Royal Challengers Bangalore came into the playoffs after winning six matches in a row. On the other hand, Rajasthan Royals’ last win came 5 matches ago. Bengaluru were running, and the ground was slipping from under Rajasthan’s feet. But it was Rajasthan who got the desired victory in the knockout match called Eliminator in Ahmedabad. Had to leave Bangalore. The wait for Virat Kohli and Bengaluru’s IPL title increased a bit.

Rajasthan passed the target of 173 runs set by Bengaluru with 4 wickets and 6 balls to spare. As a result, Rajasthan will play Sunrisers Hyderabad in Chennai in the second qualifier on May 24. The winning team in that match will join Kolkata Knight Riders who have already reached the final.

After losing the toss and going into bat, Bengaluru’s first four batsmen’s innings were pretty much the same—not big in terms of money, not fast. They lost the tournament’s top run-scorer Virat Kohli in the eighth over after captain Faf du Plessis in the powerplay. Cameron Greene and Rajat Patidar put on a 31-ball 41-run partnership in the middle overs, both stopped untimely. At times, Glenn Maxwell’s golden duck also hits

Mahipal played a cameo of 32 off 17 balls towards the end of Lamro. In the end, the team’s highest innings came from Patidar’s bat, who was easily caught by Dhruv Jurel for 7 runs. However, the collection of 172 runs in 20 overs was not at all low in terms of the match. It was the pressure of the knockout match, and the confidence of Rajasthan, who were losing consecutively, should have been at the bottom.

An opening partnership of 46 runs by Yasswi Jaiswal and Tom Koller-Cadmore helped Rajasthan overcome the early nerves. Jaiswal’s innings of 45 runs from 30 balls gave them an early lead. Jaiswal and Sanju Samson’s wickets in consecutive 2 overs, however, put Rajasthan under pressure again.

Jurel and Ryan Parag’s 26-run partnership handled the pressure at that time. But when Jurel was run out by Virat Kohli’s brilliant throw from the leg-side boundary, Bengaluru were re-energized. Shimron Hetmyer came to the crease, earlier in the match who had played only 45 balls in total. That Hetmyer played the important innings. Rajasthan’s equation also became easier in the partnership of 45 runs from 25 balls with Parag.

Mohammad Siraj hit a double in the 18th over – Hetmyer also stopped after Parag. However, Rajasthan still need only 13 runs from 12 balls. Rovman Powell secured Rajasthan’s win in the 19th over bowled by Lockie Ferguson.

Short score

Royal Challengers Bangalore: 172/8 in 20 overs (Patidar 34, Kohli 33, Lamroer 32, Green 27; Avesh 3/44, Ashwin 2/19, Boult 1/16, Chahal 1/43)

Rajasthan Royals: 174/6 in 20 overs (Joiswal 45, Parag 36, Hetmyer 26, Samson 17; Siraj 2/33, Corn 1/19, Green 1/28)