Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kings XI Punjab - Match 31

Right then, what a humdinger it was. Decided on the last ball. Well....Looks like our wait for a Super Over clash gets a little longer. Or does it? What do we mean by that? Well, on Friday, 16th October 2020, two giants, Mumbai and Kolkata face off against each other. Woah...let's hope a Super Over comes our way then. Join us at 1800 Local (1400 GMT) for that clash. Until then, take care and good night!

Winning captain and also the MAN OF THE MATCH for his splendid 61 off 49 balls, KL Rahul, says that he has no idea, no words to describe what happened earlier. States that they needed to do well. Says that towards the end, it got too close to comfort but in the end they did manage to get through. Rahul says that losing continuously was frustrating for everyone, the support staff, the team, the players. Adds that it has been a crazy rollercoaster so far. States that as the first time as captain, playing as a leader becomes all the more important. Stresses on the need to keep the dressing room happy. Personal performances have not been on his mind, says Rahul, but also adds that he believes it is important for him to get a good deal of runs from his side. On Gayle, Rahul states that he was training hard and from the time he landed in Dubai Gayle was hungry and rearing to go. States that Gayle is still the same player, intimidating as he always is. 

The Universe Boss, Chris Gayle, is up for a chat. He says that he was not nervous in the end. States that the Universe Boss, himself, never fears. Adds that the surface was very sticky and proved a very tricky one to bat on. On how he felt at batting at No. 3, Gayle chuckles and asks Kevin Pietersen if he thinks that the Universe Boss' record at No. 3 is not good. All have a hearty laugh.

Virat Kohli, Bangalore's captain, says that it was quite surprising, admits that he thought that the game would finish in the 18th over. But it ended up going down to the wire. On the change in de Villiers' batting position, Kohli says that it was more to do with the left-hand, right-hand batting combinations and the legbreak bowlers that Punjab have. Admits honestly that it was a plan that did not work out. States that the pitch did not assist them much when Bangalore were batting earlier. Credits Punjab for playing well. Adds that one needs to admit responsibility for whatever has happened and take the learnings positively. Says that he told Chahal absolutely nothing in the last over, nothing apart from during the last ball.

Virat Kohli and co. would have reckoned all was over the way Gayle and Rahul went hammer and tongs against Siraj and Sundar towards the end. But Punjab, somehow, took it to the last over, the last ball and that offered some hope for Bangalore. But it was punctured on the last ball as Punjab coasted through. Just the one wicket overall for Kohli's men, that of Agarwal, snared by Chahal. Morris and Saini bowled well with a tight economy rate but did not get any wickets. Chahal and Siraj were tonked out of the park. Sundar too had a pretty off day. Overall, a tough day for Bangalore in the office, with the ball, a see-saw their fortunes were, some hopes, but false ones in the end. Stay tuned for the presentation...

After some pyrotechnics, sensing that they have gotten close to a victory, both Rahul and Gayle played watchfully against Morris and Udana towards the end. It went to the last over, surprising and should not have been. But it did. Super Over? Some hopes as Punjab were struggling to get 2 in the last over...yes just 2 runs. Gayle was run out in the penultimate ball as well. 1 needed in the last ball....Super Over?....Nope, Pooran gets a six and sees Punjab home, ending the dry run.

He pummeled a hapless Washington Sundar for two maximums in the 17th over. Before that, he and Rahul smashed 20 off the 16th over, where Siraj bowled. Rahul got to a well made half-ton and the Universe Boss followed him to his 50 as well. Excellent batting from both but more so from the latter as he was struggling to find his feet earlier, but did well to recover and launch some into orbit.  

After Agarwal departed, in walked...the UNIVERSE BOSS, Chris Gayle. The first game for him this season, coming after the halfway mark in the League. Rahul was playing carefully after Agarwal got out, working the singles and diligently latching onto the bad balls and punishing it. The Universe Boss...well he was struggling to find his feet. Understandable because he has not played competitive cricket since February this year. So, he took his time to find the middle of his bat. But once he consumed some balls, uncharacteristic of him though, he decided it was time to launch the 'Six Machine' in him.

Punjab started off in their usual fashion. You know, the openers give them a good start, and the same was the case here as well. A good 78-run partnership between Rahul and Agarwal, with the latter taking Chahal to the cleaners before getting bowled.

Spectacular! Quite spectacular from Punjab. Equally from Bangalore as well but in the end, they have to contend with a loss now. Magnificent stuff from Rahul's men. Well done by Kohli's men as well. But the better of the two won it in the end.

Who will walk out to face the final ball? Pooran, Maxwell or someone else? It is Pooran! 

Who will bowl the final over?  It will be Chahal. Can he do the unimaginable? 

DRINKS! Punjab are cruising with their skipper adamant to not leave it too late and have that nervous end. The boys from North of India look well on course to do the double over Kohli's men. They need just 26 off 24 balls. If they manage to lose it from here then it will be a disaster class from them. Only a miracle can see Bangalore win this game. Can they do the unthinkable? 

Mohammed Siraj is back in the attack.

Bangalore meet Punjab in match 31 of the Indian T20 League, 2020, in Sharjah. Bangalore play their third game in 6 days but are in a happy state of mind with 5 wins. Punjab come in after a 4-day break but are on a 5-match losing streak. Languishing at the bottom of the table with just a win, what can they do to revive their fortunes? Probably reflect to their previous clash against Bangalore where they won by 97 runs. However, bowling has been their perennial issue and they need to find a way to take wickets. Gayle's availability is a big boost and that could mean Maxwell missing out. But what about the bowling? No such issues with Bangalore who really seem well-balanced with the inclusion of Morris. They would be aiming to get their 6th win and get closer to making it to the playoffs.

Royal Challengers Bangalore Team Squad -Aaron Finch,Devdutt Padikkal,Gurkeerat Singh Mann,Pavan Deshpande,Virat Kohli,Chris Morris,Moeen Ali,Shahbaz Ahmed,Shivam Dube,Washington Sundar,AB de Villiers,Josh Philippe,Parthiv Patel,Adam Zampa,Dale Steyn,Isuru Udana,Mohammed Siraj,Navdeep Saini,Pawan Negi,Umesh Yadav,Yuzvendra Chahal

Kings XI Punjab Team Squad -Chris Gayle,Deepak Hooda,Karun Nair,Mandeep Singh,Mayank Agarwal,Sarfaraz Khan,Glenn Maxwell,James Neesham,Krishnappa Gowtham,Tajinder Singh,KL Rahul,Nicholas Pooran,Prabhsimran Singh,Arshdeep Singh,Chris Jordan,Darshan Nalkande,Hardus Viljoen,Harpreet Brar,Ishan Porel,Jagadeesha Suchith,Mohammed Shami,Mujeeb Ur Rahman,Murugan Ashwin,Ravi Bishnoi,Sheldon Cottrell