It rarely gets more significant than Mumbai Indians versus Royal Challengers Bangalore for marquee battles in the Indian Premier League. However, the stands do not heave with fans as they do because the pandemic meant that the players had to create the strength.
There is no denying that Virat Kohli versus Rohit Sharma is mouth-watering, even though it was AB de Villiers who did whatever it took to be crowned impact and an all-time great player who stole the spotlight in the first half.
When someone stands up, the IPL also creates play inside play. Kohli tried to shake off the rust after months without any cricket and he and Sharma both lost. De Villiers capped the big-hitting RCB at the Dubai International Stadium.
With just three out of nine games having been won by chasing teams, Rohit Sharma decided to bowl. After spectacular hits by Ishan Kishen (99-58b, 2×4, 9×6) and Kieron Pollard (60 * -24b), it ended in a tie, the second of the version. With Pollard’s last-ball four, RCB scored 201, and MI, after an early wobble, reached 201/5.
I was restricted by Navdeep Saini to 7/1 in the Super Over. With Virat Kohli hitting Jasprit Bumrah for a four, RCB reached the target on the last ball of the Super Over.
It was the stalwart from South Africa who energized the RCB’s innings. De Villiers, 36, and the senior IPL pro, too, did not get much practice coming into the IPL. His matches are limited to franchise cricket after international retirement, also.
There was hope that in the 2019 ICC World Cup, he would come out of retirement to assist South Africa, but all that happened was a discussion over why it didn’t happen.
However, the South African was in excellent contact. The conversation about slow pitches and big pitches was left to the rest. De Villiers has continued to deliver his big patent shots, driving bowlers early in this version on the defensive.
Will the Proteas be trying him out for the T20 World Cup in 2021?
The RCB innings paused on Tuesday, after being asked to bat first, as Kohli (3 out of 11 balls) had struggled to get going until being dismissed against the spin of Rahul Chahar.
De Villiers took charge and manufactured incredible shots. As short deliveries arrived, Jasprit Bumrah felt the heat flying out of the ground.
De Villiers (55 *-24b, 4×4, 4×6), undoubtedly the best international cricket athlete for years, also keeps wicket to give RCB outstanding balance and shakes off the picture as a top-heavy lop-sided batting unit of the past that hardly ever seemed to have a Plan B.
In an IPL career that began spectacularly, young RCB opener Devdutt Padikkal (54- 42b, 5×4, 2×6) struck his second fifty. In his first half-century, if he was the aggressor, the 20-year-old showed maturity as laid into the bowling by Aaron Finch (52-35b, 7×4, 1×6).
During Kohli’s short stay, their 81-run stand in nine overs was followed by a dip, but during his 62-run stand with de Villiers, Padikkal stepped it up, playing clean lofted shots.
De Villiers was the boss, and there is no sign of his control weakening year after year. A sluggish bouncer hit Trent Boult’s cap, yet another short one-two balls later flew for six over square-leg.
On Monday, Bumrah (0/42) struggled for pace, he had one dot ball in his four-over spell, and the South African great also meted out his short hop with the same care.
Shivam Dube scored sixes off the final finish of James Pattinson, with the last taking the score past 200. However, an exciting finale was set up by 22-year-old Ishan Kishen’s anchoring knock and Pollard’s usual power-hitting.
