Where RCB derive their strength from at the Chinnaswamy, instead, is from their legion of loyal fans who have stood by them through thick and thin for 16 years
Shikhar Dhawan during his 45 against RCB yesterday. Pic/PTI
Most franchises in the IPL have made their home venues somewhat of a fortress, but Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) can’t claim that the M Chinnaswamy Stadium is their bastion. After all, out of 80 previous games in the IPL that have ended decisively at this venue, RCB have won 40 and lost as many.
ADVERTISEMENT
Where RCB derive their strength from at the Chinnaswamy, instead, is from their legion of loyal fans who have stood by them through thick and thin for 16 years. The loyalists turned up in large numbers again on Monday for RCB’s first home game of IPL 2024 and were witness to a topsy-turvy first half that ended with Punjab Kings finishing with a competitive but not gigantic 176 for six.
Also Read: Ray of light for out-of-favour Kishan as BCCI secy Shah chats with him post game
The Chinnaswamy generally throws up belters which, allied with the shortish boundaries, facilitate a run-fest. This wasn’t one such surface, the spongy bounce and a bit of assistance for the bowlers rendering shot-making anything but a straightforward proposition. Punjab’s batsmen therefore struggled to impose themselves, shackled both by the discipline of the RCB pacers and the questions posed by the surface, seldom surging into the ascendancy after being pegged back by an outstanding opening spell by Yash Dayal.
The left-arm quick bowled three overs in the Powerplay for returns of none for 10, bottling one end up and hitting the Test-match lengths that elicited no aggressive response from Shikhar Dhawan (45), the Punjab captain, and the out of sorts Jonny Bairstow.
This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
