2:19 PM IST PLAYER OF THE MATCH – Venkatesh Iyer gets the award for his stunning knock of 73 runs from 40 balls. Iyer says that, technically, this was only his second game for RCB, but the first time he got a proper opportunity with the bat, which made the performance and the two points even more pleasing. He adds that RCB welcomed him really well and credits Mo Bobat, Andy Flower and Dinesh Karthik for creating a highly professional setup. According to him, the brand of cricket RCB play is something that excites him a lot. Iyer admits that, while he still shares an emotional bond with KKR, having played for them previously, he already feels at home at RCB. He also says that he would be lying if he claimed he was not frustrated at not getting opportunities earlier, but understood that this is a champion side and changing a winning combination is never easy. At the same time, he says he always tried to make it clear to the coaching staff that he was eager to play and capable of making an impact. Speaking about his innings, Iyer says it was a scratchy start, but batting alongside Virat Kohli helped immensely. He praises Kohli’s ability to communicate and says that is one quality common among all the greats of the game. Having not batted for a while, he needed a few deliveries to get into rhythm, but once he understood the nature of the wicket and got the freedom to take on the bowling, things started to fall into place.
2:17 PM IST One taken, three spots left – Right, 61 games done in the season, and we have our first playoff spot sealed. Two teams have been eliminated from the race, while 7 are still in contention for the remaining three spots. The 62nd game of the season is already underway in Delhi, where the Rajasthan Royals have been inserted to bat by the Delhi Capitals. You can switch tabs and follow the action from that game. Cheers!
2:17 PM IST RCB’s tale with the bat – Earlier, the Punjab Kings opted to bowl first, but for the 8th time this season, they ended up conceding more than 200 runs. Virat Kohli’s love affair with Punjab continued as he stitched together crucial partnerships, first with Devdutt Padikkal and then with Venkatesh Iyer. Venkatesh turned the heat as the innings went on, while Tim David chipped in with a handy cameo to help RCB post 222.
2:14 PM IST The captain of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru – Jitesh Sharma says that RCB were in control of the game throughout and never really felt under pressure. He adds that the side knew exactly what they wanted to do with the ball on this wicket, had specific plans for particular batters and were able to execute them well. Speaking about Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood, Jitesh says that the team is privileged to have bowlers of their quality and that their experience has been a huge help for him as a captain. Jitesh reiterates that RCB’s approach remains simple – to take one game at a time and focus on performing well in every match.
2:07 PM IST Time for the presentation ceremony…
2:06 PM IST RCB survive Shashank storm – With 223 runs to chase, the Punjab Kings were pegged back early with the loss of three wickets in the Powerplay, leaving themselves with an uphill battle. It was the arrival of Shashank Singh that injected life into the chase, with as many as 58 runs coming between overs 13 and 16. It was anybody’s game from there, but Josh Hazlewood, after taking a bit of tap in his first two overs, came roaring back at the death to help RCB stave off the fightback and close out the game.
