They were supposed to fail at Chepauk, but they left unbeaten, and in the comforts of a more free-stroking Wankhede, they've started with a statement victory. Kohli emphasizes that it is still early in the season, and while that may be true, RCB seems to be in good shape. They've reclaimed first place in the standings, and that NRR is crazy. RR, on the other hand, is slipping away at the moment, and if they want to make the playoffs, they'll need a fast turnaround.
Devdutt Padikkal (101 not out) was in carnage mode as Royal Challengers Bangalore cruised to a 10-wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals in Mumbai. Bangalore won for the fourth time in a row, returning to the top of the points table. Padikkal went all-out against the Rajasthan bowlers, chasing 178 on a flat Wankhede deck. Bangalore won the chase with 21 balls to spare thanks to Virat Kohli's powerful 72 not out. RR, who was given the opportunity to bat first, crumbled under pressure in the first few overs and were reduced to 43/4. The men in pink managed to post 177/9 at the end of their 20 overs thanks to Shivam Dube's 46 and Rahul Tewatia's 40. Harshal Patel and Mohammed Siraj each took three wickets. Devdutt Padikkal (101*) and Virat Kohli (72*) took control of the chase right away. They put on an undefeated 181-run opening stand, helping the team to four wins in a row.
Virat Kohli at the post-match presentation said that "It was a fantastic inning. Last season, he batted extremely well for his first season. There was a lot of speculation about him not being able to accelerate until he hit his 30s. Much of that has been laid to rest. To be frank, it was a decent pitch to bat on, and his height made bowlers struggle with their lengths. T20 cricket is always about forming partnerships. You can't always go wide right away. It's important for me to ensure that I don't lose my wicket when one of my teammates is doing well. For other days, it may be different. We discussed it (on the 100). I told him to finish it first, and he told me to finish it first. He predicted that a large number of people would show up, and I told him that he could say that until they arrived at the landmark. He deserved three figures score. In bowling, we don't have any memorable names, but we do have some that are effective. Our bowling has a lot of depth. They are experts in their field. We've taken the most wickets in the death overs so far this season, and we're proud of it."
Padikkal got the Man of the Match award and when asked about his success he told "It's been a unique experience. I had no choice but to wait my turn. When I was sick with COVID, all I could think about was coming here and playing my first match. I was unable to do so, but I was eager to contribute to the team's victory. The wicket was taking shape nicely, and we were off to a strong start. It helps when you form a relationship like that because runs come from both ends. (Was he concerned about the 100?) That's not true; I was asking Virat to go for it. It's not about getting to a hundred for me; I'm fine with losing out on hundreds as long as I help my team win. There were moments during the innings when he was pitching better and then I was pitching better. The importance of strike rotation cannot be overstated. We had great chemistry."