IPL 2018: Twitter Reacts As Rajasthan Royals Thrash Royal Challengers Bangalore In Do-Or-Die Clash

Riding on Shreyas Gopal’s sensational spell of 4 for 16, Rajasthan Royals defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore by 30 runs in the must-win clash.

Chasing 165 in the do-or-die game, the Royal Challengers suffered a huge setback early on. K Gowtham castled their talismanic skipper Virat Kohli for just 4. On the other hand, Parthiv Patel was taking the Royals bowlers to the cleaners. The southpaw and AB de Villiers set the tone for the chase by adding 55 runs before the visitors suffered a mini collapse. Shreyas Gopal took three wickets in quick succession to reduce the Royal Challengers to 85 for 4 from 75 for 1. Fortunately, for Virat Kohli & Co., de Villiers was still there.

The Proteas star went on to score his sixth fifty off the season off 31 balls, thus keeping the Royal Challengers in the game. However, he was receiving little support from the other end. Colin de Grandhomme also failed to get going and departed after scoring just 2, leaving his side reeling at 96 for 5. The Royal Challengers then suffered a body blow when Gopal took his fourth wicket in the form of de Villiers. At 98 for 6, it looked all over for the Royal Challengers. They entered the three-digit mark in the 14th over. The Royal Challengers kept on losing wickets at regular intervals and were eventually all out for 134.

Earlier in the match, Rahul Tripathi’s 80 propelled the Royals to a competitive 164 for 5 in the allotted 20 overs. With the net run-rate holding a great importance at this stage, Ajinkya Rahane surprisingly decided to bat first. Umesh Yadav then further added salt to wounds by dismissing promoted opener Jofra Archer for a duck in the first over.

However, Rahul Tripathi and Ajinkya Rahane helped the Royals recover from the disastrous start as they laid the foundation a good total by adding 99 runs for the second wicket. But Umesh Yadav once again pegged the Royals back by dismissing Rahane and Sanju Samson on consecutive deliveries to reduce them to 101 for 3 from 101 for 1.

Tripathi and recalled Heinrich Klaasen then steadied the ship. The duo added 48 runs before Mohammed Siraj accounted for the South African. The Royals could not quite finish with a final flourish but Tripathi remained till the end, scoring an unbeaten 80 to ensure his side put up a respectable total.

Here is how Twitter reacted to the match:

#Heartbreak for Royal Challengers again:

RCB fans watching this match right now…. #RRvsRCB pic.twitter.com/NIGZjjULh1

— Rashi (@rashi_kakkar) May 19, 2018

RCB should thank @ABdeVilliers17 and @y_umesh for carrying them through. Hopefully, time will come when they will be playing as a team than just relying on few reputed individuals to win them games.

— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) May 19, 2018

I guess next season too #RCB won't pick Karnataka boys and they will cause damage by playing for some other side.

— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) May 19, 2018

RCB fan coming out of coma after 10 years. #RRvRCB pic.twitter.com/aDXTQyAizp

— Sagar (@sagarcasm) May 19, 2018

Realize RCB's core has only four people – VK, AB, Chahal, Umesh. Can't expect them to do everything but at the same time, not easy for guys who are swapped for fun to keep coming in to do good.

— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) May 19, 2018

RR: We are missing Buttler, Stokes and half of our side is not in form.

RCB be like: We got this, chill bro. pic.twitter.com/PO5RhOH7YT

— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) May 19, 2018

#You Go-pal:

What a spell shreyas. #shreyasgopal #topstuff ??

— Jasprit Bumrah (@Jaspritbumrah93) May 19, 2018

Gopal's spin bowling has stunned RCB dug out. Long faces everywhere. Only de Villiers stands between Rajasthan and victory

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) May 19, 2018

But what a sensational spell by Shreyas Gopal. 4/16 after not getting games regulary. A beauty to undo AB and even he couldn't believe that he dismissed an in-form de Villiers. #IPL2018 #RRvRCB

— Shubh Aggarwal (@shubh_chintak) May 19, 2018

Leg spinners are fascinating, yet so tough to play, unlike the old days. Shreyas Gopal is carrying the tradition. #RRvRCB

— ?????? ????? (@GautamSodhi1) May 19, 2018

https://twitter.com/TheLyrebird1001/status/997828619559841792

#Kohli’s rare failure:

https://twitter.com/rameshsrivats/status/997818844193394689

https://twitter.com/strangerr_18/status/997833125202771968

Virat Kohli's dismissals against spinners in IPL:

2018 – 8
2013 to 2017 – 6#RRvRCB

— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) May 19, 2018

https://twitter.com/loyallarents/status/997822800839634944

Kohli gone early. Could have BIG impact in context of this match result and teams making it to the play-offs

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) May 19, 2018

Virat Kohli is so prepared for England series that he forgot to play spin like their batsmen. #IPL

— Hardik (@Humor_Silly) May 19, 2018

#Umesh continues to torment opposition:

Stars of match yet? Rahul Tripathi and Umesh Yadav.Both have forced their way into forefront with compelling performances in recent matches

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) May 19, 2018

Umesh Yadav took consecutive wickets

vs KXIP
vs MI
vs MI
vs RR

In this IPL season

— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) May 19, 2018

Umesh yadav is best pick for RCB in years ?

— Spidey (@MrStarksPeter) May 19, 2018

#Inconsistent Samson:

Samson has a tendency to start the IPL season well and then lose momentum. He plays on the up and through the line. Maybe as the tracks get tired, it doesn't work for him.

— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) May 19, 2018

Poor Samson's IPL spoiled by playing him out of position. Royals have messed this season by their choices.

— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) May 19, 2018

Samson's form has slipped rapidly past few games. First ball duck puts Rajasthan in a hole. Rahane gone too. No Butler or Stokes to turn to

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) May 19, 2018

#Rahul Tripathi makes chance count:

In their last game of the season (most probably the last), Rahul Tripathi has shown the RR management how they wasted him by batting him down the border. A decent knock of 80* today on a slow pitch scoring almost half of his side's runs. #IPL2018

— Shubh Aggarwal (@shubh_chintak) May 19, 2018

Tripathi back at the top, clear role and see him do well. At times, teams complicate stuff far too much.

— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) May 19, 2018