Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) spinner was the pick of the bowlers for the Rajat Patidar-led side in their Qualifier 1 clash against Punjab Kings (PBKS) at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, Chandigarh. He picked up three wickets as the Bengaluru-based franchise bundled out the Shreyas Iyer-led side for just 101 runs.
After RCB's innings, Suyash revealed that none in PBKS were able to read his googlies and they were playing it just like a normal match without taking any pressure. Notably, Suyash picked up Sashank Singh, Musheer Khan and Marcus Stoinis' wicket, conceding 17 runs in three overs
"Just tried to execute the plan by our coach. Was feeling very good today while bowling. No one wasn't able to read my googlies today, that is what I feel. We just tried to treat it as a normal match, never considered as if we are playing a semi-final. I have worked hard on my bowling" said Suyash after 1st inning.
Coming back to the match, PBKS' ultra-aggressive approach backfired on the day as Royal Challengers Bengaluru skittled the home team for 101 in Qualifier 1 of the Indian Premier League.
On a surface where hitting through the line proved to be tricky, the all-out attack strategy of the Punjab Kings contributed to their downfall after they were put in to bat. Their innings lasted just 14.1 overs.
The RCB pace trio of Josh Hazlewood (3/21), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1/17) and Yash Dayal (2/26) exploited the conditions well before leg-spinner Suyash Sharma (3/17) made it worse for the opposition.
The winner of this clash will be the finalist of the mega event and the losing team will have to play Qualifier 2 against the winner of the Eliminator clash, which will take place between Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians on May 30 at the same venue.
RCB vs PBKS playing XIs
Punjab Kings (Playing XI): Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Josh Inglis(w), Shreyas Iyer(c), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Azmatullah Omarzai, Harpreet Brar, Arshdeep Singh, Kyle Jamieson
Punjab Kings Impact Subs: Vijaykumar Vyshak, Praveen Dubey, Suryansh Shedge, Musheer Khan, Xavier Bartlet.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Playing XI): Virat Kohli, Philip Salt, Rajat Patidar(c), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma(w), Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Impact Subs: Mayank Agarawal, Rasikh Salam, Manoj Bhandage, Tim Seifert, Swapnil Singh.