RCB vs GT Highlights, IPL 2024: Faf du Plessis scores 64 before Dinesh Karthik rescues Bengaluru from batting implosion to defeat Gujarat by 4 wickets

15 needed just and Ahmad with the ball. Starts with a dot and then a single to put the in-form Karthik on strike. He defends the next ball as Karthik looks to see this over off. Another single as RCB move closer. Swapnil with a sweep next for a 4!! Goes again and ends this one witha 4!! 10 from this one

Rashid Khan in the atatck anbd Karthik with a boundary to start!! If only GT had scored some more runs. Nicks the next one behind foe 2 more runs. Karthik pulls for a four next as the target gets smaller and smaller. Lovely shot again as Karthik hits his 3rd boundary of the match. The match is probably out of GT's reach now.  16 from this one

Noor Ahmed in the attack and Karthik with a single off the 2nd delivery of the over. Kohli onm strike and smashes a boundary to relieve the pressure. This is the wicket GT would want. And he's gone!!! Do GT have a chance here?? Oh dear god!! Kohli edges and that's all she wrote for him.

Kohli c Saha b Noor Ahmad 42(27)

Little to bowl out with this over and Kohli starts with a single before Green takes a single of his own. Kohli on strike again and misses the next ball bnefore taking a single off the next. Green on strike and hge is gone as well!! Shahrukh Khan with the catch!! RCB are making a meal of this chase after such a terrific start.

Green c Shahrukh Khan b Joshua Little 1(2)

Noor Ahmad in the attack now and Kohli can't seem to get away as he plays 5 back to back dots before taking just a solitary run from this over.

And what do you know!! That's another wicket down for RCB as Maxwell goes for a big hit and plays it straight into the grateful palms of Miller. That's number 4 to bite the dust.

Maxwell c Miller b Joshua Little 4(3) 

Little continues and Patidar with a single to star. Kohli strikes the next one sweetly but there's a fielder there so it's just a single. Patidar does not last long as he holes out to Miller in the deep. 

Rajat Patidar c Miller b Joshua Little 2(3)

Noor Ahmad introduced in the attack and Kohli smasjes him for a four to start before taking a single off the next. Jacks on strike and huge shout for catch but it's beyond Gill. And he gets a leading edge and Shahrukh Khan in the deep takes a simple catch.

Will Jacks c Shahrukh Khan b Noor Ahmad 1(3) 

Joshua Little back and Faf starts with a four before smashing him for a huge six off the third ball. And another four follows as RCB reaches their highest-ever powerplay score. Gill looks absolutely distraught. And ultimately Faf has to depart after pulling another ball which cramps him and he gives a simple catch to Shahrukh Khan

du Plessis c Shahrukh Khan b Joshua Little 64(23)

Suthar continues and Kohli with two defensive strokes to start with 2 dots. The 3rd is more in his hitting arc and he smacks it over the topes for a 6!! Follows that up with another maxiumum as RCB races towards the target!! Takes a single and faf with a single of his own to bring up his 50. 14 from this one

Mohit again and Faf with a four to begin this one. Too easy for Bengaluru at the moment and 50 is up. Change of pace next and Faf with a single. Kohli with another single and faf on strike again. No hurry for them as only 6 is required from an over now. Faf finds another gap and another boundary!! Mohit does not know what to do at the moment. A full toss next and Faf has smacked that over long on for a four!! Ends this one with another 4!! Just bleeding runs now Gujarat. 18 frrom this one.

Spin is in for GT now as Manav Suthar is introduced. Kohli with a single to start this one off. Faf on strike and he defends the next one. And smacks the next one over the long on ropes for another 6!! Follows it up with a four and the target is already under 100. 12 from this one

Joshua Little in the attack now and Faf with back to back boundaries to welcome him. One might have been caught by Gill but that just sails over him. And the RCB skipper with another top shot that goes straight over mid off for a six!! Intent!! Smacks the next one but that falls just short of the boundary!! 2 more added to the total. Ends the over with another four!! RCB are off to a flier!! 20 from this one 

Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis in the middle for the run chase. Mohit Sharma to start the attack and Faf starts with a quick single which if Miller had a direct hit, would send Kohli packing. Kohli on strike and he has started this one off with a huge six!! Takes a single next and Faf returns the favour. Kohli ends this one with another 6!! 14 from this one

Last over now and can GT get to at least 160? We have seen KKR defend just that total in the last match against MI. Vijaykumar Vyshak to bowl and strikes in the very first delivery. Suthar picks up the lone man in the deep and he's gone. And there's a run out in the very next ball!! GT are going down rapidly now. Mohit Sharma is also gone. And there's the last wicket as GT are wiped out for just 147. Shankar the last man to go.

Siraj continues and Vijay Shankar hits it straight for a boundary!! Even the umpire had to duck for it. Takes a single next and debutant Manav Suthar is on strike. A single by Suthar and Shankar back on strike. And a quick delivery goes over Karthik for a four!! 11 from this one

And would you know it!! That's another wicket down in the same over as Vyshak takes a marvellous catch in the third man region to send back a well-set Tewatia!!

Rahul Tewatia c Vijaykumar Vyshak b Yash Dayal 35(21)

Dayal back and he almost gets a wicket. Tewatia looks to go over the deep midwicket boundary and it falls just short of the incoming fielder. And he has cleaned up Rashid!! The batter come across, exposed his stumps and pays for it!! 

Rashid Khan b Yash Dayal 18(14)

Siraj back in the attack and Tewatia with a single to start this one off. Eashid on strike and he swings and misses. Smashes a 4 off the next ball as he joins the party. Siraj with a slower ball next and Rashid misses. Streaky four off the 5th and the over ends with a dot. 9 from this one

Karn Sharma rto start his 3rd over and Tewatia starts this one with a sweep for a boundary!! They'll be targetting this over . And that is followed up with a slog sweep for a six!! Follows it up with another 4!! 14 already from this over, the highest so far. Sweeps again and gets another boundary and Tewatia brings up his 1000 runs in the IPL. 19 from this one.

Vijaykumar Vyshak again and Tewatia gets an inside edge on thigh before taking a single off the next ball. Another short abll and Rashid with a six!! He just swings and gets a meaty piece of bat to it, helping it sail over the deepo backward square leg ropes. 9 from the over

Cameron Green back in the attack and Tewatia with a single to start. Short ball next and it has rapped Rashid on the shoulder!! Swings at the next and gets a couple. Apull next but this also falls short of a fielder. Rashid living dangerously here. 5 from this over

Vijaykumar Vyshak in the attack now and Shahrukh with a single to start this one off. Tewatia with a single of his own off the next ball as the scoreboard is kept ticking. Is that a run out now?? Kohli with a direct hit and yes!!! That's another gone as Shahrukh walks back.

Shahrukh Khan run out (Kohli) 37(24)

Karn Sharma will look to make up for the catch drop as he comes to bowl this one. Yields 2 from the first 2 before Miller clobbers him for a six!! Goes for it again and this time, he has holed out to Glenn Maxwell!! Huge wicket and Sharma can heave a sigh of relief. 

Miller c Maxwell b Karn Sharma 30(20)

Green switches ends and Miller with a class shot to welcome him with a four. Just guided it to third man. At last, Gujarat getting boundaries regularly. Oh dear, dear, dear!! Karn Sharma has dropped Miller. Straight at his midriff and Sharma couldn't hold on to it. Shahrukh now with a six!! Over mid-on it goes and the 50-run partnership is up. 11 from this one

In to the 10th over Karn Sharma in the attack. Shahrukh with a single and that's 50 for Hyderabad. Miller on strike and he smashes the next ball into the crowd!! Woofff!! Takes a single next and Shahrukh back to face the spinner. Gets nothing from the two balls he faced before ending the over with a four!! 12 from this one

Dayal will bowl the 9th over and Miller with a quick single. Looks tight but Mller was in. Shahrukh with a mistimed pull next and a four!! Takes a single and Miller is on strike.  2 singles and a dot to end this over. 8 from it

Green continues and starts with 2 dots as miller is cautious in the early going. Finally, gets a proper bat to the 3rd and plays it for a four towards long on. Shout of catch it next but falls just short as Miller survives. Another short ball and Shahrukh pulls, goes high but falls short. It has hit him on the helmet as well as the physio is brought on the field. 7 from this over

Vijaykumar Vyshak in the attack now and Shahrukh Khan starts this one with a boundary. Not the best ball to bowl in the circumstances. Bowler comes back with two dots. Make that three as Khan tries a swing but gets beaten. What do we have here? RCB have taken a review for caught behind but no one seemed convinced. Nothing, shows Ultraedge. RCB burn a review. 4 to end. 11 from this one

Last over of the powerplay and GT are really struggling for runs here. Just 18 from the first 5, 3.6 runs per over. Green to bowl this one and starts with a back of the length delivery and Shahrukh with a single. Sudharsan on strike but can't get a shot away. And another one bites the dust. Like a procession!! Sudharsan swings, gets the top edge and kohli takes an easy catch.

Sai Sudharsan c Kohli b Green 6(14)

Dayal in to bowl the next over and Sudharsan with a single to start. Shahrukh Khan on strike and hits the next one straight, getting 2 runs. Almost another wicket as Shahrukh strikes, get a top edge but falls safe. Takes a single next and Sudharsan on strike now. Lovely swinger from Dayal top beat Sudharsan off the 5th. 4 from this one

Siraj in tp bowl the next one and starts with an inswinger that floats beyond Gill nut DK with a great save behind the wickets to keep it from reaching the boundary. Gill with a single off the next and Sudharsan on strike. Just a single from the next two balls as GT are really struggling for runs. no boundaries yet from the first 4 overs. And Gill trying to go hard falls!!! Swings the bat and the lofted shot goes all wrong. Vijaykumar Vyshak with an easy catch.

Shubman Gill c Vijaykumar Vyshak b Siraj 2(7)

Yash Dayal in the atatck now and Sudharsan with a pull and a miss. On the money from the bowler. The next one is hit straight and high but just falls short of the boundary to get 2 runs. Takes a single off the 4th ball while nerxt next one whizzes past Gill's shoulder. Ends with a single. 4 from this over

Siraj steams in for the second over but pulls up before delivering the first ball. Goes again and Saha gets hit on the thigh pad. Continues with the good lengh forcing Saha to defend. And he's gone the next ball. Tries to swipe at the delivery, no movement of the feet and that's nicked behind for a simple catch to Karthik.

Saha c Karthik b Siraj 1(7)

Right then, time for some live action. Wriddhiman Saha and Shubman Gill in the middle. Swapnil Singh to start the attack. Begins with 2 dots as Saha's drive is saved by some excellent fielding. Takes a single off the 4th and Gill can't add anything to the score. Just 1 from the first over  

Anuj Rawat, Mahipal Lomror, Akash Deep, Rajat Patidar, Suyash Prabhudessai

Sandeep Warrier, Sharath BR, Darshan Nalkande, Vijay Shankar, Jayant Yadav

Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis(c), Will Jacks, Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, Dinesh Karthik(w), Karn Sharma, Swapnil Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Yash Dayal, Vijaykumar Vyshak

Wriddhiman Saha(w), Shubman Gill(c), Sai Sudharsan, David Miller, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Manav Suthar, Noor Ahmad, Mohit Sharma, Joshua Little

The talk is to win four in four. It's important to turn up and deliver our best. I feel our fielding has let us down. We have had a chat about it. We need to be a better team as a fielding unit, we have had a chat. IPL is such a long tournament. It's important to turn up on the day. We have two changes, Manav makes his debut and Josh Little comes in.

We are going to chase. The conversation has been good. To make that shift from the beginning, that's pleasing. From a batting perspective we have found our mojo. The guys can come in and bat freely. Same team.

Total matches played: 4, 

Royal Challengers Bengaluru won: 2, 

Gujarat Titans won: 2

57m and 64m square boundaries respectively, 69m down the ground. It's extremely hard, not a lot of grass. It will getting good for batting, reckons Hayden. Can trust the bounce. The boundaries are really small, it can be a high-scoring contest.

The messaging was pretty clear - just to play well and compete well. When we play to our best, we give ourselves the best chance to win. As bowlers there are very few things you can control. If you can land the ball in the right area with the right of release, that’s all you can control. As a bowler, you want the ball in all phases of the game. Whenever there is pressure, you want to make an impact. Happy to take up the pressure wherever needed. There is very good skill levels in the group. More than skill, it’s the mental toughness that takes you through. Hope that we bounce back and play to our best potential.

“All the people who talk about strike rates and me not playing spin well are the ones talking about this stuff. For me, it’s about winning games for the team and there’s a reason why you’ve done it for 15 years, you’ve done this day in and day out, you’ve won games for your teams,” he said during a post-match presentation.

“I’m not quite sure if you haven’t been in that situation yourself, to sit and talk about the game from the box. For me, people can talk about their assumptions day in and day out, but those who have done (it) day in and day out, they know what’s happening and it’s a kind of muscle memory for me now,” he said.

“We have not been discussing it (Virat Kohli’s strike rate). He has been in great form, no concerns there at all. You are still going to a World Cup, there is still gap there. That’s where experience does matter a lot. If the tournament turns out like the IPL. If 220 (pitch) plays like 220, we have the skills. At the end of the day when you turn up for a World Cup, the pressure is different,” he reasoned.

Virat Kohli’s strike rate at the ongoing Indian Premier League has been a topic of plenty of debate. While the Royal Challengers Bengaluru batter sits on second spot in the IPL 2024 Orange Cap standings with 500 runs from 10 innings (just nine runs behind CSK’s Ruturaj Gaikwad), his runs have come at a strike rate of 147.49.

This has led to plenty of debate whether India need two players like Rohit Sharma and Kohli at the top of the batting who cannot accelerate the innings with the pace that modern T20 format demands.

"It's definitely something I'm adapting to. I started doing it in November last year in the Caribbean for England. It's obviously different. The hardest thing I found is coming in outside the PowerPlay. You get a few to have a look at, you get a few easy boundaries and get yourself rolling. But outside the PowerPlay, you have to make the play yourself and it's harder to be 17-18 off 10 balls. So I think it's more of a mental thing... It's about what I can do best to help the team's chances from this position. It's something I'm getting better at."

The RCB vs GT IPL 2024 match will be streamed on the JioCinema App and telecast on the Star Sports Network on May 4, Saturday from 7:30 PM IST.

There was plenty of rain in Bengaluru on Friday afternoon, although it subsided in the evening. The forecast is the same for Saturday, so while it is expected to be cloudy, rain should not interrupt play.

Matches played: 1, 

Royal Challengers Bengaluru won: 1, 

Gujarat Titans won: 0

Bengaluru’s wicket is expected to be batting-friendly as the pitch offers true bounce.

Total matches played: 4, 

Royal Challengers Bengaluru won: 2, 

Gujarat Titans won: 2

Gujarat Titans bowling group too has been vastly underwhelming, and none reflected it more than Rashid Khan. The star spinner has taken just eight wickets across 10 matches while giving eight runs an over, a significantly higher economy rate than his overall 6.7 in IPL since 2017.

Shubman Gill (c), Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Sai Sudharsan, Shahrukh Khan, David Miller, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, R Sai Kishore, Mohit Sharma, Noor Ahmad

Virat Kohli continues to be a run-making presence as he recently became the first batter to go past the 500-run mark in this edition of the IPL, and RCB will certainly like a few more from his willow.

Faf du Plessis (c), Virat Kohli, Will Jacks, Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Karn Sharma, Mohammed Siraj, Yash Dayal, Swapnil Singh, Vyshak Vijaykumar

Impact Sub: Mahipal Lomror

At the core of the team picked for World T20 are seniors with no ICC titles. Kohli has won the 50-overs title in 2011 but he isn’t a T20 World Champion. If India’s Cuplessness continues, for a generation that aren’t T20 natives, this would be the third successive failure.

There are already whispers that India hasn’t quite kept pace with the format where batsmen aspire to have a 200-strike rate. Questions are already being asked from the commentators box. Irfan Pathan can’t understand Hardik Pandya’s inclusion, Krishnamachari Srikkanth is puzzled by Rinku Singh’s exclusion.