RCB unexpectedly displays excellent bowling to pummel SRH into submission, match 41 analysis

In an unexpected turnaround victory, RCB pummeled SRH into submission as they defended a total of 206/7, which was supposed to be below par for Hyderabad, given their batting strength. However, RCB’s bowlers stepped up and performed astonishingly well to restrict SRH to a meagre 171/8, with Cameron Green and Karn Sharma bowling superb spells, with Karn picking up the crucial wicket of Abdul Samad. Swapnil Singh was expensive but picked two important wickets as well, also smashing in the last over of RCB’s innings to help them post 206/7.

𝗦𝗡𝗔𝗣𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗧𝗦: 𝗦𝗥𝗛 𝘃𝘀 𝗥𝗖𝗕 ⚔

📸 from our victory against the most in form batters of the tournament! This is the confidence booster our boys needed! ❤️#PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB #IPL2024 #SRHvRCB pic.twitter.com/7IpB7pFx4n

— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) April 26, 2024

SRH’s batsman seemed rather frustrated and impatient as they were trying to smash each ball hastily to put up a video game chase like their previous performances of 277/3, 287/3 and 266/7. However, the law of averages struck them dismally as they lost wickets in quick succession despite maintaining a high run rate. Pat Cummins being aggressive while not throwing his wicket gave SRH a glimmer of hope, and his unexpected cameo of 31 off 15 was reminiscent of another of his surprise attack innings of 56 off 15 against MI which comes rarely and it also came in a situation where his team seemed dead and buried. Even in this match, it seemed like he would lift his team’s position and snatch a seemingly impossible victory once again, however when he fall, SRH’s all hopes were doomed as Shahbaz Ahmed failed to play in blitzkrieg mode which was required for victory.

RCB started by dismissing the deadly Travis Head, then Abhishek Sharma after his short aggressive knock. Abdul Samad was dismissed in a bizarre manner as he stepped out to smash the ball but checked his stroke last moment when it was too late and got out in a rather cowardly fashion.

RCB started their innings well as Virat Kohli and skipper du plessis played aggressively. However, du plessis fell and kohli slowed down in scoring, with Will Jacks failing to score. However, Rajat Patidar’s blitzkrieg innings provided RCB a boost, and despite Dinesh Karthik failing to fire, Cameron Green and Swapnil Singh helped RCB cross the 200 run mark.

RCB’s rather mediocre and out-of-form bowling attack did a spectacular job at defeating the strongest batting lineup this IPL. In the analysis of the last match between the two teams, I mentioned how 287/3 is a result of the strongest batting lineup facing the weakest bowling attack. However, the same bowling dismantled this batting lineup phenomenally in this one. This could also be a result of the supposed law of averages,

RCB have finally got their second win of the season. Although qualifying seems near to impossible for them, they would definitely want to keep at it and at least win as many matches as possible to end the season on a high. Meanwhile, SRH would want to bounce back to their usual blitzkrieg batting ways to dominate their opponents and not lose wickets in an attempt to play aggressively and hastily. However, their bowling has been very expensive this season and they need to work on improving and covering this weak spot as it could hurt them later in the season. However, they have won 5 out of 8 matches so far and are rather close to qualifying for the play-offs. They would want to get back and continue on winning ways to seal their spot in the knockouts and give it a shot at a third title as they have the potential, especially in their batting lineup.

Match Scorecard

Batting : Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Batting : Sunrisers Hyderabad