Indian Premier League (IPL 2024) match 45 saw the Gujarat Titans (GT) host Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). The Royals, who are currently competing for playoff spots, soundly defeated the 2022 champions at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
RCB chose to bowl first after winning the toss. As the RCB bowlers gave up 200 or more runs for the 28th time in IPL history, the home team managed a respectable total. GT’s outstanding innings were propelled by half-centuries from Shahrukh Khan and Sai Sudharsan.
The best scorer in the tournament, Virat Kohli, continued the momentum that the RCB captain had started with while chasing a target of 201 runs. When Will Jacks activated his beast mode, GT was completely taken aback. On the last ball of the innings, the Englishman scored his first IPL century in just 41 balls. Despite their two consecutive victories, RCB remains at the bottom of the points table.
Also read: IPL 2024: Gujarat Titans’ 1st inning Highlights against RCB in Match 45
IPL 2024: Match 45: Highlight of GT vs. RCB’s second innings
First wicket: 3.5 overs, RCB 40-1
In the fourth over, captain Faf du Plessis (24 off 12) was lost, causing RCB to suffer an early blow. Shubman Gill made the wise decision to include left-arm spinner Sai Kishore in the attack early on after the Proteas batter had a fast start against the pace bowlers. When Du Plessis attempted a lofted shot and was unable to clear the fielder in the deep, Vijay Shankar easily collected the ball.
First Powerplay and Strategic Timeout: Overs 0.1 to 6.0 (Mandatory: 63 runs, 1 wicket)
While Sandeep Warrier, GT’s impact substitute, gave up 15 runs in the second over, Azmatullah Omarzai gave them a solid opening. The Afghan bowler was unable to sustain his momentum and gave up 17 runs in the third over, despite du Plessis hitting the ball clean.
The RCB captain set the visitors up for success with a brilliant start, and Virat Kohli’s 14 off four balls in the sixth over made sure the powerplay would finish on a positive note. This was the first strategic time-out signalling by the on-field umpire.
32-ball fifty for Virat Kohli marks his half-century.
While du Plessis was dominating at the other end of the ball, Virat Kohli’s innings got off to a poor start. But when he lost his opening partner, the former captain of the RCB changed course. After reaching 14 off 14 balls at one point, Kohli finished his half-century in the next 18 deliveries in the tenth over’s last ball.
100 runs in 10.2 overs (62 balls) by Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Leading scorer Virat Kohli finished with his fourth fifty-plus score in IPL history against GT. With a single off Mohit Sharma in the eleventh over, the right-hander raised the team’s score to 100. He also finished off a 50-run partnership with Will Jacks, who proceeded more slowly.
Strategic Timeout 2: Virat Kohli (66* off 41), Will Jacks (37* off 25) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (134/1 in 13 overs)
Will Jacks joined the party after the second inning’s first half. The English all-rounder smacked Mohit Sharma in the eleventh over for a four and a six. In the subsequent over against Virat Kohli, Noor Ahmed gave up the identical outcome. Before teams broke for a break, Sai Kishore delivered a wonderfully matched 13th over, but Jacks hit the final ball into the stands.
150 runs in 14.1 overs (85 balls) by Royal Challengers Bengaluru
As he proceeded to destroy the GT bowlers all around the field, Will Jacks gradually stole the show from Kohli. From 16 off 16 to 44 off 29 balls, he reached his half-century mark in the fifteenth over with a first-ball boundary. That hit also enabled RCB to surpass 150 runs scored.
RCB wins and Will Jacks gets a hundred.
206/1 in 16 overs, Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Amazing work by Will Jacks and RCB. The visitors completed the equation in just 12 balls, using 53 balls out of 36. Jacks wrecked havoc in those 11 balls to demolish Virat Kohli’s maiden IPL century. In the final two overs, Kohli faced just one ball. After Rashid Khan delivered an over that cost 31 runs, the 15th over saw 29 runs scored. With four overs remaining and nine wickets in hand, RCB successfully chased down the 201-run goal.
India
