IPL 2024 - Powerful Powerplay by RCB; Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis post 79-run partnership

While Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have a mountain to climb, needing to chase down the highest total of 287 runs at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, opening batters Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis came out to bat with an intent to attack. In the Powerplay against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Virat Kohli scored 42 off 19 balls, while skipper Faf du Plessis scored 37 off 17, posting a 79-run partnership.

Highest Powerplay totals for RCB (IPL)

79/0 vs SRH Bengaluru 2024

79/1 vs KTK Bengaluru 2011

75/2 vs CSK Bengaluru 2023

70/1 vs PK Bengaluru 2019

Abhishek Sharma dropped Kohli for a duck on the fifth ball of the innings, but SRH got the wicket they wanted as the Orange Cap holder was bowled for 42 by Mayank Markande soon after the Powerplay.

Currently, RCB has posted 100 in 8 overs with the captain Faf du Plessis getting his half-century. Will Jacks gets run out for 7 at the non-striker's end. Rajat Patidar is at the crease.

Earlier, SRH broke their 277-run record by posting a mammoth 287 runs. Travis Head led the pack and scored 102 runs. Abhishek Sharma (34) also played well before Heinrich Klaasen (67) made things worse for RCB. Aiden Markram (32) and Abdul Samad (37) remained not out, adding salt to RCB's poor form.

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For the home team, Lockie Ferguson took two wickets while Reece Topley picked up the other. However, all the bowlers were hit for maximums, with the latter leaking 68 runs.

Earlier, RCB won the toss and opted to field. They made a few changes to their squad by resting Glenn Maxwell and Mohammed Siraj and bringing in Lockie Ferguson. As for SRH, they went with the same team, which has helped them win crucial games.

Teams:

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Playing XI): Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis(c), Will Jacks, Rajat Patidar, Saurav Chauhan, Dinesh Karthik(w), Mahipal Lomror, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Reece Topley, Lockie Ferguson, Yash Dayal

Subs: Suyash Prabhudessai, Anuj Rawat, Swapnil Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Karn Sharma

Sunrisers Hyderabad (Playing XI): Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Aiden Markram, Nitish Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen(w), Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahmed, Pat Cummins(c), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, T Natarajan

Subs: Umran Malik, Anmolpreet Singh, Mayank Markande, Glenn Phillips, Rahul Tripathi