IPL 2021: RCB vs PBKS Review – Kohli & co seal playoff spot with reassuring win

Royal Challengers Bangalore confirmed their place in the 2021 IPL playoffs with a 6-run win over Punjab Kings in a tight game at Sharjah on Sunday. Bangalore had an overall good performance, which marked their eighth win of the season from 12 games. Punjab now have 8 losses in 13 matches, and their playoff chances hang by a thread.

Maxwell on fire

Despite success for the team batting second in the previous afternoon games in Sharjah, RCB skipper Virat Kohli opted to bat first. He and Devdutt Padikkal came out with some solid batting, setting up a good foundation. But it was Moises Henriques who broke through for PBKS, sending RCB’s top three packing in no time.

However, RCB’s most in-form batsman Glenn Maxwell then decided to take the charge. He smashed the Punjab bowlers en route his 57 off 33 balls. Maxwell was involved in a 73-run stand with AB de Villiers, who was also picking his shots. Mohammed Shami’s three wickets at the death cut short their score but in the end, RCB managed to put up a competitive 164/7 on the board.

A familiar collapse

Punjab’s innings followed a similar pattern like most of their games. A solid opening partnership of 91 runs from 10.5 overs, was followed by a typical middle-order collapse. Mayank Agarwal scored the only fifty but even that went in vain towards the end. Continuing his return to form, Yuzvendra Chahal was once again among wickets, picking up a 3-fer.

Top performers

Moises Henriques: When he came to bowl, RCB were going strong, having lost no wickets till the 9th over. But Henriques came out and quickly dismissed Kohli and Dan Christian in his first over, taking Padikkal in the next. Henriques finished with 3/12 in his 4 overs, completely changing the momentum of the innings.

Glenn Maxwell: On a pitch that has been known to be slow and difficult to score on, Maxwell put up a batting exhibition. He hit three fours and four sixes in his fifty and forced a score that would be difficult to chase on the wicket. This was his third fifty-plus score in a row.

Yuzvendra Chahal: Once Rahul was dismissed, RCB had an opportunity to hurt Punjab’s run chase and Kohli unleashed his most prized asset. Chahal spun a web around the Punjab batters, dismissing Nicholas Pooran and Sarfaraz Khan. He also dismissed Agarwal who was the key to their chase.

Can always trust Yuzi to deliver. ❤️ #PlayBold #WeAreChallengers #ನಮ್ಮRCB #IPL2021 #RCBvPBKS pic.twitter.com/3Sk8RNBFJj

— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) October 3, 2021

Personal/achievements records

• Glenn Maxwell crossed 400 runs in an IPL season for the first time since 2014
• KL Rahul became the 1st Indian to score 500+ runs in four consecutive IPL seasons.
• Moises Henriques’ figures of 3/12 is his best in the IPL, surpassing his previous best of 3/16

With 16 points, RCB sit comfortably in 3rd place on the points table. They will now meet Hyderabad on October 6. Punjab, on the other hand, need to win their remaining games and play the waiting game. They take on Chennai on October 7.