Will Jacks bludgeoned the GT bowlers for a 41-ball hundred and shared an unbeaten 166 runs stand with Virat Kohli, who played an equally magnificent 70-run knock, to help RCB beat GT by 9 wickets to stay alive in the race to the playoffs of the 2024 Indian Premier League. The RCB victory was scripted by Jacks’s maiden IPL hundred and a stunning 70 by star batter Kohli. Kohli reached his fifty milestone off just 32 deliveries, shutting down his critics. The RCB star exploited the larger sections of the Narendra Modi Stadium to convert singles into twos efficiently. Particularly adept against spin, Kohli has amassed 43 runs from 23 balls after facing only nine deliveries of fast bowling in the Powerplay. The RCB stalwart appeared visibly charged up, raising hopes of his team successfully chasing down the formidable target of 201 runs.
THE JACKS SHOW
Will Jacks showcased his phenomenal batting prowess in the 15th over, targeting Mohit Sharma with relentless aggression, hammering him for two boundaries and three towering sixes, including one off a waist-high no-ball. Titans’ hopes of containing him with Rashid Khan’s leg-spin were dashed as Jacks continued his onslaught, smashing consecutive sixes and a boundary to swiftly secure a comprehensive victory for RCB with four overs to spare in the daunting 201-run chase. In a stunning display of dominance, Jacks completed his century off just 41 balls, culminating in that final six, leaving spectators in awe of his stupendous performance.
KOHLI SILENCES CRITICS
Kohli’s performance against spin has been under scrutiny in the ongoing season. However, against the Titans’ spin trio of Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, and R Sai Kishore, Kohli brought out his best, boasting a strike rate of 181.81. Capitalizing on the spin-heavy attack, Kohli exploited the favorable conditions by effectively utilizing his sweeps and slog sweeps, accumulating 22 runs off six attempts, his highest tally from that shot in a T20 game. His innings of 61 off 34 balls against spin marks his most prolific performance of this kind in an IPL match, culminating in him crossing the 500-run mark for the season.
GT POST 200
Earlier, Shahrukh Khan capitalized on his promotion in the batting order to score his first IPL fifty, while Sai Sudharsan helped GT post a formidable total of 200 for three against RCB on Sunday. Batting at number four, Shahrukh scored 58 runs off 30 balls, forming a crucial partnership with Sudharsan, who remained unbeaten on 84 off 49 deliveries. Their partnership of 86 runs off 45 balls provided the much-needed impetus to the Titans innings after a slow start. Bengaluru captain Faf du Plessis elected to field first in the sweaty Ahmedabad conditions, with Glenn Maxwell returning to their lineup after a break due to mental and physical health reasons.
GT vs RCB, IPL 2024 Updates | Scorecard
The Titans’ innings didn’t begin well as Wriddhiman Saha was dismissed early, attempting an expansive shot off left-arm spinner Swapnil Singh but only managing to find Karn Sharma at third man. Skipper Shubman Gill’s innings was cut short by a brilliant catch from Cameron Green at long-on off Maxwell’s bowling, leaving the Titans in a precarious position.
In a tactical move, with Sudharsan holding firm at one end, the Titans promoted Shahrukh ahead of other established batsmen. This decision paid dividends as Shahrukh targeted the spinners, particularly targeting the cow corner region, hitting five sixes and three fours. He reached his half-century with a maximum off Green’s bowling before being dismissed by Mohammed Siraj’s sharp yorker.
David Miller joined Sudharsan in the middle, and the pair stitched together an unbeaten 69-run partnership off 36 balls, ensuring the Titans reached a competitive total. Sudharsan continued his fine form with his second consecutive fifty-plus score, comprising eight fours and four sixes, anchoring the Titans’ innings effectively.
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