IPL 2018: RCB vs RR, 5 talking points

Led by a flamboyant Sanju Samson and an inspired final few overs in the first innings, Rajasthan Royals thwarted Royal Challengers Bangalore on their home turf by 19 runs but somehow the margin felt much bigger. A rampant Samson went on a six-hitting spree and clubbed 10 of them in his 45 ball 92 that led Rajasthan to 217.

Virat Kohli's fiery response almost paved way for an exciting run chase but Shreyas Gopal dumped all ideas down the drain when he had Kohli and de Villiers in consecutive overs to derail RCB's run chase.

Earlier, Umesh Yadav was at the receiving end of a Samson special and ended up conceding 59 in his four overs including 27 in the final over, which might ultimately have been the difference.

#5 Rahane played a cameo

Rahane overcame a pulled muscle to smack quite a few boundaries. Credits: NDTVSports

Jos Buttler played a cameo. Pawan Negi played a cameo. You don't expect Ajinkya Rahane to walk out to the middle and blast boundaries for fun. But after a six-ball five, Rahane suffered a muscle pull and turned into a monstrous avatar, kind of like how Rohit Sharma puts on the Hitman mask.

The Rajasthan skipper went on a hitting spree, smashing Washington Sundar for a four and a six to get going. Similar treatment was meted out to Umesh Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal before Chris Woakes deceived him with a back of a length slower delivery. The 20 ball 36, though, gave Rajasthan a fiery start even with D' Arcy Short struggling for timing.

#4 Umesh Yadav's forgettable outing

Umesh Yadav was taken to the cleaners by Sanju Samson. Credits: Indian Express

After sending down an awe-inspiring spell in the previous game, Umesh Yadav had a disastrous outing at home as Sanju Samson and co. smacked him mercilessly all around the Chinnaswamy. If zippy pace and movement off the deck was his plus point in the previous game, Umesh failed to find the right length today and was severely punished.

His four-over spell went for 59 runs, with 27 alone coming in the final over where Samson and Tripathi plundered 3 sixes and a four. A no-ball and a free-hit following that were all punished as the former Kolkata Knight Riders' seamer seemed to lose it completely in the face of an attack.

#3 Sanju Samson bursts Vishu crackers

Samson top-scored with a spectacular knock of 92. Credits Mykhel

It is Malayalam new year in Kerala (Vishu) and people are known to burst crackers and welcome the year. Kerala's own Sanju Samson, though, made amends for not being able to celebrate by setting a whole stadium alight with his blistering six-hitting.

The young wicket-keeper batsman has been in his elements right from the start of the season and continued his rich vein of form with a plethora of sixes. Rajasthan made 75 from the last four overs as Samson raced into his 90s effortlessly. The beauty of his batting is his effortless hitting and the knock today was an absolute treat to watch.

#2 Virat Kohli's run-chase fetish doesn't quite kick in

Kohli appeared in sublime touch early on. Credits:

Cricketnmore

Faced with a humongous total to chase down, Royal Challengers Bangalore needed their chase master and skipper, Virat Kohli, to impose himself and come into his own. The no.3 batsman started off brilliantly, carving three boundaries off Dhawal Kulkarni.

He played second-fiddle to Quinton de Kock for a while before coming into his own and rampaging his way to a fabulous half-century. Bangalore raced to 100 in 10 overs and with Kohli and de Villiers out there, it seemed like another special run chase was on at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. However, he slogged Shreyas Gopal to deep mid-wicket to depart for a 30 ball 57.

#1 Shreyas Gopal does a Nitish Rana

Gopal broke the back of RCB's run chase with two big scalps

Only the other night, Nitish Rana made headlines for dismissing AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli off consecutive balls. At Chinnaswamy, another young spinner, Shreyas Gopal, etched fresh stories to tell his grandchildren when he had Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers just when RCB were starting to have a real go at the target of 218.

Kohli had smashed a half-century and was ready to gun down another Hobart-sized score but Gopal's innocuous half-tracker forced him to smash a pull-down deep mid-wicket's throat.

Almost as though on cue, de Villiers departed in his next over, attempting the very same pull shot and gifting a catch to long leg. Gopal, who was unlucky to not dismiss de Villiers earlier when Jos Buttler missed a stumping chance, made quick amends and sealed Rajasthan's victory in gold.