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Tag: RCB

  • Royal Challengers Bangalore want me to do same role I have for Australia: Glenn Maxwell

    By ANI

    SHARJAH: Australia batter Glenn Maxwell has revealed that Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) always wanted him to do the same role he has for his country while batting.

    Maxwell’s knock of 57 runs off just 33 balls helped RCB defeat Punjab Kings by 6 runs at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Sunday. With this win, Kohli’s side sealed its qualification for the playoffs.

    “Not much has been different, came at a nice time out to bat, took a bit of time to assess the conditions, got away with the first couple of risks that I took and then started off. A bit of clarity, I think I have been clear in my mind over the last couple of seasons in the IPL as well as professional cricket. I have found a nice bit of rhythm. Batting at 4, sometimes it’s not the easiest position to bat – but the openers gave us an ideal set-up, took a bit of time to understand the wicket,” Maxwell told host broadcaster Star Sports at the post-match presentation.

    “This is something I have had with Australia for a long period of time (a clarity in the role), this is perhaps why I have had success over there. Coming into RCB, they wanted me to do the same type of role. Really enjoyable to come into the dressing room and not make too many changes. This Sharjah wicket is the toughest to adjust, the ball skidded through, unlike at the other venues where the ball held up and gave you some time to go onto the back-foot. Once you get used to it, the more time you spend, the easier it gets,” he added.

    Maxwell’s firing fifty was followed by a spirited bowling performance by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) as they defeated Punjab Kings (PBKS).

    For RCB, Yuzvendra Chahal scalped two wickets while Shahbaz Ahmed and George Garton returned with one piece. Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul scored innings of 57 and 39 respectively for Punjab.

    RCB will next square off against SunRisers Hyderabad at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

  • Royal Challengers Bangalore win toss, opt to bat first against Punjab Kings 

    By PTI

    SHARJAH: Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli won the toss and elected to bat in their Indian Premier League game against Punjab Kings here on Sunday.

    RCB have decided to field an unchanged XI from their last game against Rajasthan Royals.

    Punjab Kings made three changes from their game against Kolkata Knight Riders, Harpreet Brar, Sarfaraz Khan and Moises Henriques coming in for Fabian Allen, Deepak Hooda and Nathan Ellis.

    Teams: Royal Challengers Bangalore: Virat Kohli(c), Devdutt Padikkal, Srikar Bharat(w), Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers, Daniel Christian, George Garton, Shahbaz Ahmed, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal

    Punjab Kings: KL Rahul (capt & wk), Mayank Agarwal, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Sarfaraz Khan, Shahrukh Khan, Moises Henriques, Harpreet Brar, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh.

  • Maxwell, Chahal star in RCB’s passage into IPL play-off with 6-run win over Punjab Kings

    By PTI

    SHARJAH: Glenn Maxwell smashed 57 and then Yuzvendra Chahal spun a web around Punjab Kings as they once again bungled a chase allowing Royal Challengers Bangalore book a play-off berth with a six-run victory in an IPL game on Sunday.

    Maxwell’s 34-ball-57 propelled Punjab Kings to 164 for 7 which is the highest team total in Sharjah this season and then Chahal owned the middle-overs with another game-changing spell of 3/29 which saw KL Rahul’s team finish at 158 for 6.

    With 16 points from 12 games, RCB thus became the third team after Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals to make it to the last four stage.

    Punjab Kings with 10 points from 13 games can reach 12 points but with a net run-rae of -0.

    241 and having played one match more than Rajasthan Royals (10 points), Mumbai Indians (10 points) and KKR (10 points before evening game), they are all but out of the competition.

    It was another close match that Punjab Kings couldn’t finish off and their skipper Rahul needs to take a lot of responsibility as his 39 off 35 balls did more damage than help to his teams cause.

    Match after match, Rahul has been taking the game deep and then frittering away the advantage after which, the below-par middle-order of Punjab Kings, arguably the worst in this edition is bungling up big time.

    Punjab Kings were 91 for no loss in the 11th over before Rahul’s indiscreet shot selection trying to hit left-arm spinner Sahbaz Ahmed against turn changed the course of the match.

    His opening partner Mayank Agarwal (57 off 42 balls) was more attacking but was fooled by Chahal’s cleve variation of pace as he top edged a sweep shot.

    Nicholas Pooran (less than 100 runs in 11 games) probab;y is the luckiest player to get one chance after the other and played another rash sweep shot off a tossed up Chahal delivery and a distinctly overweight Sarfaraz Khan, was fooled by a conventional leg-break.

    Punjab needed 27 runs from the last two overs and Mohammed Siraj (0/33 in 4 overs) bowled an impressive penultimate over to bring down the equation to 19 runs off the final over and Harshal Patel (0/27 in 4 overs) defended well by taking the pace off his deliveries.

    Earlier, Glenn Maxwell’s six-hitting prowess was on display as his 33-ball 57 propelled Royal Challengers Bangalore to a challenging 164 for 7 in their Indian Premier League game against Punjab Kings here on Sunday.

    Opting to bat, RCB suffered a middle order collapse after openers Devdutt Padikkal (40; 38 balls, 4×4; 2×6) and Virat Kohli (25; 24 balls, 2×4; 1×6) added 68 runs for the first wicket.

    But Maxwell, who is in the midst of one of his best IPL seasons, hit four sixes and three fours, to complete 50 off 29 balls.

    He and AB De Villiers (23 off 18 balls; 1×4; 2×6), the two best T20 batters, conjured 73 runs for the fourth wicket and brought their side back on track.

    Kohli started with a four, while Padikkal hammered Arshdeep Singh (0/42 in 3 overs) for a back-to-back six, over deep mid-wicket and a boundary, an elegant cut, in the third over, in which RCB fetched 13 runs.

    Padikkal then launched into leggie Ravi Bishnoi (0/35 in 4 overs), striking two boundaries, in similar fashion, over his head.

    Kohli, who got a reprieve in the fifth over as young Sarfaraz Khan, dropped a tough chance at short-mid wicket, then was in his element.

    The duo tore into the Punjab Kings attack, as they raced to 55/0 after Powerplay.

    In the eight over, Padikkal was given not out, despite a wiggle, which was seen off his glove, by the third umpire, off Bishnoi.

    But Punjab pegged back RCB by picking three quick wickets, all by Moises Henriques (3/12 in 4 overs).

    He first cleaned up Kohli and off the next ball forced Dan Christian, to give a regulation catch to Sarfaraz Khan.

    Henriques then dismissed Padikkal, who nicked one to Rahul, as RCB was tottering at 73/3.

    Maxwell then too charge and took theteam past 160-run mark.

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  • ‘He explained how can I do well’: RR opener Jaiswal hoping for big scores after talk with Kohli

    By PTI

    ABU DHABI: Struggling to convert his starts into big scores in the ongoing IPL, young Rajasthan Royals opener Yashasvi Jaiswal is hoping for a change in fortunes after a post-match conversation with India and Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli.

    Following their seven-wicket loss to RCB on Wednesday, several Royals youngsters, including Jaiswal, had a long conversation with Kohli.

    “I wanted to know how to make it big. That was what I was talking about with Virat bhaiya, like how to make it effective and how can I help my team,” the 19-year-old said in a video posted by Rajasthan Royals.

    “He explained in a really nice way about how can I do well and improve. He also said about how can I be positive all the time and play little more. ” The left-handed opener has often failed to capitalise on his starts.

    He has scores of 31, 36, 5 and season’s best of 49 in the last four matches in the IPL.

    “I’m not doing what I really want to do. It’s good that I’m getting starts, I want to convert them into big scores whenever I get chance again. I need to work all the time and i need to know how to make it big.”

    Currently lying at seventh spot with four wins from 11 matches, Rajasthan Royals need to win all their remaining matches to stay in contention for a playoff berth.

    They face table-toppers Chennai Super Kings in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

    “Yes, CSK have done really well but we have learnt from our mistakes. We are really confident to win the next matches,” he said about their match,” Jaiswal said.

    “Sometime it’s your day, sometime it’s not. We are confident, we will do what we can control. ” Having had the chance to train during the off-season, Jaiswal utilised the Royals’ state-of-the-art facilities in Nagpur and he said he’s now an improved cricketer.

    “I’ve done a lot during this time and I’m really thankful for RR to provide me the facility. I was there for two months and had conversation with every coaches. 

    “We were having practice and so many different stuff there. I think that was a really, really good time to improve my skills. I would say that is the only thing what I’ve done. I worked really hard in Nagpur.”

    Jaiswal also had a chat with iconic Sachin Tendulkar before representing Mumbai against Oman in a one-day series.

    “I’ve spoken about my cricket, after these hard work and practice, I’m quite confident. I know that I’ve prepared well for these games and I’m happy,” he said.

  • ‘I was talking with him about…’: RR opener Jaiswal hoping for big scores after talk with Kohli

    By PTI

    ABU DHABI: Struggling to convert his starts into big scores in the ongoing IPL, young Rajasthan Royals opener Yashasvi Jaiswal is hoping for a change in fortunes after a post-match conversation with India and Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli.

    Following their seven-wicket loss to RCB on Wednesday, several Royals youngsters, including Jaiswal, had a long conversation with Kohli.

    “I wanted to know how to make it big. That was what I was talking about with Virat bhaiya, like how to make it effective and how can I help my team,” the 19-year-old said in a video posted by Rajasthan Royals.

    “He explained in a really nice way about how can I do well and improve. He also said about how can I be positive all the time and play little more. ” The left-handed opener has often failed to capitalise on his starts.

    He has scores of 31, 36, 5 and season’s best of 49 in the last four matches in the IPL.

    “I’m not doing what I really want to do. It’s good that I’m getting starts, I want to convert them into big scores whenever I get chance again. I need to work all the time and i need to know how to make it big.”

    Currently lying at seventh spot with four wins from 11 matches, Rajasthan Royals need to win all their remaining matches to stay in contention for a playoff berth.

    They face table-toppers Chennai Super Kings in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

    “Yes, CSK have done really well but we have learnt from our mistakes. We are really confident to win the next matches,” he said about their match,” Jaiswal said.

    “Sometime it’s your day, sometime it’s not. We are confident, we will do what we can control. ” Having had the chance to train during the off-season, Jaiswal utilised the Royals’ state-of-the-art facilities in Nagpur and he said he’s now an improved cricketer.

    “I’ve done a lot during this time and I’m really thankful for RR to provide me the facility. I was there for two months and had conversation with every coaches. 

    “We were having practice and so many different stuff there. I think that was a really, really good time to improve my skills. I would say that is the only thing what I’ve done. I worked really hard in Nagpur.”

    Jaiswal also had a chat with iconic Sachin Tendulkar before representing Mumbai against Oman in a one-day series.

    “I’ve spoken about my cricket, after these hard work and practice, I’m quite confident. I know that I’ve prepared well for these games and I’m happy,” he said.

  • IPL 2021: KS Bharat genuine top-class batter, says RCB teammate Glenn Maxwell

    By ANI

    DUBAI: After registering a seven-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) all-rounder Glenn Maxwell praised Srikar Bharat, calling him ‘genuine top-class’ batter.

    Chasing 150, Glenn Maxwell and Srikar Bharat scored 50 and 44 respectively as RCB defeated Rajasthan Royals by seven wickets with 17 balls to spare. With this win, RCB consolidated its position at the third spot with 14 points from 11 games.

    “I thought we played really well. They got off to an absolute flier and to bring them back in the last 10 overs was outstanding, then we controlled the tempo of the innings and finished it off. I have felt good since coming here, got myself into a nice routine at training and outside of training as well, just feel like it is really clicking for me. I don’t suppose it (the atmosphere) is different to any other franchise, just what we have created as a group,” Maxwell told host broadcaster Star Sports after the game ended.

    ALSO READ | My job is to provide good base for finishers like AB de Villiers, Maxwell: RCB’s KS Bharat 

    Earlier, Harshal Patel’s three-wicket haul helped RCB restrict Rajasthan Royals to 149/9 in the allotted twenty overs. For Sanju Samson’s side, Evin Lewis top-scored with a knock of 58 runs from 37 balls. Yuzvendra Chahal was adjudged as Man of the Match for his two-wicket haul.

    “It is nice to have a bunch of guys doing different things and not relying on one guy. Everyone is chipping in and it has been a really enjoyable group so far. I wouldn’t call it an experiment, he’s (Bharat) a genuine top-class batter and the way he has gone about his innings is outstanding,” he added.

    RCB will next square off against Punjab Kings on Sunday in the ongoing IPL.

  • My job is to provide good base for finishers like AB de Villiers, Maxwell: RCB’s KS Bharat 

    By PTI

    DUBAI: Royal Challengers Bangalore wicket-keeper KS Bharat is happy that he is able to provide a stable base as a number three batsman, for finishers like Glenn Maxwell which has been a key recipe in the last two wins for his franchise.

    RCB dished out a clinical display with both bat and ball to record a comprehensive seven-wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League on Wednesday, to boost their prospects of a top-two finish.

    With knocks of 32 and 44 against MI and Rajasthan Royals, Bharat has sorted RCB’s problems with their one-drop batter in the current edition.

    “So, number three is always a beautiful spot to play. It asks a lot of questions if you are not ready for it. And we at RCB, we have always focussed on keeping the strike going and get busy right from ball one,” Bharat said at the post-match press conference.

    “…. and the little things of running and calling well and rotating the strike, all these little pointers, it plays a huge role in building up a partnership,” the Andhra keeper-batsman said.

    For him, providing a platform for Maxwell and de Villiers to have a final assault is the main thing.

    “The number three is someone who keeps the scoreboard ticking at 8 or 9 per over, then you will have a good base (and) for people like Maxi (Maxwell) and AB coming in after 12th over.

    “If you have the wickets in hand, then you can go all out towards the end of the innings. So, the message is clear saying I should get a partnership going and we are sticking to it,” he explained.

    Just like any youngster would say, Bharat was no different when asked the staple question about what he has learnt from the likes of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers.

    “If you play with Virat bhai (Virat Kohli), AB (De Villiers) and (Glenn) Maxwell, you tend to learn a lot of good things in terms of cricket and as well as how to handle yourself on and off the field,” Bharat said at the post-match press conference.

    Bharat and Maxwell, one of the sought after T20 player, shared a crucial stand which helped RCB and the stumper said that the communication between the two was all tactical.

    “And coming back to this innings, me and Maxi (Maxwell), we were having the conversation of what are the areas we could access and what are the boundary options…” ….how many overs one particular bowler is going to bowl, what are his lengths, so it’s all purely tactical things what we were discussing out in the centre and it came out well,” he noted.

    On his 44-run knock, he said, “It is obviously a good feeling winning this game and coming back to it and contributing going out in the centre.

  • IPL: Do or die for Rajasthan Royals against Virat Kohli’s RCB

    By PTI

    DUBAI: A thumping win over defending champions Mumbai Indians boosting their confidence, Royal Challengers Bangalore would look to build on the momentum when they take on a struggling Rajasthan Royals in their Indian Premier League match here on Wednesday.

    The Virat Kohli-led RCB are currently at third spot with 12 points from 10 matches and a win over RR will virtually put them in the play-offs.

    On the other hand, with eight points from 10 matches, it will be a make-or-break outing for RR as a loss on Wednesday can put them in a tight situation in their bid for a last-four berth.

    RCB did not have the best of starts after the IPL’s resumption as they lost two consecutive matches, including the forgettable nine-wicket defeat to Kolkata Knight Riders where they made just 92 runs.

    They were then outplayed by Chennai Super Kings though Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal came good with 53 and 70 respectively.

    The previous match against MI, however, gave them their first win after the IPL’s resumption with Kohli hitting his second consecutive fifty — 51 — and Maxwell also coming good (37-ball 56).

    Kohli, who is stepping down from RCB captaincy after this season, would look to continue his good form.

    South African legend AB de Villiers, on the other hand, needs a big one after scores of 0, 12, 11 while Maxwell will be keen to stay in good touch with the T20 World Cup not far.

    On the bowling front, Harshal Patel is the star with six wickets from three matches, including a hat-trick in the last match, and Yuzvendra Chahal is also in fine form with five dismissals.

    A bit of worry is New Zealand fast bowler Kyle Jamieson, who has not taken any wicket from the two matches he has played so far.

    Rajasthan, on the other hand, have been outplayed by their respective opponents in their last two matches after winning their first game by two runs.

    Except for captain Sanju Samson and Yashasvi Jaiswal, most of the RR batsmen are struggling.

    Lone ranger Samson hit 70 and 82 after scoring four runs in the first match but other batsmen have let the team down.

    In Monday’s match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, it was Samson again who took his side to 164 for 5 with a well-calculated 82 on a sticky wicket where stroke-making was difficult.

    However, the score proved insufficient as RR lost by seven wickets, which dented their play-off chances as they remained at the sixth spot with eight points.

    Among bowlers, Kartik Tyagi (3 wickets), Chetan Sakariya (4 wickets) and Mustafizur Rahman (3 wickets) have done reasonably well for the side.

  • IPL 2021: Have improved my top-spin, was always confident of dismissing de Kock, says Chahal

    By ANI

    DUBAI (UAE): Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has said that he was always confident of dismissing Mumbai Indians’ opening batter, Quinton de Kock.

    Harshal Patel’s hat-trick and three-wicket haul by Chahal helped RCB defend 165 and defeat MI by 54 runs here at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday.

    “After the powerplay, Mumbai Indians was 56/0 and I knew middle-overs were going to be crucial. I thought that even if I do not take wickets, I wanted to keep it tight and not give away many runs so that pressure is there. Quinton de Kock has been dismissed by me four-five times before so I knew I can dismiss him,” Chahal told teammate Harshal Patel in a video posted on iplt20.com.

    “I have improved on my top-spin, you bowl wider when someone is going after you, if you bowl it from the start, then it comes off as negative and the batter can get top of you,” he added.

    Earlier, Maxwell and Virat Kohli scored 56 and 51 as RCB posted 165/6 in the allotted twenty overs. Srikar Bharat also played a knock of 32 runs from 24 balls.

    RCB will next lock horns against Rajasthan Royals on Wednesday in the ongoing IPL.

  • MS Dhoni’s CSK humble Virat Kohli’s RCB with all-round show, claim top spot

    By PTI

    SHARJAH: Chennai Super Kings produced a clinical all-round show to humble Royal Challengers Bangalore by six wickets and claim the top spot in the IPL pecking order here on Friday.

    RCB skipper Virat Kohli (53) and young Devdutt Padikkal (70) struck brisk half-centuries in an impressive 111-run stand but CSK pulled the strings to restrict them to 156 for six after electing to bowl.

    The in-form Ruturaj Gaikwad came good again with a quick 38 while Faf du Plessis made 31 at the top to lay a strong foundation for CSK to chase the modest target in 18.1 overs.

    The win took CSK to the top spot with 14 points.

    They overtook Delhi Capitals, who also have 14 points, but the yellow brigade has better net run-rate of 1.185, compared to 0.613 of the Delhi team.

    While it was the second consecutive win for CSK, the RCB now have lost both the games post the league’s resumption.

    Gaikwad and Du Plessis added 71 runs in 8.2 overs and later Moeen Ali (23) and Ambati Rayudu (32) also got starts but could not convert those into big knocks.

    Suresh Raina (17) and skipper MS Dhoni (11) ensured that there was no twist in the tale, taking the side past the finish line.

    Neither Mohammed Siraj nor Navdeep Saini could trouble the CSK openers.

    Whether the ball was pitched up, short or bowled at good length, Gaikwad and his Protea partner treated them with equal disdain.

    Gaikwad punched the ball hard and even reverse swept with ease before Kohli pulled off a stunning low catch off wrist-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal.

    Realising that spinners may turn the game around, Kohli handed the ball to off-spinner Glenn Maxwell and the Australian responded with the wicket of du Plessis, who was guilty of playing a loose shot.

    However, Rayudu and Moeen did not show any respect to the slow bowlers.

    They worked the ball around to keep the scoreboard moving and also got the big shots.

    Earlier, Kohli and Padikkal went hammer and tongs after being asked to take first strike but once the partnership was broken by Dwayne Bravo, RCB lost the momentum.

    RCB managed only 45 runs in the remaining 6.4 overs after being in a position from where they could have pushed for a score in the vicinity of 200.

    Bravo’s bowling made a huge difference to the conclusion of the RCB innings as he conceded only 24 runs in his four overs and also added the wickets of Glenn Maxwell (11) and Harshal Patel (3).

    CSK had no dearth of quality bowlers with Deepak Chahar and Josh Hazlewood opening the attack but Bangalore openers — Kohli and Padikkal — went about striking the ball cleanly.

    Kohli began with consecutive boundaries off Chahar but took a bit of time to find his rhythm.

    The skipper lofted the same bowler for a massive six on the on-side while Padikkal was fluent with his well-timed shots on the off-side.

    Dhoni shuffled his bowlers but none got the length that could either trouble the batsmen or stop the run flow.

    The young left-hander also used his feet well against left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja, sending the ball soaring over long-on.

    He completed his fifty with a crushing four off Chahar which also raised the team’s hundred.

    The breakthrough eventually came when Bravo sent back Kohli, who struck the ball clean and hard but was caught near the boundary ropes.

    That wicket stemmed the run flow and while trying to break the shackles, both AB De Villiers (12) and Padikkal became victims of Shardul Thakur.

    Maxwell was expected to go after the bowlers and he did that, striking a six off Bravo to raise the team’s 150 in the 18th over, but a late flourish eluded RCB.