Of Scoring Runs

The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) stalwart has only managed scores of 0, 11, 14, and 4* in the four matches ever since the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League began at the UAE after a four-month postponement due to Covid-19 in India.

Former England captain Kevin Pietersen said AB de Villiers would not want to see captain Virat Kohli and Glenn Maxwell do the bulk of the scoring in every match. Kevin Pietersen, who has played a lot of cricket against AB de Villiers, said this is not the high standard that the former Proteas batsman sets for himself.

Kevin Pietersen file image | Faheem Hussain - Sportzpics
Kevin Pietersen file image | Faheem Hussain – Sportzpics

“He is an established player; he is a senior player. He would not want to see Kohli or Maxwell score the runs he is scoring. He must be thinking ‘I’m not holding my side of the bargain. This is just not the AB de Villiers that he is used to seeing,” Kevin Pietersen told Star Sports after RCB registered a comfortable 7-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals on Wednesday in Dubai. 

Kevin Pietersen said it wouldn’t matter if the RCB batsman AB de Villiers scores three ducks in a row. The former South Africa captain would still warrant a place in the XI because of the things he has done in the past for RCB.

“He is a proud player; he is a fabulous player. We have seen that over a number of years. From his point of view, he would like to contribute. He would be hating the fact that he hasn’t been able to contribute. He has contributed so much to the world of cricket and in the IPL. If he gets three ducks in a row, it doesn’t matter. What he has done for the IPL and RCB is incredible. However, he would want to score,” Kevin Pietersen said. 

AB de Villiers has scored 5083 runs in 180 matches in the IPL and is the only second overseas after David Warner to score more than 5000 runs in the league.

Virat Kohli: RCB Got The Rewards Of Middle Overs Bowling By Taking Wickets

RCB, meanwhile, will be happy with the form of their other big overseas recruit Glenn Maxwell. The Australian all-rounder struck another important fifty as RCB took a giant step towards confirming a spot in the playoffs.

“We’ve got the rewards because we’ve been fearless and confident in the moments that the game can go either way,” Kohli said at the post-match presentation ceremony.

Virat Kohli, RCB
Virat Kohli, RCB

“Couple of important things are clicking: middle-overs bowling is one. If you take wickets you can change the game. And batting also, we’ve got a few good opening starts. Devdutt and I have focused on giving the team good starts so that the middle-order with AB, Bharat and Maxwell can make more. Boys have stepped up, so that’s been key for us,” Kohli added. 

An all-around bowling performance and Glenn Maxwell’s fifty were the highlights as Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) beat Rajasthan Royals (RR) by seven wickets in Match 43 of the VIVO Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 in Dubai on Wednesday.

Rajasthan Royals were in sight of a tall total when they were 100 for 1 in 11 overs, on the back of Evin Lewis’ breakneck half-century. However, his dismissal triggered a terminal collapse as the Royals lost 8 for 49 – and their heads – to be restricted to under 150 on a fresh Dubai track.

They might have still hoped of a comeback when Devdutt Padikkal and Virat Kohli fell either side of the powerplay, but KS Bharat and Glenn Maxwell forged a 69-run partnership to dash all hopes of RR’s win. Royal Challengers ultimately sealed victory with seven wickets and 17 balls to spare, also giving their net run-rate a leg-up.

Royal Challengers Bangalore 153 for 3 (Maxwell 50*, Bharat 44, Mustafizur 2-20) beat Rajasthan Royals 149 for 9 (Lewis 58, Jaiswal 31, Harshal 3-34, Shahbaz 2-10, Chahal 2-18) by seven wickets

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Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli in action against Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2021. (IPL)
Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli in action against Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2021. (IPL)
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Losing To CSK In IPL 2021 Should Hurt Guys: Virat Kohli

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Virat Kohli, Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper on Saturday said losing to Chennai Super Kings by 6 wickets at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium should hurt the team as they gave away a great opportunity to win the game and put MS Dhoni’s team under pressure.

Coach Mike Hesson and captain Virat Kohli addressed the team after a tough loss against CSK, and identified areas to improve ahead of the all-important fixture against MI on Sunday.

Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli (Image Credit: Twitter)

Virat Kohli: RCB Squandered A Great Opportunity To Win Against CSK

RCB was in a very good position against CSK. But they failed to drive home the advantage despite a 111-run opening stand between captain Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal after being asked to bat first by MS Dhoni.

“Giving a game away when we knew, could have really put them under pressure, and won this one. It should hurt everyone when looking to win this tournament and go all the way. It should hurt guys that we gave away a great opportunity, which is acceptable as long as we are willing to learn from it,” skipper Virat Kohli said in a video post on RCB Twitter.

Mike Hesson will look to take RCB to the IPL Trophy | RCB
Mike Hesson will look to take RCB to the IPL Trophy | RCB

Coach Hesson said: “170 would have been a good score, everybody saw it got harder and harder to bat, the pitch was always going to be tough to start. 6/66 in the last 10, we would have wanted 10-15 more than that. You would have certainly wanted a few more runs.”

Both the RCB openers Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal struck spectacular fifties but CSK came back later in the game to restrict them to 156 for six. RCB managed only 45 runs in the remaining 6.4 overs after being in a position of strength from where they could have pushed for a score in the vicinity of 200.

Virat Kohli: 175 Would Have Been A Winning Total

Dwayne Bravo’s bowling changed the course of the RCB innings as he conceded only 24 runs in his four overs besides picking the wickets of RCB all-rounders Glenn Maxwell (11) and Harshal Patel (3).

Earlier, speaking at the post-match presentation, Kohli said: “The wicket did slow down a bit. But I feel we left out 15-20 runs out there. 175 would’ve been a winning total. Didn’t bowl consistently. Didn’t show that much courage I guess with the ball.”

Dwayne Bravo. (AFP)
Dwayne Bravo. (AFP)/ AFP PHOTO / PUNIT PARANJPE

Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ambati Rayudu played knocks of 38 and 32 respectively as CSK chased down the target of 157 with six wickets in hand. With this win, the MS Dhoni-led outfit went to the top of the table.

Earlier, Devdutt Padikkal and Virat Kohli scored 70 and 53 respectively to help RCB post 156/6 in the allotted twenty overs. Both openers shared a stand of 111 runs for the first wicket, but Dwayne Bravo’s spell of 3-24 helped CSK restrict RCB under the 160-run mark.

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Chennai Super Kings (Image Credit: Twitter)
Chennai Super Kings (Image Credit: Twitter)
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Chennai Super Kings Batting More Aggressively In IPL 2021 Than IPL 2020: Eric Simons

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Chennai Super Kings batsmen had planned to bat more aggressively on the slowish UAE tracks compared to last time, and that’s what they have been doing during the first two games, said CSK bowling consultant Eric Simons.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) produced a clinical all-round show to humble Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by six wickets and claim the top spot in the Indian Premier League (IPL) pecking order in Sharjah on Friday.

Chennai Super Kings
Chennai Super Kings. Image Credits: Twitter

Chennai Super Kings Bowling Consultant Eric Simons Said Difference From Last IPL 2020 Was CSK Batted More Aggressively

The former India bowling coach said that the last IPL 2020 was a good learning experience for the Chennai Super Kings yellow brigade failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in their IPL history.

“So, what went wrong here in the last IPL was a tremendous lesson for us. But I think, probably the biggest different is the aggression in our batting, we have come out lot more aggressive than we did last time,” Simons said at the post-match press conference after his side outplayed Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Eric Simmons
Eric Simons

Eric Simons also had words of praise for all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, who returned with figures of 3/24, saying the team was delighted with his performance and the West Indian has bowled exceptionally well in the last few matches. All-rounder Shardul Thakur also scalped two crucial wickets, and Eric Simons said that the Palghar boy was very smart in using his tactics and ability to read the wicket and the batsman in the crunch situation.

Eric Simons: MS Dhoni-led CSK Learned Its Lesson From A Miserable IPL 2020 At UAE

Eric Simons also said that the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings outfit had learned its lesson after a horrendous show in the 2020 edition, which was also held in the UAE.

“We have already spoken about what worked for us in India during the first half of the IPL (2021). We spoke about what we did wrong here (in the United Arab Emirates last time). You know any situation, often the bad performance is the best place to learn,” Simons said.

Shardul Thakur. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Shardul Thakur. (Photo Source: Twitter)

If Dwayne Bravo put up a fantastic bowling performance, it was Shardul Thakur, who kept things tidy, scalping two wickets to dampen RCB’s batting after a fine start. CSK coach Eric Simons said the self-belief helped Shardul Thakur fight back after going for 18 runs in the first two overs.

In the 15th over, Shardul Thakur conceded just four runs and returned for his final over in the 17th over of RCB’s innings, with AB de Villiers still on the crease. He was hammered for a six, but Shardul Thakur returned and sent him back in the same over. Then came the prized wicket of top scorer Devdutt Padikkal, who was set with 70 runs. However, his slower short ball was poorly executed, and the pacer got his second wicket with RCB struggling.

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Kevin Pietersen
Kevin Pietersen. Image Credits: Twitter
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Kevin Pietersen: It Is An Issue That RCB Lost The Game From A Very Good Position From Being 111/0

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Kevin Pietersen, former England batsman said the Royal Challengers Bangalore have a couple of big issues which they need to sort quickly in order to get their campaign back on track in IPL 2021.

RCB lost to current table-toppers Chennai Super Kings by 6 wickets in Sharjah on Friday. This loss came after the 9-wicket hammering they took against KKR in their first match of the second leg in Abu Dhabi where the team was dismissed after scoring only 92.

Kevin Pietersen file image | Faheem Hussain - Sportzpics
Kevin Pietersen file image | Faheem Hussain – Sportzpics

Kevin Pietersen: It Is An Issue That RCB Lost The Game From A Very Good Position From Being 111/0

Kevin Pietersen said, unlike in the last game, RCB was in a very good position against CSK. But they failed to drive home the advantage despite a 111-run opening stand between captain Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal after being asked to bat first by MS Dhoni.

“You can gain momentum through winning and then you can gain momentum through losing as well. If you are going to get hammered like they were against KKR and now you are going to lose a game from being in a very good position then there is a problem. They were 111 for no loss but lost the game, that’s an issue,” Kevin Pietersen said in the post-match show on Star Sports.

Royal Challengers Bangalore
Royal Challengers Bangalore (Image Credit: Twitter)

Both the RCB openers Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal struck spectacular fifties but CSK pulled the strings to restrict them to 156 for six. RCB managed only 45 runs in the remaining 6.4 overs after being in a position from where they could have pushed for a score in the vicinity of 200.

Dwayne Bravo Restricted RCB To Below 160 From 111 For No Loss

Dwayne Bravo’s bowling changed the course of the RCB innings as he conceded only 24 runs in his four overs besides picking the wickets of RCB all-rounders Glenn Maxwell (11) and Harshal Patel (3).

In reply, CSK openers Ruturaj Gaikwad and Faf Du Plessis added 71 runs in 8.2 overs and later Moeen Ali (23) and Ambati Rayudu (32) also got starts but could not convert those into big knocks. Suresh Raina (17) and skipper MS Dhoni (11) ensured that there were no further hiccups, taking the side past the finish line.

Neither of the two RCB Indian pacers Mohammed Siraj nor Navdeep Saini could trouble the CSK openers. Whether the ball was pitched up, short, or bowled at a good length, Ruturaj Gaikwad and his Protea partner treated them with equal disdain. Realizing that spinners may turn the game around, Virat Kohli handed the ball to off-spinner Glenn Maxwell and the Australian responded with the wicket of Faf du Plessis, who was guilty of playing a loose shot.

Dwayne Bravo. (AFP)
Dwayne Bravo. (AFP)/ AFP PHOTO / PUNIT PARANJPE

However, middle-order batsmen of CSK Ambati Rayudu and Moeen Ali did not show any respect to the slow bowlers. They worked the ball around to keep the scoreboard moving and also got the big shots.

“There are bowling issues too. We keep saying it, who is the bowler (who is going get wickets… Chahal can’t continue to do it. I know h gets wickets, he gets wickets for RCB but you cannot say to him that you’ve got to do it every match. Somebody else has to stand up. One of the seamers have to stand up,” Kevin Pietersen added.

Kevin Pietersen said RCB and Virat Kohli can’t be depending on Yuzvendra Chahal alone to deliver with the ball every time. The duo of Mohammed Siraj and Navdeep Saini overall gave away 48 runs overall in 5 overs, while Wanindu Hasaranga conceded 40 runs in 4 overs.

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Devdutt Padikkal , RCB Twitter handle
Devdutt Padikkal , RCB Twitter handle
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Devdutt Padikkal Disappointed That RCB Did Not Set A Target Of 170-180 After Starting Well

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Devdutt Padikkal and Virat Kohli scored 70 and 53 to help RCB post 156/6 in the allotted twenty overs. Both openers shared a stand of 111 runs for the first wicket, but Dwayne Bravo’s spell of 3-24 helped CSK restrict RCB under the 160-run mark.
After suffering a six-wicket loss against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in an Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) opening batsman Devdutt Padikkal said that his side should have been able to post a target of around 170-180.
Devdutt Padikkal celebrating his sixth IPL fifty(iplt20.com)
Devdutt Padikkal celebrating his sixth IPL fifty(iplt20.com)

Devdutt Padikkal Feels RCB Can Improve After Losing Their First 2 Consecutive IPL 2021 Games In UAE To KKR And CSK

Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ambati Rayudu played knocks of 38 and 32 respectively as CSK chased down the target of 157 with six wickets in hand. With this win, MS Dhoni-led’s outfit went to the top of the table. Faf du Plessis also got among the runs as he scored 31. He is now 3rd among players with the most runs(351) in IPL 2021, while Ruturaj Gaikwad is 5th on the list with 322 runs.

“Yeah, definitely. There are always some things we can improve on. At that stage, we were looking to take the game deep, we felt that the wicket was getting a little tougher and we knew it would not be easy for someone new coming into bat. So, yeah that was what we were looking to do and trying to take our chances whenever we can,” said Padikkal during a virtual post-match press conference.

Faf du Plessis and Ruturaj Gaikwad (Image Credit: Twitter)
Faf du Plessis and Ruturaj Gaikwad (Image Credit: Twitter)

Last year in the IPL 2020, Devdutt Padikkal amassed 473 runs from 15 matches, becoming only the second player in the tournament’s history to score over 400 runs in a debut season. In IPL 2021, Devdutt Padikkal had taken his tally to 287 runs from 8 matches, including a century averaging 41 at a strike rate of around 145. He is 7th in the leading run-getters tally in IPL 2021.

Devdutt Padikkal Disappointed That RCB Did Not Set A Target Of 170-180 After Starting Well

Openers Devdutt Padikkal and Virat Kohli scored 70 and 53 to build a solid foundation and help RCB post 156/6 in the allotted twenty overs. Both openers shared a stand of 111 runs for the first wicket, but Dwayne Bravo’s spell of 3-24 helped CSK restrict RCB under the 160-run mark.

Dwayne Bravo. (AFP)
Dwayne Bravo. (AFP)/ AFP PHOTO / PUNIT PARANJPE

“Obviously when you have a start like that you would like to get 170-180 at least. We really did not set a target like that, we were trying to play to the merit of the ball, unfortunately, it did not work out against CSK. But hopefully, we can make that right in the next game,” said Devdutt Padikkal.

RCB will next square off against Mumbai Indians in the IPL on Sunday at the Dubai International Stadium.

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