Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) stars Virat Kohli, skipper Faf Du Plessis, and wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik reflected on the rollercoaster journey of the Indian Premier League (IPL) season following their loss to Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the eliminator on Wednesday. Despite a dream run that saw them bounce back from a dismal first half with a six-game winning streak, their journey ended with a four-wicket defeat to RR at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium.
For RCB, the season was a tale of resilience. Initially facing elimination after winning just one of their first eight games, they turned their fortunes around dramatically. However, their 17-year quest for the trophy continues after the loss to RR. Nevertheless, their commendable performance this season has earned them admiration from fans, experts, and players alike.
In a video shared by RCB’s official handle, Virat acknowledged the team’s underwhelming start but praised their resilience in the latter half of the season. He expressed gratitude to the fans for their unwavering support throughout.
Unfortunately, sport is not a fairytale and our remarkable run in #IPL2024 came to an end. Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis and Dinesh Karthik express their emotions and thank fans for their unwavering support. ❤️#PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB pic.twitter.com/FYygVD3UiC
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) May 23, 2024
Faf credited the team’s turnaround in the last six games but admitted falling short in the eliminator, despite a challenging first innings.
Dinesh, likely in his final IPL season, reflected on the team’s belief that this could be their year for victory. Despite the disappointing end, he emphasized the importance of pride in their efforts and thanked the fans for their support.
Regarding the match, RR won the toss and chose to bowl. While RCB batters made promising starts, they failed to capitalize, setting a target of 172/8. RR’s Avesh Khan starred with the ball, supported by Ravichandran Ashwin and Trent Boult.
In the chase, RR got off to a solid start, but RCB bowlers applied pressure, restricting their progress. However, late contributions from Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, and Rovman Powell secured RR’s victory with an over to spare. Mohammed Siraj stood out for RCB with the ball, while Ashwin earned the ‘Player of the Match’ award.
Now, RR will face Sunrisers Hyderabad in qualifier two to determine who advances to the final against Kolkata Knight Riders.