IPL 2022 | RCB vs GT | Kohli canes Titans as Bangalore get another day to tell a tale

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) trumped table-toppers Gujarat Titans in a must-win game at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium on Thursday, May 19. Former skipper Virat Kohli returned to form to find himself at the hub of his side's eight-wicket win with another run-chase perfection.

Earlier, GT captain Hardik Pandya won the toss and opted to bat first. Leading from the front, he struck a whirlwind 62* off just 47 balls in an inning with four boundaries and three soaring sixes. South African international David Miller and opening batter Wriddhiman Saha played supporting roles with a 34 and 31, respectively. At the same time, all-rounder Rashid Khan provided the finishing touches to the innings with a murderous 6-ball 19*.  

The Titans eventually posted 168-5 off their 20 overs, thus recovering from an unsteady start. RCB's three internationals, namely Wanindu Hasaranga, Glenn Maxwell and Josh Hazlewood, accounted for all of the Titans' wickets that fell in the evening.

Hasaranga also kept the GT's scoring rate under check, claiming David Miller while giving away just 25 runs from his four overs. In doing so, the Sri Lankan wizard also reclaimed the Purple Cap, equaling Yuzvendra Chahal's tournament haul of 24 wickets.

Virat Kohli packs 73 punches, humbles table-toppers

Virat Kohli registered his second half-century of the season, belting the GT bowlers on his way to an imperial 73 from 54 balls. He was also adjudged as the 'Player of the Match' for his match-winning spectacle. The former skipper and current leader Faf du Plessis combined forces to form a 115-run opening stand before the latter fell to Rashid Khan's flighted stock delivery.

Glenn Maxwell, at number 3, arrived at the crease with the scoreboard reading 115 from 14.3 overs. Then, with another 54 runs to get from 33 balls, the burly Australian all-rounder smeared 40 from just 18 balls. He also struck the finishing blow by clubbing his Trans-Tasman rival Lockie Ferguson with back-to-back boundaries.

RCB's 8-wicket win over GT also puts them back into the IPL 2022 playoffs reckoning, at least for another couple of days. Faf du Plessis and co. will now hope that Rishabh Pant's Delhi Capitals lose out to struggling Mumbai Indians this Saturday at the same venue in their last league game of the season.

As of now, the RCB sits comfortably at number 4 on the points table, with teams like GT and Lucknow Super Giants having already booked their playoffs tickets earlier. RCB's win knocked Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad out of the playoffs race. The two teams were within the mathematical range to qualify for the top four before the RCB vs GT game.

Brief Scores:

Gujarat Titans 168-5 (20 overs)

Hardik Pandya 62* (47), David Miller 34 (25);
Josh Hazlewood 2/39 (4), Wanindu Hasaranga 1/25 (4)

Royal Challengers Bangalore 170-2 (18.4 overs)

Virat Kohli 73 (54), Faf du Plessis 44 (38);
Rashid Khan 2/32 (4)

Royal Challengers Bangalore won by eight wickets.