Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are facing a rough patch in the 2024 IPL season. They've lost their last five matches in a row, bringing their total wins to a mere one out of eight games played.
RCB's flop show in IPL 2024
RCB's dismal performance in IPL 2024has them languishing at the bottom of the league table, with their hopes of reaching the playoffs fading. This could mark another year of disappointment for RCB fans, despite them being one of the most passionate fan bases in the league. Interestingly, RCB are one of only two teams remaining from the inaugural IPL season in 2008 that haven't yet lifted the trophy, the other being the Punjab Kings. Despite their title-less journey in IPL, RCB has managed to reach the finals on three occasions, the most recent being in 2016. However, their first foray into the finals came all the way back in 2009, which was only the second season of the league and the only one played outside of India, held in South Africa.
Legendary Indian spinner Anil Kumble led the RCB charge in that 2009 final against the now-defunct Deccan Chargers, captained by former Aussie wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist. A young Virat Kohli, just 20 years old back then (and future RCB captain from 2013-2021), was part of the playing eleven, batting at number 6. The Chargers' batting line-up also featured a fresh-faced Rohit Sharma (now the joint-most successful IPL captain) at number 5. The Chargers set a target of only 144 runs after their innings, thanks to a masterful bowling display by Kumble himself, who scalped 4 crucial wickets for just 16 runs. However, RCB faltered in the chase, and Kumble, in a later conversation with Ravichandran Ashwin on YouTube, revealed that he still feels they missed a golden opportunity to win the IPL title that year.
RCB's loss in IPL 2009 final still haunts Anil Kumble
“(I remember) lots of things (from the game). All the missed chances that we had, a couple of chances went abegging, wides, no balls. PK (Praveen Kumar) bowled five wides, sort of cost us the game. I know even then 143 should have been chased down,” says Kumble in the video.
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The tension mounted as RCB needed just 15 runs to clinch the title with only the final over remaining. Anil Kumble, the captain and bowling hero earlier in the match, stood at the crease facing RP Singh. Robin Uthappa was his teammate at the other end. It was Kumble's first batting appearance of the match, and while he managed to avoid getting dismissed on the first ball, the pressure seemed to get to Uthappa. He could not connect with the following two deliveries, leaving RCB in a precarious situation.
“Whenever I see Robin Uthappa even now, I say Robs, that six. You should have hit that six. At least you should have given me the strike. I kept begging him to not look to scoop. RP was bowling that last over and the first ball Robs looks to scoop. I said Robs he is not going to let you scoop, look to slog, he is going to bowl length. Again third ball he tries to scoop, I said Robs, enough! Give me the strike I'll look to slog and maybe something can happen but eventually we lost by six runs. Whenever I see Robs I say, that six,” added Kumble.
Ashwin, who was in a fit of laughter, replied by saying:
"You are a cruel man Anil bhai."
"I am, only in this regard because you remember that. And since RCB hasn't won since then you look back and think that we missed an opportunity there," Kumble signed off.
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Cut to IPL 2024, RCB are on verge of elimination as they are sitting at the bottom of the points table with just one win in a total of eight matches. The only positive for the Bengaluru-based side is their superstar batter Virat Kohli, who has been oozing runs and has so far amassed 379 runs riding on a brilliant century and is currently the holder of the coveted Orange Cap. RCB are now gearing up to take on formidable Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on April 25 in a must-win encounter.
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