He may be wearing a non-Chennai Super Kings jersey for the first time in the Indian Premier League. He may be leading an IPL franchise for the first time. But Faf du Plessis was under pressure as his sensational hitting in the latter part of his innings took Royal Challengers Bangalore to the 200-run mark in the first match of IPL 2022 against Punjab Kings.
Du Plessis’s 88 (57b, 3×4, 7×6) and his 118-run partnership from just 61 balls with Virat Kohli (No.41, 29b, 1×4, 2×6) set a high as the return of IPL action at the DY Patil Stadium. Set the tone for Total. After more than a decade. Dinesh Karthik (32 no, 14b, 3×4, 3×6) provided the final kick as RCB posted 205 for two in 20 overs.
In reply, Punjab Kings gave a spirited reply with an opening stand of 71 runs off 43 balls between skipper Mayank Agarwal (32, 24B, 2×4, 2×6) and Shikhar Dhawan (43, 29B, 5×4, 1×6). Wanindu Hasaranga broke the partnership when Mayank was dismissed on his first ball. Bhanuka Rajapaksa’s cameo followed, with the Sri Lankan hitting two fours and four sixes in a 22-ball 43.
RCB’s Mr Reliable Harshal Patel dismissed Dhawan before Mohammad Siraj, who was expensive in his first two overs, sent Rajapaksa and Raj Bawa back in successive deliveries. However, Odeon Smith in the company of Shah Rukh Khan took the Punjab Kings home with a surprise attack.
In RCB’s innings, du Plessis looked tentative, despite Kohli being flamboyant after young Anuj Rawat made a cameo in the powerplay.
RCB scored 78 for one after 11 overs, with the captain scoring 23 runs in 34 balls. However, in the next seven balls, du Plessis smashed 28 runs, scoring his half-century with successive sixes off Odeon Smith. West Indies were earlier denied the wicket of du Plessis in the powerplay due to Shah Rukh’s lapse.
The rain of sixes continued as Kohli – who had danced under the wicket to send left-arm spinner Harpreet Brar into the sights earlier – hit another six after du Plessis’ back-to-back maximums.
RCB scored 58 runs in three overs and prepared for the end of the match. Despite du Plessis falling short of a century, Kohli and Karthik provided the perfect finish as the Bengaluru team scored 61 runs in the last five overs.