Virat Kohli has been synonymous with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) since the Indian Premier League’s inception in 2008, emerging as a stalwart both for the franchise and the league itself. After stepping down from captaincy ahead of IPL 2022 to manage his workload, Kohli might be preparing for a grand return as leader, as recent reports suggest his readiness to step back into the role for the 2025 season. With an unwavering fanbase and unfulfilled title dreams, Kohli's potential comeback as captain is igniting excitement and anticipation across the cricketing world.

Will Kohli's return as captain end RCB’s title drought?

According to a report by ESPNcricinfo, Virat Kohli’s return to captaincy could be the strategic change RCB need to end their IPL trophy drought. The Delhi-born cricketing legend, who first took on the mantle of RCB’s full-time captaincy in 2013, is widely regarded for his passionate leadership style and his unparalleled devotion to the team. Although he stepped down from the role in 2022 to prioritize his workload, three seasons later, Kohli is reportedly open to reassuming the captaincy in hopes of leading RCB to their long-awaited IPL title.

This rumored leadership shift comes at a crucial time as RCB head into the mega auction, potentially setting the stage for a team refresh aimed at finally securing the elusive championship. The decision is being widely praised by RCB’s faithful, who have remained hopeful of seeing Kohli lift the IPL trophy in an RCB jersey.

See Also: Zimbabwe Cricket announces historic Test match return after 28 years

A comeback to captaining responsibilities after three-year gap

Kohli’s tenure as RCB’s captain saw him reach several personal and team milestone. Known for his tenacious approach, he captained the team for eight years, delivering memorable performances and creating lasting moments on the field, including the record-breaking 2016 season where he scored 973 runs. Stepping down ahead of the 2022 season, Kohli handed the reins over to manage the demands of his international and league commitments.

However, as the IPL 2025 season draws closer, sources indicate that Kohli could once again don the captain’s hat. With RCB's focus still on claiming their first IPL trophy, fans hope that a familiar leader with unmatched experience in both international and league cricket could be the catalyst the franchise needs.

Long before they became teammates, Virat Kohli and Glenn Maxwell’s relationship was anything but friendly. Their rivalry peaked during the 2017 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, one of the most heated Test series between India and Australia. During the third Test match in Ranchi, Kohli injured his shoulder while fielding, an incident that quickly became a topic of discussion and even mockery among rival players. Two days later, when it was Australia’s turn to field, Maxwell mimicked Kohli’s injured shoulder as he clutched his own in a humorous yet provocative gesture.

This act of imitation did not sit well with Kohli, known for his intense competitiveness. In response, Kohli blocked Maxwell on Instagram, marking a significant chill in their relationship. The incident, seemingly light-hearted on the surface, became a symbolic gesture of their rivalry. Reflecting on that time, Maxwell mentioned on the LiSTNR Sport podcast, “I think he got the sh**s with me and decided to block me. It was fair enough.” For years, they remained at odds, with little interaction on or off the field.

Forging new bonds at RCB: Kohli’s support for Maxwell

However, in a surprising twist, Kohli later played a pivotal role in bringing Maxwell into the RCB fold, despite their previous friction. Ahead of the 2021 IPL season, RCB acquired Maxwell for an impressive INR 14.25 crore, adding him to an already powerful batting lineup that included Kohli himself and South African legend AB de Villiers. The team quickly became one of the most formidable in the league, at least on paper, with Maxwell scoring over 500 runs that season and helping RCB reach the playoffs.

Maxwell was taken aback by Kohli’s warm welcome when he joined the RCB training camp. “Virat was the first guy to message me and welcome me to the team,” Maxwell recalled. Excited by his new team environment, Maxwell searched for Kohli on social media to reconnect, only to realize he was still blocked. At first, he thought Kohli might not be active on Instagram, but a teammate informed him of the real reason: Kohli had blocked him back in 2017 after the Ranchi incident.

Maxwell laughed it off and took the bold step to confront Kohli. “I asked him, ‘Did you block me on Instagram?’ and he was like, ‘Yeah, probably. It was when you mocked me during that Test match.’” Both players laughed it off, and Kohli promptly unblocked him. Their mutual acknowledgment of past misunderstandings laid the groundwork for a fresh start, and they quickly bonded over their shared experiences and ambitions for RCB.

From teammates to friends

Their relationship continued to grow as they spent more time together, both in the RCB dressing room and in training sessions. They developed mutual respect not only as cricket players but as individuals. Kohli, who is known for his dedication to fitness and training, became an influential figure for Maxwell, and the Australian all-rounder quickly adapted to Kohli’s intense training regimen.

Maxwell’s performances with RCB validated Kohli’s support, and their shared efforts brought a new energy to the team. Maxwell, who struggled with consistency in previous IPL seasons, credited much of his RCB success to the backing he received from Kohli and the team management. He ended the season as one of RCB’s most valuable players, helping them finish third and making a significant contribution to their playoff journey.

Today, Maxwell and Kohli are close friends, having moved past their early tensions. They even joke about their earlier rivalry, reflecting on how much both have matured over the years. Maxwell humorously remarked in his book that their shared experience of parenthood brought them closer, noting that their relationship had evolved from the “young and brash” players they once were into more seasoned athletes with a genuine bond.

See Also: Kane Williamson to miss the third Test against India

A friendship built on shared experiences

The once-fiery duo now share a deep bond, cultivated through shared struggles, personal growth, and respect. Maxwell’s gratitude towards Kohli’s support, despite their initial differences, speaks to the growth of both men. “It was a nice little story to have as a side note,” Maxwell reflected. “We’ve had quite a funny relationship leading up to playing IPL together. Sharing that dressing room, sharing experiences, and becoming parents at the same time…We’ve both come a long way.”

Kohli’s unwavering support for Maxwell, even during his challenging IPL journey, has cemented their friendship as one of mutual respect and understanding. Both stars have mellowed, no longer the “young and brash” rivals they once were, but rather seasoned players who have grown both on and off the field.

The mega auction for the 18th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is just around the corner. Teams will be embroiled in an intense tussle to get their hands on star players. While some teams insist on preserving their loyal long-serving members, other teams most notably the RCB and LSG have broad ambitions and are more than willing to scout for fresh talent at the expense of their experienced guns. Rishab Pant is one such name that has attracted the attention of several IPL franchises. The 26-year-old swashbuckling wicketkeeper-batsman made his IPL debut with the now-defunct Delhi Daredevils (Delhi Capitals) in 2016.

However, as per reports, Pant has put his name forward for the auction as it is believed that the Delhi-based outfit is willing to move on from him ahead of the next season. Many experts speculate that Pant had a series of discussions with the Delhi Capitals franchise and expressed his desire to lead the side. Unfortunately, his wish never materialized as he was informed that he was not the first choice for captaincy. This major reason may have caused Pant to part ways with them ahead of the next IPL season. 

The reason behind RCB's drive to acquire Pant 

Eyeing their maiden title, RCB are more than willing to secure the services of Rishab Pant who has been in prolific form in recent times. Pant brings with him an X-factor and has the ability to take the game from the opposition like no other. Following the exit of Faf du Plessis and wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik, the door is now left wide open for RCB to rope in a dynamic batter like Pant. He has been a star performer for India across all formats and can provide the franchise with a great deal of stability in the middle order. Moreover, with the departure of Faf, the possibility of assuming a leadership role for RCB is also open for Pant. It was initially believed that RCB had their eyes set on acquiring KL Rahul but now it looks evidently clear that they have more exciting options at their disposal.  

LSG & PBKS jostle to rope in Rishab Pant

Two other franchises apart from RCB have also shown keep interest in Rishab Pant ahead of the mega auction. Kl Rahul is all set to be relieved from LSG earlier next year. Once he is gone, LSG will be on the hunt for a reliable wicketkeeper option who can not only contribute with the bat and keep behind the stumps, but also lead the franchise to new heights. Pant with his leadership skills could give the Lucknow-based franchise just the edge they need to propel them to their maiden IPL title. On the other hand, PBKS are also reportedly hoping for Pant to join their side under a new head coach Ricky Ponting with whom he shares a special relationship.

Pant is part of the Indian squad in the ongoing 3-match Test series against the Black Caps. The ace wicketkeeper batter was last seen in action during the first Test in Bangalore where he played a match-reviving innings for his side and almost bailed them out of trouble. But his unfortunate demise on 99 in the second innings allowed the Kiwis to crawl back and take a 1-0 assailable lead.  

Delhi Capitals captain Rishabh Pant had an impressive IPL 2024, scoring 446 runs in 13 matches. Despite this the team doesn’t seem fully satisfied with the 26 year old’s performance.

Reports say that Rishabh Pant might be transferred from Delhi Capitals to Chennai Super Kings before the IPL 2025 mega auction. According to Dainik Jagran, DC is debating whether to keep Pant or let him go due to concerns about his recent form.

There’s also a chance Pant could be traded to another team, but DC’s Director of Cricket Sourav Ganguly, appears interested in keeping him as captain.

Dhoni’s potential retirement and Its impact

If DC decides to release Pant he might join Chennai Super Kings. The team is looking for a wicketkeeper to potentially replace MS Dhoni if he retires from the IPL, and Pant is a top candidate for the job. Dhoni’s future in the IPL is uncertain with a chance he might not play in 2025.

Pant made a strong comeback this season after recovering from a car accident in December 2022. He scored 446 runs, including three half-centuries, and also played as India’s No. 3 batsman in the T20 World Cup 2024, where he scored 171 runs in eight matches.

RCB’s search for an Indian captain

Meanwhile, KL Rahul might leave Lucknow Super Giants after a three year period. Following a tough 10 wicket loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad, LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka criticized Rahul, casting doubt on his future with the team.

Rahul could return to Royal Challengers Bangalore, a team he played for in 2013 and 2016. Under Faf du Plessis RCB reached the IPL playoffs this season, but they were eliminated in the Eliminator by Rajasthan Royals. Reports suggest RCB is considering an Indian player as captain, and if Rahul joins he might take on that role.

The 2024 IPL edition is one of the most intensifying tournaments in the Indian franchise-based fraternity. With many broken records and some commendable performances, the team’s captains have acted as the epitome of such cricketing displays, making the concluded edition more memorable for the cricketing world.

With different captains having different strategies and intent, here is a ranking of all the teams’ heads who have contributed to the fullest with their cricketing minds and calibre in the recently concluded IPL 2024 edition. The ranking is based on a combination of factors, including the team’s performance, the captain’s leadership skills, and their contributions to the team’s success.

1. Shreyas Iyer- Kolkata Knight Riders

The 2024 IPL champions, Kolkata Knight Riders, have been a jack-of-all-trades team, checking all the boxes in all aspects, with particular praise from their skipper, Shreyas Iyer, and the coaching staff. Shreyas Iyer has done well as a captain, and the team is doing well under his leadership.

His decision-making has been sound, with no significant weaknesses identified in his leadership. KKR has perhaps the finest balance of bat and ball. The leading cause for this has been player selection and, therefore, player performance. He played aggressive cricket with the bat, hitting 351 runs at a strike rate of 146.

2. Pat Cummins- Sunrisers Hyderabad

Pat Cummins excelled as a captain. After performing well for Australia, which has a strong lineup, the star player’s challenge was to turn around SRH’s fortunes. And he did just that. Thanks to Cummins’ inspired captaincy, the hitters transformed the dynamics of the league with their aggressive style, and the developing bowlers dominated it to the fullest.

Cummins was also effective with the ball, taking 18 wickets over the season. As a captain, he inspired the SRH team to break records in the IPL 2024. Cummins has pulled the best out of numerous players this season, leading them to the grand finals.

3. Faf du Plessis- Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Though the team had one heck of a forgettable start, Royal Challengers Bengaluru made a fantabulous and memorable comeback, even when there was a bleak 1% chance of qualification. All credit would go to the former South African ace opener, Faf du Plessis, who focused on strengthening its batting core and improvising its bowling department.

Overall, it was a valiant display of captaincy and team effort by the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. As of his batting performance, du Plessis made 438 runs at a strike rate of 161.

4. Sanju Samson- Rajasthan Royals

In the initial and mid stages of the league, Rajasthan Royals (RR) were the favourites to finish first in the points standings, having won eight of their nine games. However, their season deteriorated following that, and they made the playoffs in third place.

This was primarily about critiquing the team’s consistency and captain Sanju Samson’s evolving plans and methods. If not for this season, Samson is praised for his constant batting and captaincy efforts, which was unsurprising given his performance this season. He had a spectacular batting tenure, amassing 531 runs with a strike rate of 153.

5. Rishabh Pant- Delhi Capitals

Rishabh Pant returns to play after being out for more than 15 months. After avoiding a life-threatening accident, the top player returned to cricket and performed well as a batsman. But he was a decent skipper. He began his IPL 2024 campaign with some difficulties.

But by the second half of the tournament, he had returned to his excellent levels. The Delhi Capitals skipper scored 446 runs with a strike rate of 155. Pant made poor selections about the team’s batting and bowling. Pant would need to improve over time for the following season.

See Also: Gambhir reveals KKR’s 2024 victory secret

6. Ruturaj Gaikwad- Chennai Super Kings

Ruturaj Gaikwad captained Chennai Super Kings for the first time in IPL history. His leadership was not up to par, but it could have a future influence on the team’s destiny in the long term, especially after a long and prosperous era of MS Dhoni. The batting order constantly changed in numerous games, hampered the players’ performance.

Ruturaj Gaikwad led Chennai Super Kings through a consistent season, not to forget his spectacular batting stint by scoring 583 runs, making him the second-highest run-scorer of the tournament. Gaikwad won only seven games in his 14-match campaign, indicating significant room for development.

7. Sam Curran- Punjab Kings

Though Shikhar Dhawan had to lead the Punjab Kings full-time, Sam Curran’s appearance as a captain for majority of time was interesting to check out. However, he wasn’t appealing with his overall all-rounder performance, as he made just 270 runs at a strike rate of 123 and snapped 16 wickets.

But, his ability to utilise emerging domestic talent has prompted his arsenal to change the game and can act as the future of the team’s successes. In the end, the team was able to win just a mere five wins and ended up ninth in the points table.

8. KL Rahul- Lucknow Super Giants

KL Rahul led the Lucknow Super Giants to a 50-50 record, winning seven of their fourteen matches. Under his guidance, the squad won as many games as it lost, indicating an up-and-down season. They started brightly but lost momentum in the middle.

Meanwhile, Rahul scored 520 runs this season, but his strike rate of 136 was significantly below average and ordinary for openers in the IPL 2024 season, which was a high-scoring event. It sums up his tactics of runs coming off his bat, but not at the rate his side needs.  The Super Giants missed the playoffs for the first time in their three-season history.

9. Shubman Gill- Gujarat Titans

Shubman Gill, a budding opening batter, has become the captain of the Gujarat Titans after Hardik Pandya moved to the Mumbai Indians. In his first stint as captain, Gill faced challenges, including critical player injuries, leading to some perplexed and vague decisions.

Despite this, he viewed it as a learning experience. The team won only five out of 14 matches, but Gill’s batting was solid, with 426 runs in 12 games. But it will be interesting to see how he evolves as a captain for the Gujarat Titans.

10. Hardik Pandya- Mumbai Indians

Hardik Pandya, the new Mumbai Indians captain, was perhaps the most disappointing captain and big-name player of the IPL 2024 season, especially given that he led Gujarat to an IPL trophy and a runners-up finish in the previous two seasons.

Despite huge expectations, the Mumbai Indians ended at the bottom of the points table, winning only four matches out of 14 games. Hardik scored 216 runs at an average of 18 as a player and took 11 wickets. Given his previous success, Pandya’s captaincy has been more forgettable this season.

The 2024 edition of the Indian Premier League, a tournament that has always set the benchmark for the shortest format of the game, has once again raised the bar.

This year, we’ve witnessed some incredible performances, with shattered long-standing records and international and emerging players making their mark on Indian soil. The batters of the tournament have indeed embodied the spirit of IPL 2024. In this listicle, we’re taking a closer look at the top five extraordinary batting innings that have captivated the cricketing world in the 2024 edition. 

1. Sunil Narine (Kolkata Knight Riders) vs Rajasthan Royals- 109 runs off 56 balls

Hailed as one of the toughest spinners, Sunil Narine, the Trinidadian spinmeister, has proved his impeccable calibre with the bat, thanks to the IPL platform for displaying his willow-handling skills. Though he started his stint as an opener during the 2017 Big Bash League, his long stint with the Kolkata Knight Riders helped him unleash batting prowess, and the clash against Rajasthan Royals summed it all up.

Against a robust Royals bowling attack on the vast Eden Gardens track, Narine pumped up his batting shots and got off to a flying start. With 13 boundaries and six sixes, he had hit his first-ever century across his batting timeline, with a commendable strike rate of 194.64. To add things up, this memorable batting innings made him the first player in the IPL to have scored a hundred and picked a five-wicket haul.

2. Jos Buttler (Rajasthan Royals) vs Kolkata Knight Riders- 107* runs off 60 balls

To give a small continuation to Sunil Narine’s memorable first century, it was in the same clash of the best; the fans witnessed another stupendous batting innings. After giving a target of 224 runs to the Rajasthan Royals, the away side was up for it amongst the vast grounds of the Eden Gardens. But he had got off slightly slow as he made only 25 off his first 18 balls.

But although struggling with the injury that kept him out of the last RR game and rapidly running out of batting partners, Buttler stayed the course. And taking the match to an enthralling last ball, Buttler’s innings of 107* runs off 60 balls, with nine fours and six sixes, he had taken his visitor’s side team to a victory by two wickets, which kind of overshadowed Narine’s commendable knock. 

3. Will Jacks (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) vs Gujarat Titans- 100* runs off 41 balls

With a quick-pace triple-digit mark and an awestruck reaction by King Kohli, Will Jacks’s century is a wholesome and flavourful batting innings. Starting things off with 17 runs in just 17 balls, in the successive 24 balls, the English batter hit the remaining runs to reach his first-ever IPL century.

Though he had come lately to the Royal Challengers Bengaluru batting campaign, he had proved to be an instrumental element to the team’s middle order batting, which led him to a memorable six-consecutive winning stint, which led them to seal the final playoffs spot, when they just had a mere 1% chance, symbolising the team’s resilient and robust mentality approach. 

See Also: First batch of Indian Team leaves for USA ahead of T20 World Cup 2024

4. Travis Head (Sunrisers Hyderabad) vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru- 102 runs off 41 balls

In the clash between the Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad on the small dimensions of Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru broke the long-held record of the highest team score ever in IPL, where Sunrisers Hyderabad took that title away from the previous holders of Bengaluru, thanks to the swashbuckling Aussie batter, Travis Head.

With already announcing his stint in the IPL from an excellent first-match performance, Head accelerated his performance and got him to this stage, where he proved to be handy in scoring the highest team total of IPL of 287/3 by making a century off just 39 balls. In his innings of 102 runs off 41 balls, he hit nine fours and eight sixes at a colossal strike rate of 248.78. 

5. Shashank Singh (Punjab Kings) vs Gujarat Titans- 61* runs off 29 balls 

In this listicle, we have seen all the centuries making the mark, but a few innings have created a long-lasting impact, but it didn’t require a triple-digit mark. One such innings is by the Punjab Kings’ middle-order batting powerhouse, Shashank Singh. It all started in last year’s IPL auction when the Kings bought him instead of another player with the same name, leading to a case of mistaken identity.

With several rumours goofed up, the franchise clarified it and mentioned that he was always on their planned list. As it implies, the batter from Chattisgarh paid back the trust and scored an impeccable innings of 61* runs off 29 balls in a 200-run chase against the Gujarat Titans. This innings is a testament to seizing any opportunity given to a person from different walks of life, which also bolstered the batter’s confidence and led him to be a valuable batting asset to the Punjab Kings. 

RR vs RCB Match Preview

The 2024 Indian Premier League Eliminator will be played on Wednesday evening at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, between the Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Rajasthan finished third in the group stage, followed by RCB in fourth place by three points. After winning eight of their first nine games this season, Rajasthan Royals went on a losing streak that ended with a washout against Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday. RCB’s rise from the bottom of the table to the final play-off spot in their final group stage game is well known to all IPL fans, and Faf du Plessis’ side is now playing with great confidence and will fancy their chances of another win today.

RR vs RCB Match Details

Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru – Eliminator Match

Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium – Ahmedabad

Date & Time: 22th May 2024 at 07:30 PM IST 

Live Streaming: Jio Cinema

RR vs RCB Venue Stats

RR vs RCB Pitch Report

The wicket has genuine bounce and pace, and the quick outfield allows batsmen to score freely. There is little on this surface for fast bowlers, but spinners who mix length and turn the ball do well here.

RR vs RCB Weather Report

This game is expected to have partly cloudy skies and temperatures in the mid-30s. We will see clear skies at Jaipur on May 22, and the conditions will be perfect for the game.

RR vs RCB Last Five Matches

RR vs RCB Head-to-Head Stats

Injury News

No Injury. Will be added when there is an update.

Also Read: IPL 2024: Most runs and Most wickets after Match 67, CSK vs GT

RR vs RCB Probable Playing XIs:

Rajasthan Royals Probable Playing XIs

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Sanju Samson (c) (wk), Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Rovman Powell, Trent Boult, Avesh Khan, Sandeep Sharma, Yuzvendra Chahal

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Probable Playing XIs

Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis (c), Rajat Patidar, Cameron Green, Dinesh Karthik, Glenn Maxwell, Mahipal Lomror, Yash Dayal, Karn Sharma, Mohammed Siraj, Lockie Ferguson

Topmost Picks for RR vs RCB Dream11 Prediction:

Top Picks – Rajasthan Royals

• Sanju Samson – The Rajasthan skipper has outscored his opening batting pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler. So far in this campaign he has a top score of 82 not out.
• Yuzvendra Chahal- the spinner is the only player in the history of the IPL to have picked up over 200 wickets and he has taken between 12 and 27 wickets each season from 2014 onwards.

Top Picks – Royal Challengers Bengaluru

• Virat Kohli- the leading run scorer in IPL 2024 made 47 runs from 29 balls in Saturday’s victory and he is averaging 64.36 from 14 innings this season.
• Yash Dayal- the left-arm pacer got two big wickets in Daryl Mitchell and MS Dhoni against CSK. Although he was expensive, he was once again RCB’s biggest wicket taking threat. 

Suggested Playing XI N0.1 for RR vs RCB Dream11 Team:

Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis(C), Rajat Patidar, Cameron Green, Riyan Parag(VC), Trent Boult, Avesh Khan, Yash Dayal

Suggested Playing XI N0.2 for RR vs RCB Dream11 Team:

Sanju Samson(VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli(C), Faf du Plessis, Rajat Patidar, Ravichandran Ashwin, Cameron Green, Riyan Parag, Trent Boult, Avesh Khan, Yash Dayal

Captain and Vice-Captain Options:

Captain – Faf du Plessis, Virat Kohli

Vice-captain – Riyan Parag, Sanju Samson

Wicketkeeper – Sanju Samson

RR vs RCB Probable Winners:

Without Jos Buttler, the Rajasthan Royals do not appear to be as strong a batting side, and they will need to put on their best batting performance in this game to give a confident RCB cause for concern. Three weeks ago, the Rajasthan Royals would have easily won this game, but the teams are now in completely different mindsets. We believe RCB will win their seventh consecutive match and advance to the Qualifier 2. Considering the team combination, Royal Challengers Bengaluru is expected to win this match.

The 2024 IPL edition has been a rollercoaster ride for cricket fanatics, filled with suspense and intriguingness. The excitement has been palpable, with shattered records, emerging talents making their mark, and the league stage concluding with a bang from four powerhouse teams.

Here’s a rundown of the five most thrilling matches from the league stage of IPL 2024, each one a nail-biter that kept fans on the edge of their seats. 

1. Match no 68: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Chennai Super Kings

Touted as one of the most intriguing virtual knockout matches, the Southern derby clash between the two powerhouse teams was for sealing the last and crucial fourth position of the playoffs timeline, with the team’s NRR being the deciding factor of one of both teams sealing the fourth place of the table. It occurred amidst the electrified crowd of the Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru; the away side, Chennai Super Kings, won the toss and was elected to bat first.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru set a humongous target of 219 on a turning and batters-friendly ground. As the playoff qualification scenario lay on RCB defeating CSK by a minimum of 18 runs, the hosts showcased their will and determination against an in-form batting lineup of CSK through their impeccable bowlers’ arsenal.

In a stunning display of skill and strategy, RCB defeated CSK by 27 runs, fulfilling the qualification criterion and sealing the crucial fourth spot. This victory was a testament to the team’s resilience and spirit, especially considering their mere 1% chance of making it to the playoffs at the halfway mark of the league stage. 

2. Match no 8: Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Mumbai Indians

The 2024 IPL edition witnessed a galore of high-scoring innings, big sixes and commendable batting chases. But, it all started with the initial stage clash between the Sunrisers Hyderabad and Mumbai Indians.

Winning the toss and choosing to bowl, Mumbai Indians seemed confident in restricting the Sunrisers Hyderabad with their bowling side, but the home side had their own plans. The 2016 champions showcased their emerging and powerful batting prowess thanks to the likes of debutant Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Heinrich Klassen and Aiden Markram.

By this, the Sunrisers Hyderabad broke the gigantic 11-year record of the highest batting total by scoring 277/3. In response, the Mumbai Indians gave their all and best by scoring 246/5, with SRH beating MI by 31 runs.

See also: IPL 2024: Player Analysis: How did Abhishek Sharma calmly surpass Kohli’s six-hitting record?

3. Match no 30: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad

With the Sunrisers Hyderabad displaying their top-notch batting skills by scoring the highest batting innings in the tournament’s history, they seemed not yet done. In just a matter of weeks, Sunrisers Hyderabad were up against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru and strived to break their record.

On the small and lively dimensions of Chinnaswamy Stadium, the orange arsenal batted first, and thanks to Travis Head’s stupendous century and other batting cameos by Heinrich Klaasen and Abdul Smad, they scored 287/3 in 20 overs, the tournament’s highest-ever batting innings.

Despite the Royal Challengers Bengaluru displaying their valiant batting effort, the Orange triumphed in a win over them by just 25 runs.

4. Match no 39: Chennai Super Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants

The main reason for having this match on the list is a testament to a resilient chase of a vast batting total. Amidst a massive crowd of Chepauk, the hosts were given to bat first and set up a colossal target of 211 for the away side, thanks to a captain’s knock by Ruturaj Gaikwad of 108 runs off 60 balls.

In their batting innings stint, Lucknow Super Giants weren’t able to middle the ball on the slower wicket and in 11 overs, they scored a mere 88/3. With 123 runs required from the last nine overs, the team’s middle order gang of Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran and Deepak Hooda have reached the target mark and scalped a win by six wickets and three balls remaining in front of the roaring fanbase of CSK.

The backbone of the innings was a complete innings by Marcus Stoinis, where he scored 124 runs off 63 balls, making it the highest individual score in IPL run chases. 

5. Match no 42: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings

As many cricket fanatics can infer, the batting side has a better advantage over the bowling side in the tournament, and the matchup between the Kolkata Knight Riders and the Punjab Kings sums it up.

On a batters-friendly track of Eden Gardens, Kolkata Knight Riders set up a colossal target of 262 runs through the complete team’s batting prowess. Many game spectators assumed that the away side could not fulfil the mammoth of a target.

Still, the Punjab Kings were up for the challenge and with a praiseworthy century by Jonny Bairstow and brilliant batting cameos by Prabhsimran Singh, Rilee Rossouw, and Shashank Singh, the Kings chased the target successfully with eight balls to spare. This game broke many records by being the highest target successfully chased in men’s T20 cricket and the most sixes hit in an IPL inning and a T20I match (42 sixes). 

Virat Kohli was in the mood to hit some big ones in RCB’s must-win match against CSK at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday, May 18. The superstar cricketer hit a 98-meter six that hit the roof of the iconic stadium, thrilling the fans. Kohli provided the much-needed early momentum to RCB after Ruturaj Gaikwad won the toss and CSK opted to bowl in the final league game of the season for both teams. With a threat of rain looming, Virat Kohli went after CSK’s new ball bowler Tushar Deshpande in the third over.

He was severe against the Mumbai fast bowler, pulling one bowled on the leg-stump line into the deep square-leg boundary. The ball hit the roof of one of the stands at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Kohli shows amazing hits  

Kohli followed it up with another huge six, leading RCB’s charge in the third over even as Faf du Plessis struggled in the first over bowled by Tushar Deshpande. Du Plessis then targeted Shardul Thakur in the second over, hitting a six and a boundary.

However, the game was halted due to rain after the third over when RCB were at 31 for 0. The wet weather broke the momentum for both Kohli and Du Plessis, forcing them to restart.

Despite the interruption, it was a record-breaking outing for Virat Kohli as he became the first player to score 3,000 runs at a single venue in the IPL. Kohli’s tally reached 3005 runs in 89 matches at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, far ahead of Rohit Sharma, who has scored 2295 runs in 80 matches at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Virat Kohli sets IPL record at M Chinnaswamy Stadium

Kohli’s performance on Saturday added to his impressive record of scoring 700+ runs in multiple IPL seasons. Only Chris Gayle has achieved this feat twice, while Michael Hussey, David Warner, Kane Williamson, Faf du Plessis, Jos Buttler, and Shubman Gill have done it once each.

See Also: RCB vs CSK: Rain stops crucial clash at Chinnaswamy; Check latest weather update

Starting with clear intent in the powerplay amid the rain threat, Kohli holds the Orange Cap for the most runs this season, having scored 661 runs in 13 matches before the last league game against CSK. Kohli has also hit 35 sixes, just one fewer than Nicholas Pooran, who has hit the most sixes this season.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) face a crucial IPL 2024 encounter against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Saturday, with their playoff dreams hanging in the balance. While CSK hold a slight advantage with 14 points from 13 matches, a strong win for RCB can secure them a spot in the Top-4. Three teams—Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Rajasthan Royals (RR), and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)—have already qualified for the playoffs. The final spot is a contest between RCB and CSK.

RCB started their IPL 2024 season poorly, winning only two of their first seven matches. However, they have made a remarkable comeback, winning five consecutive games to stay in playoff contention. Currently, CSK is fourth on the points table with 14 points and a net run rate (NRR) of +0.528. RCB, on the other hand, is seventh with 12 points and an NRR of +0.387.

However, the weather forecast predicts rain and thunderstorms at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, which could disrupt the match. Despite a sunny morning in the city, weather forecasts predict “heavy rain/thundershowers associated with gusty winds (40-50kph)” in some areas of Bengaluru on May 18th. If the game is abandoned without any play, CSK will advance to the playoffs, as they will have 15 points compared to RCB’s 13.

Scenarios for RCB to qualify for the Playoffs

Scenario 1: Complete washout
If the match is completely washed out, both teams will receive one point each. This will benefit CSK, who will move to 15 points, securing their playoff spot. RCB, with 13 points, will be eliminated.

Scenario 2: RCB batting first

If RCB bats first and sets a target of 200 runs, they need to win by at least 18 runs to qualify for the playoffs. This margin will ensure their NRR surpasses CSK’s.

Scenario 3: If RCB chase

If RCB chase a target of 201 runs, they need to reach the target with 11 balls to spare. This would improve their NRR sufficiently to overtake CSK.

Reduced overs scenarios

If the match is reduced to five overs RCB need to score 80 runs if they bat first and then restrict CSK to 62 runs. If RCB chase, they need to chase a target of 81 runs in 3.1 overs, which is a challenging task.

Also, on other hand in a ten-over match RCB need to score 130 runs if they bat first and restrict CSK to 112 runs. If RCB chase a target of 131 runs, they need to achieve it in 8.1 overs.

For CSK, the path is simpler. A win, even by a narrow margin, will ensure their qualification. They would then have 16 points from 14 matches.
See Also: Rohit Sharma finally opens up on his future with MI

Regardless of the outcome, the RCB vs. CSK match promises to be a thrilling contest, provided the rain holds off. The stakes are high, and RCB’s hopes hinge on a precise and strong performance to secure a playoff spot.