Cricket

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper Faf du Plessis has been fined a hefty Rs 12 lakh, while Punjab Kings (PBKS) captain Sam Curran has been penalized 50% of his match fees for their respective offenses during the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season.Du Plessis' fine stems from his team's slow over rate during RCB's thrilling one-run loss to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Eden Gardens on Sunday. It was RCB's first over-rate offense of the season.The IPL statement read, "Mr Faf du Plessis, Captain, Royal Challengers Bengaluru has been fined after his team maintained a slow over-rate during Match 36 of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata on April 21, 2024."Curran, on the other hand, was fined for showing dissent towards an umpire's decision during PBKS' three-wicket loss to Gujarat Titans (GT) in Mullanpur on Sunday. The offense falls under Article 2.8 of the IPL's Code of Conduct, which prohibits "showing dissent at an umpire's decision.""Curran committed a Level 1 offense under Article 2.8 of the IPL's Code of Conduct. He admitted to the offense and accepted the Match Referee's sanction. For Level 1 breaches of the Code of Conduct, the Match Referee's decision is final and binding," an IPL media release stated.The loss against GT was Punjab's fourth on the trot, leaving them languishing in ninth place in the points table.

Former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper Virat Kohli's childhood coach, Rajkumar Sharma, hailed the batter's match-winning performance against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Monday. Kohli's batting masterclass, combined with finishing touches from Dinesh Karthik and Mahipal Lomror, sealed a four-wicket win for RCB at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.Kohli's 77-run innings was a testament to his class and experience. He registered a unique record during the match, becoming the first Indian and overall only third player to score 100 T20 fifty-plus scores. The 35-year-old was back at his vintage best, scoring 77 runs in 49 balls, with 11 fours and two sixes. He scored his runs at a strike rate of over 157.In 378 appearances, Kohli has scored 12,092 runs at an average of 41.26, with eight centuries and 92 fifties. His best score is 122*. Virat is India's leading T20 run getter and overall sixth.In terms of most fifty-plus scores, above Kohli are West Indies batting great Chris Gayle (110 fifty-plus scores including 22 centuries) and Australian great David Warner (109 fifty-plus scores including eight centuries).Coming to the match, Punjab Kings (PBKS) saw their batters getting starts but none of them could convert it into something big. Skipper Shikhar Dhawan (45 in 37 balls with five fours and a six), Jitesh Sharma (27 in 20 balls with a four and two sixes), and Sam Curran (23 in 17 balls) played decent knocks, but on a batting-friendly Chinnaswammy track, PBKS could muster only 176/6 in 20 overs.Mohammed Siraj (2/26) and Glenn Maxwell (2/29) took two scalps each. Yash Dayal and Alzarri Joseph took a wicket each.In the chase of 177, RCB continued to lose wickets at regular intervals, but Kohli (77 in 49 balls, with 11 fours and two sixes) held the ship steady at the other end. After his dismissal, things got tricky for RCB, but finishing from Dinesh Karthik (28* in 10 balls, with three fours and two sixes) and Mahipal Lomror (17* in eight balls, with two fours and a six) guided the team to a four-wicket win with four balls left.Harpreet Brar (2/13) and Kagiso Rabada (2/23) were the pick of the bowlers for PBKS.Kohli was awarded the Player of the Match for his marvelous innings.

Punjab Kings skipper Shikhar Dhawan expressed his disappointment after his team's four-wicket defeat against Royal Challengers Bangalore, attributing it to a slow start and a crucial dropped catch.Batting first, PBKS struggled to gain momentum, scoring only 40 runs in the powerplay. Dhawan admitted to playing slowly in the initial overs, costing his team valuable runs. The dismissal of Jonny Bairstow further hindered their progress.In the second innings, Virat Kohli's dropped catch proved costly as the RCB batter went on to score a match-winning 77. Dhawan lamented the missed opportunity, believing it could have shifted the momentum in PBKS's favor.Despite the loss, Dhawan praised Harpreet Brar's performance, who emerged as a game-changer with his economical bowling and crucial wickets.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season is underway, and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are set to face off against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in a highly anticipated match. Both teams are coming off contrasting results in their opening matches, with RCB suffering a defeat to the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and PBKS securing a thrilling victory over the Delhi Capitals (DC).RCB, led by Dinesh Karthik, will be eager to bounce back from their disappointing start. Despite a challenging start, RCB's middle-order batsmen, Anuj Rawat and Karthik, rescued the team from a precarious position of 78 for 5 to 173 for 6. However, their bowling fell short as they struggled with length, allowing the CSK batters to capitalize and secure a 6-wicket victory.On the other hand, PBKS, led by Mayank Agarwal, began their IPL 2024 campaign with a resounding 4-wicket victory against DC. Arshdeep Singh and Harpreet Brar impressed with the ball, restricting DC to a total of 174 runs. With the bat, Sam Curran's remarkable innings of 63 runs off 47 balls, supported by Liam Livingstone, guided PBKS to victory.Looking at the head-to-head record, PBKS have faced off against RCB in 31 matches, securing victory in 17 of them. However, RCB emerged victorious in their last encounter in 2023. PBKS will be confident in their ability to reverse the outcome this year and come out on top.The match between RCB and PBKS promises to be an exciting contest. RCB will be looking to return to winning ways, while PBKS will aim to maintain their winning streak. Both teams have a wealth of talent and experience, and the outcome of the match could have a significant impact on their respective campaigns in IPL 2024.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Face Punjab Kings in High-Scoring Chinnaswamy ClashRoyal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will host Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Monday, April 10, in a highly anticipated Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter.After a disappointing loss to Chennai Super Kings in their opening match, RCB will be eager to bounce back on their home turf. However, they face a formidable challenge in PBKS, who boast a powerful batting lineup and are brimming with confidence after their victory over Delhi Capitals.The Chinnaswamy Stadium is renowned for its flat pitches and high-scoring games, which suits PBKS's aggressive batting style. Shikhar Dhawan, Jonny Bairstow, and Liam Livingstone are all capable of explosive innings, while Sam Curran provides all-round balance.RCB's batting, on the other hand, struggled against CSK's left-arm seamer Mustafizur Rahman. PBKS also possess a left-arm seamer in Arshdeep Singh, who has developed an effective legcutter. However, the ball is unlikely to grip at the Chinnaswamy, especially under lights.Anuj Rawat's impressive performance against CSK provides a glimmer of hope for RCB. His ability to accelerate the scoring rate in the death overs could be crucial for the team's success.RCB may consider bringing in Reece Topley for Alzarri Joseph, while PBKS is expected to field an unchanged lineup.Impact Player Strategy:RCB will likely start with Dinesh Karthik if they bat first, with Yash Dayal coming in as Impact Player in the second innings. If they bowl first, Dayal will feature in the playing XI, with Karthik replacing him during the chase.PBKS will slot in Prabhsimran Singh if they bat first, with Arshdeep Singh replacing him in the second innings. Vice versa, if they bowl first.Key Stats:* Kagiso Rabada has a strong record against RCB batters, particularly Faf du Plessis, Virat Kohli, and Glenn Maxwell.* Harpreet Brar has been PBKS's most economical bowler in the middle overs, with a favorable matchup against Maxwell.* Jonny Bairstow has a high strike rate against Mohammed Siraj, Karn Sharma, and Maxwell.* Kohli has enjoyed success against Arshdeep and Harshal Patel, but Rahul Chahar has been able to contain him.* Karthik has a strong record against Sam Curran.Pitch and Conditions:The Chinnaswamy Stadium has the highest scoring rate of any IPL venue, with teams averaging 9.42 runs per over since 2018. The temperature on Monday is expected to be around 28C, with no dew anticipated.