IPL 10, Match 56, DD v RCB - Royal Challengers Bangalore Player Ratings

After a season full of interesting and thrilling encounters, it was an anti-climax to the league stages of the IPL 10. The final league was contested between two sides who were already out of the contention from the playoffs. Hence, the inconsequential clash between Delhi Daredevils and Royal Challengers Bangalore had very little to be played for. It was only about finishing the season with a win to return with pride.

Coming into the game, it was Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli who won the toss and opted to bat first. As the story of the season had been, the wickets kept tumbling at regular intervals in the RCB innings. However, it was skipper Virat Kohli who managed to hold the fort from one end in the game. Kohli’s fine knock of 58 was supported by Chris Gayle’s 48 in the game as the RCB camp posted 161/6 in their 20 overs.

In the run chase, Delhi Daredevils middle-order handed some cameos to help their side stay in the run chase. After having lost Sanju Samson for a duck, Karun Nair scored 26 and Shreyas Iyer chipped in with 32 at the top order. However, it was Rishabh Pant who kept the Delhi fans interested in the game. The Daredevils were in the hunt as long as Pant was at the crease.

When Pant perished in the 17th over after scoring 45 off 34 balls, the match was pretty much in the hands of Royal Challengers Bangalore. RCB eventually ended up winning their third game of the season.

Here are the Royal Challengers Bangalore Player Ratings for the DD v RCB game:

Vishnu Vinod – 3/10

Young wicket-keeper batsman Vishnu Vinod was given yet another game this season. The team wanted to try their bench strength and hence the Kerala wicket-keeper batsman got his opportunity in the game. He was promoted to the opening slot and had the task of opening with Chris Gayle.

Vinod, who is a renowned hitter of the cricket ball in domestic circuit, failed to deliver on the day. He could only score 3 runs before being dismissed in the fifth over. Later in the game, he was decent with the wicket-keeping gloves. He effected a stumping which was worth a mention in the highlights package.

Chris Gayle – 8/10

Hard-hitting batsman Chris Gayle has always been the star player for the Royal Challengers Bangalore. He is arguably the most successful batsman in the shortest format of the game. Despite his big stature, Gayle failed to be anywhere close to his reputation this season.

Coming into this game, he was under pressure to perform. The Big Jamaican ended the dismal run for him on a high though. He managed to score a well-fought 48 that came off 38 balls with 3 fours and 3 sixes to his name. He forged a clinical 66 run stand with Virat Kohli in the game.

Virat Kohli – 8.5/10

The RCB skipper had been under the scrutiny ever since he walked into the tournament. A string of defeats for the RCB in this season had seen him get under serious pressure. Hence, it was only fitting that Kohli silenced all critics by slamming a fifty in the last league game of the season.

He walked into bat in the fifth over of the match after the departure of opener Vishnu Vinod. He batted with flair and charm to notch up yet another fifty this season. He finished with a score of 58 to his name. His efforts came off in just 45 balls with 3 fours and 3 sixes to his name. The highlight of the innings was his check shot that went for a six off the bowling of Corey Anderson in the 9th over of the game.

Travis Head – 4/10

Travis Head had arguably been the most successful batsman for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the limited opportunities that he got in the match. Head failed to get amongst the runs in this game though. He perished after scoring just 2 in the match. However, he covered up with his bowling on the day though. Head managed to take two wickets in the 3 overs that he bowled on the day. He finished with figures of 2/30 in his spell.

Kedar Jadhav – 4/10

Kedar Jadhav was relieved of the pressure of wicket-keeping in this game. He had largely been unsuccessful in the wicket-keeping department in the season. With Vishnu Vinod coming in the squad, Jadhav had the responsibility of playing the role of the hitter in the game. However, he failed to contribute with the bat. He could only score 12 runs. Later in the game, he contributed with two catches in the field.

Sachin Baby – 2/10

Sachin Baby got another game this season but could not leave an impact on the game. Sachin Baby was drafted in the side to play the role of the finisher. He was expected to use the long handle in the match. But, the Kerala batsman could only add 12 runs to the scorecard in this particular game. He did not have a lot to do in the fielding either. But with no blemishes in the fielding department, Baby gets his 2 ratings for the match.

Shane Watson – 6.5/10

Former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson had the worst of times in the IPL this season. Watson, who has been a perennial performer in the tournament history, had a very ordinary time in the field this season. However, much to his relief, Watson managed to finish things off on a decent note.

Watson got very few opportunities to bat in the game. He remained unbeaten on 4 and was demoted below Sachin Baby in the batting order. With the ball, he bowled a superlative spell of 4 overs. He gave away only 16 runs in the 4 overs he bowled and bagged a wicket too.

Pawan Negi – 9/10

Pawan Negi managed to show a glimpse of his batting pyrotechnics finally. In this season, he had been the dark horse for the team. In a team where no players played good cricket on a consistent basis, Negi had been a consistent performer with the ball this season.

In this match, he scored an unbeaten 13 off just 5 balls during his stay at the crease. With the ball, he was exceptional with the ball. He bowled two overs on the day and gave away only 10 runs. More importantly, he bagged 3 wickets to cap off the win for his team.

Harshal Patel – 8.5/10

Harshal Patel got to play his first game of the season. He managed to take wickets at regular intervals in the game. However, he could not stop the run flow in the match. He gave away as many as 43 runs in the four overs that he bowled on the day. Harshal Patel returned with 3 wickets to his name in the match. He was awarded the Man of the Match for his efforts in the match.

Avesh Khan – 8/10

Young pace bowler Avesh Khan was very impressive with the way he gave the first look of his talent in the Indian Premier League. The very first ball that he bowled on the day was a delivery that rose high on the batsman Sanju Samson. The commentators were in awe of him rightaway.

On the very next delivery, Avesh Khan managed to bounce out Samson. He bowled exceptionally well on the day. Avesh, who was seen in the Indian colors during the previous U19 World Cup, returned with figures of 1/23 in his quota of four overs.

Yuzvendra Chahal – 3/10

It was one of the rare failures for the young Royal Challengers Bangalore leggie Yuzvendra Chahal. Throughout the course of the tournament, Chahal had been an impressive name in the field. He had constantly seen his name in the wickets column.

He was perhaps one of the few players who played consistently for the RCB camp. In this game, the Delhi Daredevils batsmen found it easy to negotiate with him. In the three overs that he bowled, he returned with figures of 0/24 in the game. He deserves some credit though. He bowled in the powerplay overs and still managed to contain the run flow.