IPL 2021: RCB vs RR Review – Padikkal and Kohli steamroll Rajasthan

Royal Challengers Bangalore won their fourth consecutive match in the IPL 2021 when they dominated and defeated Rajasthan Royals at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on April 22. After fighting throughout the innings, Rajasthan made 177, but it was a fantastic display of batting from Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal that ensured RCB chased down the total in 16.3 overs.

Winning the toss, Kohli sent in Rajasthan to bat first. Royals got off to another bad start to their innings, as they lost three wickets in the first five overs. When Sanju Samson was dismissed, Rajasthan were at 43 for 4, completely left shell shocked by some good bowling by Mohammad Siraj and Kyle Jamieson.

Shivam Dube, batting at no.5, scored 46 runs from 32 balls. Riyan Parag got a 16-ball 25 while Rahul Tewatia batted well for his valiant knock of 40 runs from just 23 balls. Siraj and Harshal Patel picked up three wickets each to make sure that Rajasthan were not able to make anything more than 177. Jamieson, Washington Sundar and Kane Richardson chipped in with a wicket each.

With the Royal Challengers Bangalore were in complete control of the run-chase. It was Padikkal who first took off and started taking on the Rajasthan bowlers. He scored his first hundred and stayed unbeaten on 101 runs off 52 balls. Virat Kohli supported him magnificently with his 72 runs from 47 balls. In the end, RCB won the match by 10 wickets, with 21 balls to spare.

Top performers:

Mohammad Siraj: Since he has made his Test debut, it seems that Siraj has become a much-improved bowler. He bowled a superb first spell dismissing Jos Buttler and David Miller, the two key overseas batsmen of the Rajasthan team. He later came and dismissed Tewatia who was batting quite well at the time. He ended with figures of 3 for 27 in four overs.

Virat Kohli: After two 30+ scores and one failure, Kohli finally announced his arrival in the IPL 2021. He took his time early on and he was batting on 33 off 29 balls at one moment when Padikkal had already gone well past his fifty. But, once he got set, unlike in the previous matches, he didn’t throw his wicket. He ended with 72 runs from 47 balls. He slowed down towards the end as he gave the strike to Padikkal so that the youngster could score his century.

Devdutt Padikkal: The young left-hander scored his maiden IPL century. It was an absolutely dominating performance by the batsman. He took on the bowlers early on as his captain at the other end took his time. He overshadowed Kohli, scoring his century from just 51 balls. He ended with a strike rate of 194.53 and 11 fours & six sixes.

Personal records:

• Kohli reached 6000 runs in the IPL, became the first batsman to get there.

• RCB played their 200th IPL game, becoming the second team after Mumbai Indians to do that.
• 181-run stand between Kohli and Padikkal today is the joint fourth-highest ever opening partnership in IPL

Way Ahead:

Royal Challengers will now play Chennai Super Kings on April 25. Rajasthan will play Kolkata on April 24. Both matches to be played in Mumbai.