Rajasthan eliminates Kohli and Bengaluru from the IPL
Rajasthan eliminates Kohli and Bengaluru from the IPL
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| Virat Kohli of Royal Challengers Bengaluru welcomes Rovman Powell of Rajasthan Royals following their victory in the Indian Premier League (IPL) game on May 22, 2024, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. IMAGE: AFP |
On Wednesday, Royal Challengers Bengaluru lost to Rajasthan Royals in Ahmedabad by four wickets, sending Virat Kohli through even more heartache.
At the world's largest cricket stadium, Rajasthan held Bengaluru to 172-8, a score they easily defeated with six balls remaining in the crucial play-off.
Kohli and Bengaluru continue to wait for their first IPL championship. To determine the opponent of Kolkata Knight Riders in the May 26 final, Rajasthan will take on Sunrisers Hyderabad in the last play-off on Friday in Chennai.
In the sweltering heat of Ahmedabad on Tuesday, Kolkata crushed Hyderabad in the first play-off to qualify for their fourth IPL final.
Rajasthan chose to field first, and Trent Boult (1-16) and Ravichandran Ashwin (2-19) were key players in a well-organized bowling assault.
After Sanju Samson, the captain, was stumped for 17 runs in the space of five deliveries, and Yashasvi Jaiswal was caught behind off Cameron Green at 45, Rajasthan faltered in their pursuit.
After Riyan Parag (striking 36) and Shimron Hetmyer (striking 26) put up 45 to restart the chase, Rovman Powell (striking a six in his undefeated 16) guided the side home.
After Sanju Samson, the captain, was stumped for 17 runs in the space of five deliveries, and Yashasvi Jaiswal was caught behind off Cameron Green at 45, Rajasthan faltered in their pursuit.
Rajasthan, who won the 2008 Indian Premier League under the late Australian great Shane Warne, recovered from four straight defeats in five games, including a washout.
After rising from the bottom of the table after eight games to win six straight and qualify for the playoffs, Bengaluru's incredible run came to an end.
Ahmedabad continued to be scorching, with afternoon highs above 43 degrees Celsius (109 degrees Fahrenheit) for the third day in a row.
Over 85,000 spectators showed up for the eliminator, according to stadium organizers, with a sea of Kohli followers willing to withstand the heat.
To keep their players hydrated while they were on the field, substitutes raced around outside the boundary ropes with towels and water bottles.
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A day after celebrating Kolkata's triumph there, local reports state that Shah Rukh Khan, the owner of an IPL team and actor from Bollywood, was admitted to the Ahmedabad hospital with a heatstroke.
Prior to this, captain Faf du Plessis left the game early on 17 after Powell made an amazing forward diving catch off left-arm fast Boult while racing from deep mid-wicket.
To the dismay of the 132,000 spectators in the stadium, Kohli tried to drive the tempo in his 24-ball 33 but was caught off guard by Yuzvendra Chahal's leg-spin.
With 741 runs, including five half scores and a century in 15 games, Kohli cemented his title as the team's top batsman for the season.
The bowlers from Rajasthan controlled the score and often claimed wickets, including two off consecutive deliveries when an off-spinner was used.
Prior to this, captain Faf du Plessis left the game early on 17 after Powell made an amazing forward diving catch off left-arm fast Boult while racing from deep mid-wicket.
With 741 runs, including five half scores and a century in 15 games, Kohli cemented his title as the team's top batsman for the season.
The bowlers from Rajasthan controlled the score and often claimed wickets, including two off consecutive deliveries when an off-spinner was used.
