IPL 2024 | Twitter reacts to Kohli masterclass shutting down Punjab’s playoff hopes

05/09/2024

1987

Royal Challengers Bengaluru extend their winning streak by toppling Punjab Kings by 60 runs in Dharamsala. Virat Kohli’s 92, coupled with brilliant Rajat Patidar and Cameron Green knocks was backed up by brilliant bowling which helped RCB eliminate Punjab Kings from the playoffs race.

Brief Scores: RCB: 241/7 [Kohli:92, Patidar: 55; Harshal: 4-0-38-3] beat PBKS: 181 [Rossouw: 61, Shashank: 37; Siraj: 4-0-43-3] by 60 runs.

Losing the toss in a must-win clash, Royal Challengers Bengaluru lost a couple of early scalps as Faf du Plessis and Will Jacks fell prey to debutant Vidwath Kaverappa. Capitalizing on several sloppy fielding, Rajat Patidar and Virat Kohli stabilized the ship with a 66 runs stand with Patidar teeing off Rahul Chahar and Arshdeep Singh to race to a 23-ball 55 before Curran outsmarted him in the tenth over. Following a rain interruption, Kohli accelerated after getting to his fifty with Cameron Green playing second fiddle. With the score reading 164/3 in 15 overs, the pair extracted 34 runs off the next couple of overs before Arshdeep had the last laugh against Kohli, who fell short of a ton by eight runs. Eventually, a set-batter in Green was kept at bay with Harshal Patel extracting three wickets in the last over nevertheless RCB posted a massive 241/7 in 20 overs.

In reply, Punjab got an early setback as Prabhsimran departed in the first over, followed by a 65 runs second wicket stand between Jonny Bairstow and Rilee Rossouw before Lockie Ferguson removed the former to conclude a 75-run powerplay. While the southpaw tried to assault the opposition and notched up a fifty in the eighth over, he was outdone in the following over off Karn Sharma. With 107/3 in nine overs, PBKS was in a good stage to aim for the hunt but the spin duo of Swapnil Singh and Karn struck once again in the eleventh and twelfth over. Although they added 36 runs until the 15th over, the hosts lost Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma with the score reading 164/7. With wickets falling in clusters, Sam Curran, Harshal Patel and Arshdeep Singh followed suit as RCB eliminated PBKS by folding them for 181.

What a throw!!

What a throw 🫡🔥😎#ViratKohli 👑 pic.twitter.com/G8DpB3Ql8f
— Sachin (@SachinSince1998) May 9, 2024

He's a cutie?

Virat Kohli in the field & off the field 👌

#ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/5YnPLKIqzW
— Kanwar Gurjar🚩(कंवर सिंह जांगल) (@Mr_singh1888) May 9, 2024

Maturity!

Virat Kohli in the field & off the field 👌

#ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/5YnPLKIqzW
— Kanwar Gurjar🚩(कंवर सिंह जांगल) (@Mr_singh1888) May 9, 2024

LOL!

Inspiration behind the on field action by #ViratKohli in #PBKSvsRCB match today 😂 pic.twitter.com/bpfqcYvUb1
— Shubham Kumar (@TheShubhamKr_) May 9, 2024

Yeah they won!

RCB has won 4 match in a row 😲#Rcb
— DURJOY PIAL (@imPial) May 9, 2024

Got more to go!

Rcb have now won last 4 games in a row ..!!#PBKSvsRCB pic.twitter.com/kp5q0iFzjG
— crazy (@cricrazyNandu) May 9, 2024

RCb is killing it!

🙌🏻

TATA IPL season 17th 2024 2nd Innings PBKS v RCB Match 58 From Dharamsala

RCB Won By 60 Runs Congratulates Team RCB 🎉🎊🥳🫡💙🏏💪🏻🔥🏆@ThumsUpOfficial @My11Circle #TATAIPLSeason17th2024 #2ndInnings_PBKSvRCB_Match_58 @IPL @PunjabKingsIPL @RCBTweets @BCCI pic.twitter.com/TISsEh0Rah
— Tanbir Hossain Safui (@TanbirH77992362) May 9, 2024