Ahmedabad: Finally, after 18 years, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) celebrated their first-ever Indian Premier League (IPL) title with a six-run victory over Punjab Kings (PBKS) at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium on Tuesday, thanks to a fantastic spell from Krunal Pandya and solid pace bowling from Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, and Yash Dayal.
PBKS' title search continues after reaching their first final in 11 years under the outstanding leadership of Shreyas Iyer and head coach Ricky Ponting. However, after 18 overs, captain Rajat Patidar has secured the championship for RCB, with superstar batsman Virat Kohli winning his first IPL title in 18 years with the squad.
Shashank's brilliance (61 off 30 balls, including three fours and six sixes) was insufficient for PBKS, as the barrage of strikes came too late for the side. Shashank scored three sixes in the last over, refusing to quit up the struggle until the very end.
PBKS began well in their pursuit of a difficult 191, with the opening combination of Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh smashing Bhuvneshwar Kumar for a four and a six, scoring 13 runs in the first over.
Priyansh attempted to overwhelm Josh Hazlewood with two fours, but a spectacular catch by Phil Salt near the ropes sent him back to the pavilion for 24 in 19 balls, including four boundaries. PBKS scored 43/1 in five overs.
PBKS was 52/1 at the conclusion of six overs, with Prabhsimran (15) and Josh Inglis (8) undefeated.
Prabhsimran was bowling several dot deliveries, but he freed himself with a six off Suyash Sharma, who concluded his first over with 15 runs, including a six apiece for the combination.
Krunal maintained the pressure after giving up just three runs in his first over, and Prabhsimran eventually succumbed, providing Bhuvneshwar Kumar an easy catch at cover. PBKS was 72/2 in 8. 3 overs.
Romario Shepherd got the important wicket of Shreyas Iyer, the captain, with PBKS at 79/3 in 9. 4 overs.
At the halfway stage, PBKS was 81/3, with Inglis (24) and Nehal Wadhera (1) undefeated.
Spin maintained the pressure on PBKS, and Romario gave up 10 runs in the 12th over, with Inglis doing the majority of the work. Krunal's pressure-building methods were particularly hard on PBKS, as Inglis fell for 39 off 23 balls, including one four and four sixes, on the first ball of the 13th over. PBKS were 98/4 in 12. 1 overs.
The 15th over by Romario eased some pressure for PBKS as Nehal and Shashank Singh each hit a four and six, scoring 14 runs in total and bringing the total to 119. PBKS required 72 runs in 30 balls.
Shashank struck two sixes off Hazlewood's following over, reducing the equation to 55 runs off 24 deliveries.
Bhuvneshwar's third over provided a vital wicket of Wadhera, who battled in his 15 runs off 16 balls, including one six. This time, Krunal was the hero as a fielder, with PBKS at 136/5 in 16. 2 overs. Marcus Stoinis began aggressively, hitting a six off the first delivery, but was caught on the next ball with a simple catch to Yash. PBKS was 142/6 after 16. 4 overs, needing 47 runs in the final three overs.
Azmatullah Omarzai (1) failed to trouble the scorekeepers much, losing his wicket to Yash for a mere one run. PBKS scored 145/7 in 17. 2 overs. They needed 42 to win in the final two overs, with Shashank and Kyle Jamieson at the crease.
Bhuvneshwar bowled the penultimate over, hitting a six off Shashank on the first ball. However, the math reduced to 29 runs in the final over.
Despite a strong effort from Shashank (61 in 30 balls, with three fours and six sixes), RCB won by six runs, with PBKS totaling 184/7.
Krunal (2/17) and Bhuvneshwar (2/38) both bowled excellent spells. Yash was outstanding with his three-over performance of 1/18. Hazlewood concluded a 1/54 spell on an expensive note, but he was otherwise superb. Romario also took one wicket.
Earlier, a strong effort from Royal Challengers Bengaluru established a competitive 191-run goal for Punjab Kings in the championship game of the 18th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in Ahmedabad on Tuesday. Counterattacking shots from Jitesh Sharma (24 off 10 balls) and Virat Kohli (43 off 35 balls) helped RCB reach 190/9.
Still, Arshdeep Singh (3/40) and Kyle Jamieson's (3/48) blazing three-wicket spells prevented Bengaluru from reaching the 200-run mark.
After Punjab asked him to bat, Arshdeep used a short-length approach strategy, and Phil Salt seized the chance with both hands in the first over. He hammered the ball over the long leg, sending it sailing over the boundary rope for a maximum.
Salt moved the ball across the line on the fifth attempt, but it fell just short of the rope and bounced away for four. With Salt coming in and firing all guns, Bengaluru finished with 13 runs in the first over.
Salt (16) attempted an airborne shot against Kyle Jamieson in the following over, but failed to achieve the required distance as runs flowed quickly. Punjab captain Shreyas Iyer held the ball securely in his hands, scoring the first run. Bengaluru answered with a few boundaries, ending the powerplay at 55/1.
Mayank Agarwal, 24, attempted to tackle Punjab's top spinner, Yuzvendra Chahal, immediately after the powerplay, but swung his bat slightly early. The ball soared high and then fell to Arshdeep in the distance.
Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar, the previous and present captains, attempted to develop a partnership to get through the middle overs and lay the groundwork for the finale.
Virat stabilized the innings, while Patidar took the brunt of the risk. He was successful a couple of times in his pursuit, but Jamieson caught Patidar in front of the stumps in the 11th over.
Patidar had scrambled across the crease to create room for a strike but missed the ball completely. He knew that requesting a review would be pointless, so he returned on 26(16).
Liam Livingstone joined Virat at the crease, and the combination tormented Chahal, scoring 14 runs in the over. However, the balance shifted in Punjab's favour when Virat's high edge fell directly into Azmatullah Omarzai's hands, forcing the franchise star to retire on 43 (35).
Jitesh Sharma smashed consecutive sixes off Jamieson in the 17th over, providing the crucial run flow. Jamieson responded by trapping Livingstone (25) in front of the stumps, reclaiming momentum from Bengaluru.
Romario Shepherd survived when replacement Praveen Dubey dropped his mistimed slog. Vijaykumar Vyshak cleaned up Jitesh Sharma, bringing the curtains down on his 24-run onslaught in just 10 balls.
Shepherd struck a four and a massive maximum on the final two deliveries of the penultimate over.
Shepherd attempted to tackle Arshdeep, but the leftarmer delivered a scorching yorker that trapped him in front of the wickets.
Krunal Pandya followed in Shepherd's footsteps, smashing it straight to Shreyas. Arshdeep finished off the innings with Bhuvneshwar Kumar's wicket as Bengaluru finished on 190/9.
Brief Scores: RCB: 190/9 (Virat Kohli 43, Liam Livingstone 26, Arshdeep Singh 3/40) defeated PBKS: 184/7: (Shashank Singh 61, Josh Inglis 39, Krunal Pandya 2/17).
