IPL 2024: Bumrah's lethal spell leaves RCB dumbstruck, helps MI restrict Bengaluru to 196/8

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], April 11 (ANI): Jasprit Bumrah's lethal spell left Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batters dumbstruck with his pace but Faf du Plessis' counter-attacking 61 and Dinesh Karthik's late flourish fifty propelled RCB to 196/8 against MI in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 match here at Wankhede Stadium on Thursday.
Bumrah with his ruthless spell of 5-21 single-handedly sent RCB's big names back to the pavilion, only highlighting his reputation as one of the best bowlers in the competition. Karthik (53)* with a scintillating half-century off just 21 deliveries lifted RCB to 196 while Rajat Patidar's fifty played a crucial role in the team's total.
Opted to bowl first, MI started the match on a good note as Gerald Coetzee started off his spell impressively on a pitch that favours the pacers. Despite the last-ball six, both Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli have opted to see through the majority of Coetzee's first over.
A nostalgic fest unfolded yet again at Wankhede as seasoned pacer Jasprit Bumrah grabbed the big wicket of Kohli in his very first over. Kohli departed on 3(9).
Akash Madhwal dealt another early blow to RCB with the wicket of debutant Will Jacks, which only extended the struggles of the RCB.
RCB finished on 44/2 at the end of the powerplay. Faf du Plessis and Rajat Patidar showcased some brilliant running between the wickets, as they clinched some valuable early runs for their side without any unnecessary aggressive approach with the bat.
Patidar in confident touch brought up the fifty-run partnership with Faf with an impressive six. The duo only took 30 balls to clinch the feat and give their side some stability at the crease after Kohli and Jacks's early dismissals. Patidar completed his much-needed first IPL 2024 half-century with just 25 balls.
Patidar failed to bank on his good touch and was dismissed on the very next ball after completing his fifty. Coetzee redeemed himself massively with the wicket after getting hit for two back-to-back sixes by Patidar.
Shreyas Gopal single-handedly brought back the full pressure on RCB's batting unit in his third over of the night, where he got the big wicket of Glenn Maxwell and managed to break their run flow. IPL 2024 continued to be a bad nightmare for Maxwell as he departed for another duck, putting pressure back again on RCB.
Faf brought up his much-needed half-century within just 33 balls, giving some stronghold at the crease to RCB. Dinesh Karthik extended his reputation as one of IPL's prominent finishers with the bat, as he picked up a valuable 19 runs for his side in Madhwal's third over of the night.
Faf's fabulous innings came to an end on 61(40) he fell prey to Jasprit Bumrah who handed MI the major breakthrough yet again.
Back-to-back blows for RCB as Bumrah dismissed Mahipal Lomror on the very next ball of the Faf du Plessis dismissal. Bumrah completed his five-wicket haul with the wicket of Vijaykumar Vishayk.
In the last over Karthik smoked Madhwal 19 runs with the help of two maximums and one four, bringing his half-century and taking his team to a competitive total of 196/8 in 20 overs.
Brief score: Royal Challengers Bengaluru 196/8 (Faf du Plessis 61, Dinesh Karthik 53*, Jasprit Bumrah 5-21). (ANI)