In the 27th game of the ongoing IPL 2023, Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore locked horns in Mohali. Ahead of the game, the home team, the Kings was coming off a close win against Lucknow Super Giants. On the other hand, the Royal Challengers were coming off an agonizing loss against Chennai Super Kings at home. Meanwhile, in the game, the home team won the toss and elected to bowl first.
However, the Men In Black had a great start as skipper for the game, Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis put together 137 for the first wicket. In the powerplay, they put together 59/0. After the field restrictions were over, both batters slowed down considerably. Not to forget, the ball wasn’t coming on the bat as it got older. Meanwhile, both players scored fifty.
The team ended up getting 174/4 at the end of the innings. For the Mohai-based side, Harpreet Brar took two wickets while Nathan Ellis and Arshdeep Singh took one each.
Punjab Kings had no clue against Royal Challengers Bangalore’s bowling and fielding
In reply, the Red Brigade had a poor start as Mohammed Siraj took out Athrava Taide on the second ball of the chase. Wanindu Hasaranga, who has struggled so far in the tournament, took the wicket of Matthew Short in his first over. Siraj struck again with the wicket of Liam Livingstone in the fourth over.
Things got worse as Harpreet Singh Bhatia was caught napping at the non-striking end by Siraj. Skipper Sam Curran suffered the same fate but against Hasaranga. Prabhsimran Singh (46) held the innings together but couldn’t take it deep. In the end, Jitesh Sharma (41) tried to take his team home. However, the lack of support from the tailenders meant that the team lost the game by 25 runs. They were bowled out for 150 runs.
With this, RCB has now played six games, won three, and lost as many. The same has been the case with the PBKS.
This is how Twitter reacted
Just so happy to see the way @mdsirajofficial is bowling. An indicator of a player's character is to see how he improves and on that front Siraj in T20 has gone to another level.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 20, 2023
Ground fielding has been electric from RCB ? #PBKSvRCB
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) April 20, 2023
The @PunjabKingsIPL batting looks a little fragile … Does anyone know who the batting Coach is @WasimJaffer14 ?? #IPL2023
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) April 20, 2023
Bohat alla Siraj! Putting up one of the best bowling display of his IPL history with pace and accuracy. #PBKSvRCB #IPL
— Syed Ali Imran (@syedaliimran) April 20, 2023
Siraj, the hero.
Captain Kohli is back.
A dream match for RCB. pic.twitter.com/0FLvxjFKgs
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) April 20, 2023
IPL 2023 Points Table – RCB moves to No.5 now. pic.twitter.com/mv2vlBBz43
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) April 20, 2023
RCB under Virat Kohli captaincy:
Matches: 141
Won: 64
Lost: 69
Tied: 3
NR: 4#PBKSvsRCB pic.twitter.com/QXYZeb26m8— Himanshu Pareek (@Sports_Himanshu) April 20, 2023
#RCBvsPBKS #rcbvpbks #PBKSvRCB #pbksvsrcb
Captain Kohli is Back ????#ViratKohli?
Siraj ?????Well played Jithesh #viratkohli #KingKohli pic.twitter.com/13c73L2bfx
— MANDALORIAN (@sampathraj23) April 20, 2023
SamRat! ?
Good game @RCBTweets! ?#PBKSvRCB #JazbaHaiPunjabi #SaddaPunjab #TATAIPL pic.twitter.com/wUTEwwuksw
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) April 20, 2023
Overs – 4
Dot balls – 13
Runs – 21
Wickets – 4
Economy – 5.20Another magical spell from Mohammed Siraj ?#MohammedSiraj #RCB #PBKSvsRCB #IPL2023 #Cricket pic.twitter.com/u97KmzTCDt
— Wisden India (@WisdenIndia) April 20, 2023
