RCB snatch thrilling win over MI to end 10-year Wankhede drought

Royal Challengers Bengaluru returned to winning ways as they toppled Mumbai Indians in a thrilling run-fest at the Wankhede. With both the teams gunning for a return to the victorious ways, it was a battle of two contingents willing to squeeze out their hearts and souls.

In the all-important fixture, Mumbai Indians won the toss and opted to field first. RCB decided to keep their winning combination from the first two games intact. Put to bat, RCB were jolted to a rude awakening. Despite dispatching Trent Boult for an exquisite cover drive on the first ball, Phil Salt was sent packing on the very next ball.

Salt’s departure, however, did very little to dampen the spirits of RCB as Virat Kohli was joined by impact player Devdutt Padikkal, which saw the visitors turning the tide around. Kohli (67) and Padikkal (37) added 91 runs for the second wicket, laying down the platform for a grandstand flourish in the second half of the innings.

After a roller-coaster partnership, Padikkal’s ultra-aggressive run came to an end as Vignesh Puthur got the better of him. Kohli was joined by Rajat Patidar then and the duo continued the same note of truculence, whacking the bowlers into all corners of the park.

Kohli was finally undone by Hardik Pandya but by then Rajat Patidar had already found his foothold and he showed no relent whatsoever. Patidar blasted 64 off just 32 balls, hammering five fours and four sixes before Trent Boult could see the back of him.

Patidar found a solid partner in Jitesh Sharma who smashed 40 off just 19 balls, staying unbeaten till the very end. RCB totted up 221/5 at the end of their 20 overs, recovering from that unfortunate slump which they were caught in against Gujarat Titans in the preceding battle.

With a monumental total to shoot down, Mumbai Indians did get off to a flyer as Rohit Sharma (17) spewed embers up front. However, Yash Dayal came back with a bang as he breached through the defences of the Hitman. Ryan Rickelton (17) and Will Jacks (22) couldn’t add much to the resistance of MI. Hazlewood got the better of Rickelton while Will Jacks was removed by Krunal Pandya.

To make matters worse, Suryakumar Yadav (28), who was just starting to get the big shots in the mix got two mishits in a single over. The first one was dropped when Yash Dayal and Jitesh Sharma ran into each other with no communication at all. The second one though was comfortably pouched by Liam Livingstone as MI was reduced to 99/4.

Much to the shock of RCB, Mumbai fought back strongly, riding high on the duo of Hardik Pandya (42) and Tilak Varma (56). The partnership added 89 runs from just 34 balls, threatening to take the game away from RCB at one point in time. However, the RCB bowlers were not willing to give in. Bhuvneshwar Kumar produced the all-important breakthrough in the form of Tilak Varma while Josh Hazlewood chimed in with the crucial scalp of Hardik Pandya, compelling MI into a very uncomfortable corner.

With Naman Dhir still in the center and 19 needed in the last over, MI stood a realistic chance of winning the game. However, a masterclass from Krunal Pandya got the wheels in flight for RCB as he removed Santner, Naman Dhir and Deepak Chahar in the same over to register a four-fer and give RCB a thrilling 12-run win. Rajat Patidar won the Player of the Match award for his scintillating knock while RCB breached Wankhede after a staggering gap of 10 years.