Royal Challengers Bengaluru got two in two as they posted a thumping win over Gujarat Titans in match 45 of Tata IPL 2024 on Sunday. Led by Virat Kohli, RCB’s chase quickly became Will Jacks show as the English batsman hammered the home side. At the end of the 14th over, RCB needed 53 runs. Kohli was already batting at 70+ and everyone was hoping for the ace cricketer to finish the job. Jacks came to the strike and blasted Mohit Sharma and Rashid Khan with his explosive shots. In one over, GT bowlers conceded 29 runs and Jacks completed the chase in next over with a fiery six. He slammed the century in just 41 balls. This was the fifth fastest ton in the history of IPL and second fastest by an RCB player. Though Kohli didn’t get a chance for the century, he achieved a special milestone at Motera. Leading the Orange Cap race, Kohli completed 500 runs in this edition of the IPL. 

Earlier in the day, RCB skipper Faf Du Plessis won the toss and opted to field first. GT didn’t have a flourishing start and lost wickets of Wriddhiman Saha and captain Shubman Gill early in the game. It was M Shahrukh Khan, promoted to number 4 and Sai Sudharshan, who stitched together a crucial partnership that paved the way for an at-par total on the board. Sudharshan scored 84 off 49 balls. 

Target of 201 would have been difficult considering GT’s spin troika but today, nothing worked in favour of them. Right from the very first ball, Faf Du Plessis kept up the tempo. After he was dismissed for paltry 24 runs in the powerplay, Kohli took the pressure of the run chase. Between him and Jacks, RCB saw a 2nd wicket partnership of 154 runs. 

Gujarat Titans vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Scorecard

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Innings:

  • Virat Kohli not out 70
  • Faf du Plessis c (sub)Vijay Shankar b Sai Kishore 24
  • Will Jacks not out 100
  • Extras: (B-4, LB-4, W-3, NB-1) 12
  • Total: (1 wkts, 16 Overs) 206
  • Fall of Wickets: 40-1.
  • Bowler: Azmatullah Omarzai 2-0-18-0, Sandeep Warrier 1-0-15-0, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore 3-0-30-1, Rashid Khan 4-0-51-0, Noor Ahmad 4-0-43-0, Mohit Sharma 2-0-41-0.

Gujarat Titans:

  • Wriddhiman Saha c Sharma b Swapnil Singh 5
  • Shubman Gill c Green b Maxwell 16
  • Sai Sudharsan not out 84
  • M Shahrukh Khan b Mohammed Siraj 58
  • David Miller not out 26
  • Extras: (LB-1 NB-1 W-9) 11
  • Total: (For 3 wickets in 20 overs) 200
  • Fall of wickets: 1/6 2/45 3/131
  • Bowling: Swapnil Singh 3-0-23-1, Mohammed Siraj 4-0-34-1, Yash Dayal 4-0-34-0, Glenn Maxwell 3-0-28-1, Karn Sharma 3-0-38-0, Cameron Green 3-0-42-0.

(With PTI inputs)