In the reverse fixture between Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore, the Red Army won by 112 runs. Batting first, the visitors, RCB amassed 171/5 after the likes of skipper Faf du Plessis, and Glenn Maxwell scored a half-century each. Apart from them, Anuj Rawat played a cameo to take the team over par score on a dry wicket at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur.
In reply, the 2008 winners, the Royals were bowled out for 59 runs, the third-lowest team in the history of the league. Notably, in the 2009 season, they were bowled for one run less against the same side. The lowest team total is 49 all-out, a record made by RCB in 2017 against Kolkata Knight Riders. Meanwhile, in a video uploaded on YouTube by RCB, Virat Kohli can be heard saying had he bowled, RR would have been bowled out for 40 runs.
Watch the video here
However, the fans were quick to remind the former India skipper about his nightmare against Albie Morkel. For the unversed, in the 2012 season, Kohli came to bowl in the penultimate over during a game against Chennai Super Kings. At the time, the home team, CSK needed 44 runs. However, Morkel smashed Kohli for 28 runs and won the game for his side.
This is how Twitter reacted
Acha mereko aise bowler chaiye ? pic.twitter.com/R6mHnnBXz7
— jetha hi?ler ? (@sterns_haschen) May 15, 2023
I have seen live that match.
Some one from management advised to give Kohli that over.
28 Runs morkel.
But now Virat has more than 25000 international runs with 75 international Centuries.— CMA Monesh (@Cmamonesh) May 15, 2023
— Abhishek (@MSDianAbhiii) May 15, 2023
Yeah sure he should have bowled? pic.twitter.com/iIdZBjA2bK
— Pooh (@ThodaYehThodaWo) May 15, 2023
Would have been an easy win for us then pic.twitter.com/DI26nIrQhx
— Rajasthani Bateman (@rohit_san13) May 15, 2023
— Himanshu Raj (@IMHimanshu_Raj) May 15, 2023
— wajith.sm (@sm_wajith) May 15, 2023
Hetmyer bhi Albie Morkal jaisa he treatment deta ??
— Rodony ? (@Rodony_) May 15, 2023
Royal Challengers Bangalore improved their Net Run Rate
Meanwhile, ahead of the game, the three-time finalists needed to win by 109 runs or more had they batted to get past the Royals’ NRR. Before the game, the Royal Challengers’ NRR was (-0.345). After amassing 171, they need to bowl out RR for 62 runs at least to get past the former champions’ NRR. As it turned out, the Faf Du Plessis-led side managed to bowl out RR for 59.
With this, they have gone past the likes of Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings in terms of NRR as they both can get to either 16 or more than 16 points. Teams such as Delhi Capitals, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Rajasthan Royals don’t have much chance of reaching the knockouts.
