IPL 2024, RCB vs PBKS - 3 Things That Went Wrong For PBKS

Punjab Kings faced their first defeat of IPL 2024 vs RCB (IPLT20.com)Punjab Kings faced their first defeat of IPL 2024 vs RCB (IPLT20.com)

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) staged a remarkable comeback to edge past the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Match 6 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024.

Held at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, this contest was full of ups and downs, marked by exhilarating performances and some critical lapses.

This high-voltage match had its share of twists and turns, culminating in a nail-biting finish that saw RCB chase down a target of 177 set by Punjab Kings with four wickets in hand.

While RCB celebrated their successful chase, Punjab Kings were left to ruminate over what went amiss. Here are three things that went wrong for PBKS vs RCB.

1. Throwing Away Starts

Shikhar Dhawan failed to convert his start into a substantial knock (IPLT20.com)Shikhar Dhawan failed to convert his start into a substantial knock (IPLT20.com)

One of the cardinal sins in cricket, especially in the IPL, is not capitalizing on good starts. This was evident in PBKS's innings, where the batting lineup failed to anchor and accelerate. Captain Shikhar Dhawan set the stage with a promising 45 off 37 deliveries but couldn't escalate his knock into a match-defining innings.

This narrative of "so near yet so far" haunted the entire batting lineup—Prabhsimran Singh with 25 off 17, Liam Livingstone scoring 17 off 13, Sam Curran contributing 23 off 17, and Jitesh Sharma adding 27 off 20 balls—all showed promise but lacked the finishing touch.

In a venue celebrated as a batter's paradise, this collective inability to construct a big innings restricted PBKS to a sub-par 176/6, a score that left them vulnerable and ultimately cost them dearly.


2. Butterfingers and the Cost of Dropped Opportunities

Jonny Bairstow dropped Virat Kohli when he was on zero (Twitter)Jonny Bairstow dropped Virat Kohli when he was on zero (Twitter)

"Catches win matches" is a saying as old as cricket itself, and unfortunately for PBKS, it was a lesson learned the hard way. Virat Kohli, RCB's linchpin, was given two lives early in his innings.

The first drop was by Jonny Bairstow off Sam Curran's bowling at slips on just the second ball of the innings when Kohli was yet to open his account.

Later, there was another miss by Rahul Chahar at mid-wicket when Kohli was well-set at 33. These missed opportunities were not just minor blips but major turning points that allowed Kohli to anchor the chase with a match-turning 77 off 49 balls.

In a match where every run was precious, these dropped catches acted as double-edged swords, bolstering RCB's morale while simultaneously denting PBKS's hopes.

3. Shambolic Death Bowling

PBKS pacer's bowling at the death was dreadful (IPLT20.com)PBKS pacer's bowling at the death was dreadful (IPLT20.com)

PBKS faced the ultimate test of their bowling mettle during the death overs, a phase where precision and nerve control are paramount. Despite engineering a crucial moment by dismissing Virat Kohli on the last ball of the 16th over and Anuj Rawat shortly after, PBKS found themselves in a commanding position with RCB needing a challenging 47 runs from just 22 balls.

With fresh faces Dinesh Karthik and Mahipal Lomror at the crease, the scales seemed tipped in PBKS's favour. However, what unfolded was a classic case of crumbling under pressure, a debacle in the death overs that saw PBKS's bowlers lose their grip on the game.

The art of death bowling seemed lost on PBKS's bowlers as they failed to adhere to the basic tenets of bowling at the end. Sam Curran, kicking off the 17th over, squandered what started as a promising over by leaking 11 runs after delivering two dot balls.

The pattern of profligacy continued with Arshdeep Singh and Harshal Patel, who both conceded 13 runs each in the 18th and 19th overs, respectively. This sequence of events shifted the momentum squarely back to RCB, transforming a once-daunting run chase into a manageable scramble to the finish line.

Entering the final over with 10 runs required, any hopes of a PBKS comeback were quickly dashed as Arshdeep Singh's first delivery was dispatched for a six, followed by a wide and then a decisive four, sealing a remarkable victory for RCB with four balls to spare.