Parnell’s party
He was booked in 2012 for substance abuse during the IPL. He left South Africa, and opted for the English County Championship. It seemed Wayne Parnell’s international career was over. While he has not exactly revived it, he is back as an IPL force. The target of 172 that Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) had set for Rajasthan was too steep. It was a slow pitch, and run-making there was not easy. Who said taking wickets is not? Parnell took three in three overs to end the contest then and there. He was aided by some smart catching and injudicious stroke play, but did his job. Give it to him.
Rawat’s day
Anuj Rawat was the unsung hero of the match. When he came out to bat, it was not certain that RCB would get past 150. They had wickets in hand alright, but the ball was gripping and turning on a surface not that conducive for batting. Then, Rawat produced that stunner of an innings. It was his pyrotechnics which enhanced RCB’s net run-rate. This might turn out to be decisive when it comes to determining who all make the last-four cut. And he affected a stunner of a run-out as well. This was work of the smartest order. Presence of mind and reflexes. Rawat played a role which may not be remembered by the fans, but for his teammates, he was priceless this afternoon.
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Maxwell factor
Give it to Glenn Maxwell as well. The pitch was not good for batting. The ball was turning. And then he produced that belter of an innings. And what kind of shots! A reverse pull over short third, a move-away-from-the-line hit behind square-leg… Maxwell just went crazy. And this shot was played from well outside of off stump. We have seen such shots in T20s, but on a pitch not so helpful for batters, this was incredible. Faf Du Plessis also made a crucial contribution, but Maxwell made the big difference. He kept his team in contention. And he remains a major headache for the teams which will come up against RCB from here on.
Rajasthan’s plight
Neither side is out of it yet. RCB is fifth, and RR sixth. But RR has only one more match to play. RCB have two. Rajasthan are such a fantastic side on paper, and what a way they started their campaign, winning four of their first five matches. Then, it suddenly started going wrong. Now it has come to a stage where making it to the playoffs is going to be extremely difficult for them. Call it the vagaries of the IPL or the nature of uncertainties that the tournament is about, but they have lost the plot. Some of the best resources in their ranks, and they have not been able to make those count.
RCB’s resurgence
RCB are firmly in the race. A high-spending and high-profile team, their inability to win the title has often been talked about. Under Du Plessis, they seem to have reinvented themselves. The captain is leading from the front, scoring runs in every match. He is the leading run-scorer at the moment. Keep your eyes on RCB. They are fifth in the table, and have not yet made the last-four cut. But there is verve and zest in their ranks. There is a lot of desire. The thumping win they posted today is bound to boost their confidence. They will be a force to reckon with in their last two games.