'Royal form continues' - Rajasthan defend 144 to hand Bangalore humiliating loss

Bangalore and Rajasthan locked horns in the 39th game of the Indian T20 League 2022 at the MCA stadium in Pune. After winning the toss, the Men in Red and Black decided to field first. Their decision proved right in the second over of the innings when Mohammed Siraj trapped Devdutt Padikkal (7) lbw. At this stage, Ravichandran Ashwin was promoted up in the batting order.

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He played a little cameo before he was caught and bowled by Siraj after scoring 17 runs off nine balls. In the next over, the Men In Pink and Blue were dealt with the biggest blow. Jos Buttler (8), who has been in red hot form, was caught at mid-on by Siraj off Josh Hazlewood. Skipper Sanju Samson (27) started off brilliantly but he was clean bowled by a googly from Wanindu Hasaranga, leaving Rajasthan reeling at 68-4.

Daryl Mitchell (16) struggled to put bat on ball during his 24-ball stay before he was caught at long-on by Glenn Maxwell off Hazlewood. At 99/5, Riyan Parag (56* off 31) took the team to a fighting total of 144/8. For the three-time finalists, Siraj, Hazlewood, and Hasaranga took two wickets each while Harshal Patel took one. In reply, the Faf du Plessis-led side had a poor start with the bat.

Former skipper Virat Kohli (9) was bounced out by Prasidh Krishna in the second over of the innings. Skipper Du Plessis (23) was playing steadily before he was caught at covers by Buttler off Kuldeep Sen. Sen struck on the very next ball as Maxwell (0) was caught at slips by Padikkal. Rajat Patidar (16) was clean bowled by Ashwin, trying to play the cut shot. Suyash Prabhudesai (2), who came out bat after Patidar's wicket, become the second victim of Ashwin.

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At 66/5, all hopes were on the shoulder of Dinesh Karthik (6) but he was run-out due to a mix-up with Shahbaz Ahmed. Ahmed (17) was next to follow as he became the third victim of Ashwin. Hasaranga hit a few shots but the match was over with the wicket of Karthik. Bangalore were bowled out for 115 and lost the match by 29 runs.

This is how Twitter reacted

Table toppers, Orange cap, purple cap and the domination continues by Rajasthan Royals. #IPL2022

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) April 26, 2022

28% felt #RCB would get bowled out under 120. Well you guys were right #RCBvsRR https://t.co/sE5Ac7As2S

— Monty Panesar (@MontyPanesar) April 26, 2022

Teams can at times be over consumed with bigger players fighting battles with their own demons. Is this what’s happening with @RCBTweets ? #RCBvsRR #RRVSRCB

— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) April 26, 2022

Another team wins batting first and this time they’ve defended 144! The @ParagRiyan show was followed by a brilliant spell of fast bowling by #kuldeepsen and @ashwinravi99 worked his magic in the middle overs to hand #RCB another defeat. #RR are on a roll! #RRVSRCB #IPL2022

— Abhinav Mukund (@mukundabhinav) April 26, 2022

Rajasthani Royal form continues. Even if score is 150 that’s enough for this bowling unit. They are finding a way to take advantage of the pitch which offers a minimal help for bowlers. #kuldeepsen #Ashwin #prasidhkrishna

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) April 26, 2022

Pathetic batting by #RCB. Even worse than the previous match when they were shot out for 68. That was a spicy pitch & SRH’s pacers were splendid. Chasing a modest target today, RCB batters showed neither heart nor head. No plan, poor shots, run outs, tame surrender

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 26, 2022

#RiyanParag fifty was already a fine knock under pressure. But, after the way RCB big names struggled in #RRVSRCB game, his match winning innings became even more special. #CricketTwitter

— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) April 26, 2022

#RajasthanRoyals will be very proud of this win. And I'm afraid this is going to hurt #RCB more than the 68 all out.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 26, 2022

Last over changed the game for #RR 18Runs that Riyan Parag scored gave them the momentum #RRVSRCB pic.twitter.com/NZWEyDcuOU

— Diksha (@Delphy06) April 26, 2022

Big win for @rajasthanroyals great team work.. brilliant from @ParagRiyan proving many wrong including me.More power to you. showing why RR giving him chance after chance ..Top quality bowling #kuldipsen

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) April 26, 2022

Riyan Parag wins his maiden IPL Man Of The Match Award for his brilliant 56* and 4 catches.

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) April 26, 2022