NEW DELHI:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
's emphatic four-wicket victory over the Gujarat Titans marked their third consecutive win in the IPL. Faf du Plessis and
Virat Kohli
spearheaded the successful chase of a modest 148-run target, forming a formidable partnership of 92 runs in just 35 balls.
Their commanding performance laid a solid foundation for the team's triumph, achieved with 6.2 overs to spare at the M.
Chinnaswamy Stadium
.
However, du Plessis' departure triggered a brief collapse, with Gujarat Titans striking back with quick wickets. The team found itself in a precarious position at 117-6 following Kohli's dismissal.
Yet, wicketkeeper-batsman
Dinesh Karthik
, alongside
Swapnil Singh
, displayed composure and determination, guiding Bangalore to victory with an unbeaten partnership of 35 runs. Their collective effort ensured there was no further drama as they successfully steered the team home.
Skipper du Plessis, however, clearly stated that the team's mantra is to not look at the scoreboard and play the way we want to play.
"Been really good the last few games, the way we've played with bat and ball. Aggressive with the bat, unbelievable in the field. [Assessment of conditions] There was more bounce in the wicket, we got that information and the bowlers were consistently really good. We dropped a catch but have been really consistent. Something around 180-90 would have been a good score, but we've seen the way the game has changed," Du Plessis said after the match.
"Don't look at the scoreboard and play the way that we want to play. It was a bit nerve-racking, another wicket, another wicket. Probably not the best but you're trying to be positive, get your NRR up. It makes sense from that point of view but it gets to the point when you need to show a bit of calmness and composure - probably around four down, so some lessons to be learned from that," Du Plessis added.