RCB’s Playoff Hopes Dashed by Gill’s Brilliant Century in Defeat Against GT, Gujarat win by six wickets
Prince Shubman Gill’s brilliant century overshadowed King Kohli’s century, resulting in RCB’s unfortunate elimination from IPL 2023 after a disappointing 6-wicket loss. To secure a spot in the playoffs, Bangalore desperately needed Mumbai Indians to lose against Sunrisers Hyderabad. However, fate had a different plan as MI achieved the target of 201 with only 2 wickets down, thanks to an exceptional century by Cameron Green. This meant that RCB’s destiny was in their own hands – a victory against table-toppers GT would have ensured their direct qualification for the playoffs based on a better run-rate.
The match started on a positive note for RCB as their openers scored an impressive 62 runs without any loss during the powerplay. However, their momentum was shattered when Faf du Plessis, attempting an audacious shot over extra cover, edged the ball to the first slip off Noor Ahmed’s eighth over. The loss of du Plessis at 67 marked the first blow for RCB.
Soon after, Glenn Maxwell fell victim to Rashid Khan’s superb bowling, getting his stumps disturbed after scoring just 11 runs in the ninth over. RCB faced another setback in the 10th over when Mahipal Lomror was stumped by Noor Ahmed, further denting their batting lineup. Despite these challenges, Michael Bracewell played a quick cameo, contributing 26 runs off 16 balls with the help of 5 fours, before being caught and bowled by Mohammed Shami.
Kohli’s Masterful Century Highlights RCB’s Batting Efforts
Dinesh Karthik’s unfortunate dismissal on a golden duck, attempting to play a down-the-leg ball from Yash Dayal in the 18th over, added to RCB’s woes. Now, the team heavily relied on Virat Kohli, who had opened the innings, to anchor the innings and guide them to a competitive total. Kohli rose to the challenge with sheer determination, displaying his masterclass with the bat. The RCB skipper blazed his way to a scintillating century, smashing 101 runs off just 61 deliveries. His innings consisted of 13 boundaries and a towering six. Kohli’s ferocious batting in the final overs propelled RCB’s total to 197 runs for the loss of 5 wickets against GT.
Gill and Shankar Partnership Steers Gujarat Towards Victory
Chasing a target of 198, Gujarat encountered an early setback when Mohammad Siraj took a brilliant catch to dismiss Wriddhiman Saha on the covers. Saha contributed 12 runs before departing, giving RCB a glimmer of hope. However, Shubman Gill and Vijay Shankar joined forces, forming a formidable partnership that completely overshadowed Bangalore’s efforts. The duo stitched together a magnificent 123-run partnership off just 65 balls, leaving RCB searching for answers. Despite their best efforts, RCB’s bowlers failed to make an impact against Gill and Shankar.
RCB’s Bowlers Struggle to Contain Gill’s Dominance
Finally, Vijay Shankar’s dismissal came as a ray of hope for RCB when he was caught by Kohli at midwicket off Vijay Kumar’s delivery. Shankar’s well-crafted 55 runs off 35 balls, including 7 fours and 2 sixes, came to an end. Harshal Patel added to RCB’s momentum by removing Dasun Shanaka without opening his account in the very next over. With the score at 150/3 after 15.3 overs, RCB sensed a potential turnaround.
However, their hopes were short-lived as David Miller was caught by Mohammad Siraj at deep midwicket, adding just 6 runs to the scoreboard in the 18th over. At 171/4 in 17.4 overs, the match seemed to slip away from RCB’s grasp. It became evident
Shubman Gill well-deserved century
that Shubman Gill, who had been in a league of his own throughout the innings, continued to dominate the game. In a fitting finale, Gill smashed a six off Wayne Parnell’s first ball in the 20th over, reaching his well-deserved century and sealing the victory for Gujarat. His unbeaten knock of 104 runs off just 52 balls, including 5 fours and 8 sixes, showcased his extraordinary batting prowess, with a staggering strike rate of 200.
Kohli’s Disappointment Reflects RCB’s Lingering Challenges
After the defeat, the emotions in Virat Kohli’s eyes spoke volumes about his disappointment, despite his heroic efforts. It became clear that unless Royal Challengers Bangalore address their persisting issues in bowling and middle-order batting, their dream of winning the IPL will remain unfulfilled. The match served as a reminder for RCB to focus on improving their overall performance and finding the right balance in order to achieve success in future tournaments.