Relief washed over Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) after their dominant 35-run victory against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in their IPL 2024 clash on Thursday, April 25. This win snapped their demoralising six-game losing streak and reignited a sliver of hope for a playoff berth, although the road ahead remains incredibly challenging. Despite the uphill battle, the win itself was a cause for celebration, especially for star player Virat Kohli. Kohli, who crossed the 50-run mark, seemed genuinely happy to see the losing streak come to an end.
As Yash Dayal delivered the final ball of the SRH chase, Virat Kohli erupted in laughter as he congratulated the young pacer. A sense of relief and joy finally perched on his face, marking the end of RCB's losing rut. Kohli played a crucial role in setting up the win with his 51 runs, helping RCB post a competitive total of 206/7 while batting first. The bowlers then took over, dismantling the SRH top order and securing a convincing victory.
Here's how Virat Kohli reacted after RCB's win
Faf du Plessis' comments during the post-match ceremony perfectly captured the jubilant mood that had swept through the RCB camp after their victory
"Will sleep easier tonight. You can't speak confidence into the group, can't fake confidence into the group. Only thing that gives confidence is performances. The competition is so strong, the teams are so strong that you'll get hurt if you're not at 100 percent. More guys scoring runs now. First half of the tournament only Virat was scoring runs. Greeny scoring runs now will be massive for him," RCB skipper said at the post-match ceremony.
"We know that Chinnaswamy, that's been a big frustration for us. It's a difficult ground to bowl at. We've tried to find a recipe for it, but it's tough," he added.
While Royal Challengers Bangalore secured a much-needed win against Sunrisers Hyderabad, their overall position remains precarious. RCB sits firmly at the bottom of the points table with just two wins in nine matches, amassing only four points. In contrast, SRH, despite the loss, finds itself comfortably placed in third position with five wins, three losses, and a total of 10 points.
Batting first, Royal Challengers Bangalore managed a competitive total of 206/7 in their 20 overs. Virat Kohli anchored the innings with a 51 off 43 balls, but it was Rajat Patidar's explosive 20-ball 50 that provided the real impetus. Cameron Green also chipped in with a valuable unbeaten 37 off just 20 deliveries. Despite their efforts, RCB remain rooted to the bottom of the points table.
Their next test comes against Gujarat Titans (GT) in Ahmedabad on Sunday, April 28. It will be interesting to see whether RCB can string together some wins and keep boosting their playoff berth, which looks like an uphill task.
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