IPL 2021 / Kohlis RCB gracefully entered the playoffs stunned Punjab Kings in a thrilling match

In IPL 2021 Phase-2, the first match of the day is being played between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Sunday. In the match, RCB won the toss and played first and scored 164/7. Chasing a target of 165, Punjab could score 158/6 and lost the match by 6 runs. With the win in the match, RCB have confirmed their place in the playoffs. At the same time, with the defeat, the doors of Punjab Kings to make it to the last four are almost closed.

Rahul got out after a good start

Shahbaz Ahmed got the first success for RCB by dismissing KL Rahul (39). Before getting out, KL Rahul became the first Indian player to score 500+ runs in 4 consecutive IPLs.

• Punjab openers (KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal) added 91 runs for the first wicket.
• Nicholas Pooran (3) again disappointed and Yuzvendra Chahal picked up his wicket.
• Yuzvendra Chahal took the third and fourth wickets of Punjab within 4 balls. He sent Mayank Agarwal (57) and Sarfaraz Khan (0) to the pavilion.
• Virat-Padikkal added 68 runs for the first wicket. Moises Henriques broke this partnership by dismissing Kohli (25).
• On the very next ball, Henriques gave double success to Punjab by dismissing Daniel Christian for zero.
• The wicket of Devdutt Padikkal (40), who was seen in great rhythm, also came in Henriques's account.
• AB de Villiers and Maxwell added 73 runs in 40 balls for the fourth wicket. Run out on AB (23) returned to the pavilion.
• Maxwell scored (57) off 33 balls. This was his third consecutive fifty in the tournament.
• Mohammed Shami took 3 wickets while spending 8 runs in the last over.
• Rahul unhappy with umpire's decision

In the 8th over, Padikkal tried to play a reverse sweep shot off Ravi Bishnoi, but it failed and the ball went to wicketkeeper Rahul. KL Rahul appealed to the umpire for a catch out but the umpire gave a not out. Later Rahul took the DRS and the third umpire also gave not out to Padikkal. After which KL Rahul looked quite unhappy. Actually, it was clearly visible in the ultra edge that the ball had gone into Rahul's gloves while taking the edge of the bat. Fans and cricket experts also criticized the decision of the third umpire on social media.

Bengaluru did not make any changes in their team, but Punjab saw 3 changes. In place of Fabian Allen, Deepak Hooda and Nathan Ellis, Sarfaraz Khan, Moises Henriques and Harpreet Brar got a chance in the playing XI.

Punjab in race with four teams for top-4

If we look at the current state of the points table, Chennai, Delhi and Bangalore have reached the playoffs. At the same time, there is a competition between four teams including Punjab to become the fourth team of the last four. The other three teams are Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai Indians (10 points from 12 matches both) and Rajasthan Royals (8 points from 11 matches before the match against Chennai). Punjab's net run rate is still better than Mumbai and Rajasthan, but Kolkata is ahead of them in this matter.

Punjab's strategy was successful in the last match

Punjab sent their middle order batsmen up a spot each in the absence of Chris Gayle in the previous match against Kolkata and the strategy was successful. Taking advantage of this, aggressive batsmen Shahrukh Khan and Fabian Allen got a chance to play in the right order. However, due to poor fitness in this match, Allen has not got a chance to play.

both teams

RCB - Virat Kohli (capt), Devdutt Padikkal, Srikar Bharat (wk), Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers, Daniel Christian, George Garten, Shahbaz Ahmed, Harshal Patel, Mohammad Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal

PBKS - KL Rahul (w/c), Mayank Agarwal, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Sarfaraz Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Moises Henriques, Harpreet Brar, Mohammed Shami, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh.