IPL 2023, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) vs Delhi Capitals (DC): Virat Kohli's 50, Kuldeep Yadav's 2-23 and Mohammed Siraj-Wayne Parnell's new ball spell are top performances. RCB beat DC and register second win of the tournament; move to 7th place.
Brief Scores: RCB 174-6 (Kohli 50, Lomror 26; Kuldeep 2-23) shambles DC 151-9 (Manish 50, Nortje 23; Vyshak 3-20) by 25 runs.
Player of the Match: Virat Kohli (50 off 34, 3 catches)
The Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore hosted the 20th Match of IPL 2023, with the hosts, Royal Challengers Bangalore taking on the Delhi Capitals. RCB have always had an upper hand over DC winning 17 out of the 27 encounters. David Warner won the toss and elected to field first. For RCB, Wanindu Hasaranga was back in the eleven. Mitchel Marsh joined the DC camp back after quickly wrapping up his wedding.
It didn’t look the usual belter of a wicket at Chinnaswamy as both Faf and Virat Kohli took their time initially. Delhi used the match-up of left-arm spin against the duo quite well to contain the free-flowing openers inside the powerplay. Though RCB lost Faf inside the first six, they still managed 47 runs. The run rate was further tanking but thanks to 19 runs in the 10th over from Mustafizur Rahman.
RCB rallied towards 89-1 as Kohli brought up his 47th IPL half century. The next five overs are where Delhi came back into the match as RCB collapsed like the global Sensex losing five wickets and scoring just 35 runs. RCB was stuck deep inside a suctional lava as they could only hit four fours in the depth overs and surrendered to DC bowlers to end up with 174-6 at the end of 20 overs.
Chasing a mediocre total at Chinnaswamy, RCB had the most spectacular start and DC has the worst possible start as they lost three wickets inside the first three overs. This was also the fourth lowest score ever after loss of three wickets in IPL history. By the end of the sixth over, RCB fans were roaring on top of their lungs as DC were reduced to 32-4. Hometown boy, Manish Pandey’s 50 gave DC some hopes but it was just a matter of time RCB bowlers wrapped up one end. A match where Anrich Nortje is the second highest run scorer, shows how embarrassing DC’s batting was as they came third in a race between two.
Talking Point from RCB vs DC
RCB and DC both flopped three times in a row with their impact player, as Anuj Rawat and Prithvi Shaw weren’t able to add any value to their batting lineups. DC’s fragile middle order is getting exposed big time in the absence of Rishabh Pant. After Mitchell Marsh and Warner, there is zero foreign batting power. Either of Rilee Russow or Rowman Powell needs to come into this eleven if Delhi needs to change their fortunes.
Top three performances from Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) vs Delhi Capitals (DC)
Kuldeep Yadav bamboozles RCB firepower with a double wicket over
In Chinnaswamy, a ground were spinners are belted left right and center, Kuldeep Yadav emerged victorious, sending the RCB batters straight back to the pavilion. Kuldeep was Maxwell’s matchup as had dismissed the right hander three times prior to this game and when the Australian was looking to go big after already hitting three sixes inside 13 balls, Warner called upon the chinaman.
A loopy wrong un outside off which Maxwell tried to hammer over long on, the slowness of the ball just helped the ball to stop a bit and Maxwell’s bat turned in his hands to give a sky-high catch to Warner. The very next delivery, RCB’s anticipated finisher, was finished within a single delivery. That ball did not deserve a wicket as it was dragged short, Karthik could not capitalize and Lalit took a low catch at deep-midwicket.
Kuldeep then came back in the 17th over and just gave seven runs away, completely slowing down RCB’s ferocious batting attack in his four over spell giving just 23 runs away with 2 wickets in his kitty.
Read More: IPL 2023: David Warner averages 52.66, but his strike rate of 117.04 is a big worry for DC
Siraj and Parnell make the new ball talk, shatters DC at 4-3
Only a script written at the Vidhan Saudha near the chinnaswamy could have brought RCB back into the eleven. Mohammad Siraj and Wayne Parnell, being the actors performing the script. RCB first picked up a brilliant run-out in the fourth delivery. Impact player Anuj Rawat’s full length dive, followed up by a direct hit and DC’s impact player Prithvi continued his walk to the pavilion. Parnell then sent the newly wed Marsh back to his honeymoon who did not disturb the scorers what so ever.
He could only manage a thick edge high up in the air to give catching practice to Kohli, after facing four deliveries. In the third over, Siraj bowled an absolute peach, from over the wicket, the ball pitched on good length, cam back in sharply to struck the u-19-star, Yash Dhull plumb in front of the stumps. DC supporters might had thought they were watching football than cricket as they were 2-3 at one point.
A classic Kohli masterclass, as he brings up his 47th IPL 50
The wicket definitely wasn’t the go bang bang from the first ball type Chinnaswamy wicket. And Virat Kohli, was at his pure classical best. Kohli gave glimpses of what’s to come with a booming lofted cover drive on the very third delivery of the innings to Anrich Nortje and followed up with a slap like shot over covers. Nortje was certainly taken aback by that shot from Kohli. Soon after Faf was dismissed, Kohli gathered himself back to his usual self, knocking singles and doubles.
Then came the 10th over and on the bowling, mark was Mistafizur Rehman, little did he know, Kohli was about to shift the gears. A tracer bullet straight drive for four on the first delivery, easy pickings of the hips for a six on the fourth delivery and a typical hard run single to bring up his 47th IPL fifty. A crucial fifty in the context of the game for RCB.
Points Table Scenario & What's Next
After this win RCB became the fifth team to be tied with four points and still be on 6th position with a -0.316 NRR. A dreadful season for Delhi as they are yet to open their accounts after five games. Lucknow Super Giants will take on Punjab Kings at the Ekana Stadium on 15th April, 7.30 PM game.
Read More: IPL 20 23, DC vs MI: MI win their first game; DC continue to suffer due to Warner's low SR
IPL 2023 Points Table
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