Royal Fans Have to Wait.. How Long?

After a remarkable comeback, probably the best comeback by a team in IPL history, RCB made to the playoffs a few days ago. But it seems like their charm didn't last long enough to go to the finals..

The first elimination of IPL 2024 was held yesterday between RCB & RR at Narendra Modhi Stadium, Ahmadabad. Both teams remained unchanged from their last matches. RR is coming to this match after 4 consecutive losses, while RCB is coming with 6 consecutive wins. The mental advantage was there for RCB.

There were no highlighting innings in RCB. Most batsmen got out when trying to increase their scoring rate. At the middle phase, Rajat Patidar played a decent inning, scoring 34 while Mahipal Lomror scored 32 runs at the back end to push RCB to a total of 172, which is a below par score in that ground.

Glenn Maxwell was having the worst IPL after stellar performance at the ICC World Cup. He got out of the first ball he faced, chipped the ball into the air, and Dhruv Jurel safely held on to it. His bad luck continued throughout the match. We'll get into that later.

So RR required 173 in 20 overs to go for the Qualifier match against SRH. Since all the English players were pulled out of IPL for the preparation for ICC T20 World Cup, Joss Butler had to leave the team. The opening position was filled by Tom Kohler-Cadmore, who is also an English player, but he is not in the squad.

RR got off to a good start, finishing the powerplay losing only one wicket and scoring a decent amount of runs. Kohler-Cadmore was bowled out by a great slow ball Yorker by Luckie Ferguson. Then Jaiswal and the captain, Sanju Samson, were batting well until they got out within an over.

Can't forget about the drop catch by Glenn Maxwell. Kohler-Cadmore pulled a short ball by Yash Dayal, but it didn't have the power to travel over the rope. The ball came right into the hand of Maxwell but god knows how, the ball went in and out. Maxwell was so upset. But he was relieved as Ferguson went to pick up with wicket the very next over.

Dhruv Jurel was also unable to hang there for that much time. He was run-out due to impressive fielding of Virat Kohli. But there was confusion about how the bails were removed by Cameron Green. Green barely hold on to the ball. The ball wasn't clearly in the palm. Anyway, it didn't affect the output.

Riyan Parag held onto his wicket while scoring boundaries. He was there to guide others to the finish line. Hetmyer joined him and scored valuable 45 runs together until Mohammad Siraj sent both of them to the pavilion at the 18th over. But it was too late for that.

The fast hands of Rowman Powell finished the match with one over despair, breaking the losing streak and guiding them to the finals. RR also has a few things to tight up. Their fielding wasn't that sharp. Sandeep Sharma went for many which is rare. So he should be ready for the possible carnage in the next match against SRH.

Talking about RCB team, Dinesh Karthik's IPL journey came to an end. Actually, in the last few years, he was kind of a part-time cricketer and a full-time commentator. Starting with the auction, RCB has to make good choices to go for the trophy at least next time.

So, farewell, RCB. Now I can officially troll my friend Banuka after going to hostels.