Faf Du Plessis and Glenn Maxwell's made-in-heaven partnership continues in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL). Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) took on Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday (April 23). RCB got off to a jittery start as their stand-in skipper Virat Kohli was out for a golden duck in the very first ball of the match off Trent Boult's over. But RCB's regular captain Du Plessis, who came only to bat, paired up with Glenn Maxwell and not only steadied RCB's boat but also took RR bowlers to cleaners. On Sunday, the dazzling duo of Maxwell and Du Plessis crushed their own record of highest partnership for the third wicket for RCB in IPL history that they set six days earlier against Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
Du Plessis-Maxwell combined to weave a partnership of 126 for third wicket against CSK in Bengaluru. Six days later, in the match against RR, the dapper duo stitched together a 127-run partnership for the third wicket and broke their own record.
While Maxwell belted 77 off 44 riding on six fours and four sixes, Du Plessis cracked 62 off 39 which was decorated with eight fours and two maximums to help RCB post a daunting total of 189/9.
Maxwell-Du Plessis' new record of 127-run stand is the 15th highest for RCB for any wicket in the IPL. After losing two early wickets in the form of Kohli and Shahbaz Ahmed, Maxwell-Du Plessis took up the charge and rescued RCB from a precarious 12/2. While Kohli crashed for 0(0), Shahbaz perished 2 (4). However, Du Plessis got run out by Yashasvi Jaiswal in the 14th over and returned to pavilion after scoring 62. Maxwell's stay at the crease was also halted by R Ashwin in the 15th over after his lightning 62. Du Plessis also completed his 9000 runs in T20s and became the ninth fastest batter to notch this feat.
Earlier, RR skipper Sanju Samson won the toss and opted to bowl first.
“It was pretty easy to choose, we'd have batted first. This wicket looks dry and it will get drier and might break up first. I didn't say that to Sanju, but I'm very happy to bat first. We both get to do what we wanted. They informed me last time saying I might have to captain a couple of games, nothing I'm not used to doing. So I'm happy to step in, ready to continue from whatever Faf has been doing. The team has responded well, we are playing with a lot of energy and that showed in the last game. One change for us, Wayne Parnell is out and he will be replaced by David Willey. Faf continues to play as an impact sub,” RCB stand-in skipper Kohli said after the toss.
“We'll bowl first. Looking at the conditions, our side and their side. So we'd prefer bowling. The dressing room is simple, honest and we need to respect the way we are playing. We are starting with the same XI, might add someone later on,” RR captain Samson said after winning the toss.
Rajasthan Royals (Playing XI): Jos Buttler, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson(w/c), Devdutt Padikkal, Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jason Holder, Trent Boult, Sandeep Sharma, Yuzvendra Chahal
RR subs: Donavon Ferreira, M Ashwin, Akash Vasisht, KM Asif and Abdul Basith.
Royal Challengers Bangalore (Playing XI): Virat Kohli(c), Faf du Plessis, Mahipal Lomror, Glenn Maxwell, Shahbaz Ahmed, Dinesh Karthik(w), Suyash Prabhudessai, David Willey, Wanindu Hasaranga, Mohammed Siraj, Vijaykumar Vyshak
RCB subs: Harshal Patel, Finn Allen, Akash Deep, Karn Sharma and Anuj Rawat.
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