Virat Kohli (77 off 49) and Dinesh Karthik (28 not out off 10) came up with significant batting performances as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) beat Punjab Kings (PBKS) by four wickets in game six of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Monday, March 25. Before that, Mohammed Siraj (2/26) and Glenn Maxwell (2/29) made important contributions with the ball in hand.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru won the toss and asked Punjab Kings to bat first in the match. PBKS lost Jonny Bairstow for 8 to Siraj. They rebuilt the innings courtesy of a second-wicket stand of 55 between skipper Shikhar Dhawan (45 off 37) and Prabhsimran Singh (25 off 17). Both batters, however, fell in the endeavor to take on the spin bowling of Maxwell.

Liam Livingstone perished cheaply for 17 off 13 balls, caught by keeper Anuj Rawat off Alzarri Joseph’s bowling. Sam Curran (23 off 17) fell to Yash Dayal as Rawat took a superb leaping catch. Jitesh Sharma made a handy 27 off 20, but it was Shashank Sharma’s 21 not out off 8 that ensured PBKS finished their innings on a high.

In the chase of 177, Kohli struck 11 fours and two sixes. But, it was a one-man show for most part as Faf du Plessis (3), Cameron Green (3), Rajat Patidar (18), Maxwell (3) and Rawat (11) fell cheaply. Kohli kept finding the boundaries at regular intervals to keep RCB in the game. After he perished to Harshal, giving a catch in the deep, it seemed like the game was in Punjab’s grasp. But some clean striking from Karthik and Lomror ensured RCB won the match with four balls to spare.

Speaking after the match, Kohli reflected on his love affair with Chinnaswamy and said, “It's been going on for years. People talk about a lot of other things when you play sport - achievement, stats, numbers. But when you look back it's the memories you create. Rahul [Dravid] bhai in the change room says the same nowadays. When you play, play your heart out because you're going to miss these times. The love, appreciation and backing I've received has been amazing.”

On his innings on Monday, he added, “I try to give the team a blazing start, but if wickets fall, you have to understand the conditions as well. Wasn't the usual placid pitch. It was a bit two-paced.”

RCB will next face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Bengaluru on Friday, March 29.

--By A Cricket Correspondent