Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, 53rd Match - Live Cricket Score, Commentary

So, that is game number 53, done and dusted. RCB's chances as well. Another season which flattered to deceive. They were good in patches but the patches came together too late. RR on the other hand are still breathing. An MI loss and CSK avoiding a drubbing will help them eke out a top four finish. But a shellacking for KKR is what they can pray for as well. That is where we are headed to. Switch tabs to catch game number 54. This is Kumar Abhisekh Das signing off on behalf of Rishi Roy, Abhinand, Nikhil, Mr. S and Naga.

Shreyas Gopal: Obviously feels great. We knew this game was a pressure game for us. Actually both the teams. It feels even better that the team needed me and I performed. I would not have been feeling half as better had the team lost. You can never have a set plan for someone like ABD. So, I was a bit shocked. There was a little bit of help from the wicket. There was a little bit of spin. I kept it at the wickets and relied on my googly and flipper as much as I could. We are like brothers now (when asked about Ish Sodhi). I keep picking his brains. He is wonderful with the way he puts in an effort with every ball that he bowls. There are a lot of things that I can learn from him.

Ajinkya Rahane: Definitely much needed victory for us. We knew that 160 would be very difficult on this wicket. Though RCB had a very good batting line up. Credit goes to our bowlers. Under pressure, the two leggies did really well. Getting wickets in the middle overs was never easy. I think the intent was to go positive from the start. We felt Jofra at the top of the order could give us a positive start and with me at 3, Samson at 4 and Klaasen at 5 our batting order would have looked deeper. It was important to play good cricket. This evening was very special. It was more about focusing on the things that we could control. Klaasen's innings was really good and Rahul's innings at the top was magnificent. It is important to enjoy this win and stay calm.

Virat Kohli, RCB captain: "Yeah, it was a strange one. We were in a great position. 75/1, and the way we were bundled out wasn't ideal. Someone like AB who can hit fours and sixes was knocking it around so the others didn't support him and apply themselves properly. We needed more smart decision-making there. These things should be repeated by 5-6 guys in a row. We wanted to strengthen the middle-order which hasn't happened, it hasn't been our strength and we need to do that going into the next few seasons. We need to be smarter with composing our team. The responsibility cannot be taken up only by AB all the time. He certainly scored runs, but others need to contribute around him, and didn't show enough composure. There were some new players who did well. Umesh bowled extremely well with the new ball, Chahal was great, Siraj and Moeen contributed too, so plenty of positives to take into the next season. However, after cruising at 75/1 it was disappointing that we couldn't finish it off well. I would like to wish all the other teams the best of luck for the remainder of the competition."

Kohli did sport a smile as he came in to shake hands with the players but I am sure he is hurting a lot. This was certainly not something that RCB had planned for. Before the game, almost everyone was talking about how RCB can better their run rate. But that was a far cry if you look at in hindsight. We all know who the Man of the Match is! Don't we? But then Tripathi was the one who gave RR the par score, or may be a little more, on a wicket which played as RR had expected it to.

The Karnataka boys have derailed RCB's campaign here. Gowtham started it off by removing Kohli and Gopal just took it forward with a dream spell. He picked up a four-fer and RCB could never recover. Gowtham ended RCB's miseries by taking the final catch as well. RCB are out of the playoffs. From 75 for 1 to being out all-out for 134. RR's skipper Rahane came up with some smart moves but none smarter than his decision to bat first. The wicket took a lot of turn in the second innings and batting second was never easy. ABD waged a lone battle but never got any support from others.

Unadkat to Siraj, out Caught by Gowtham!! What just happened there? A relay catch! Kohli looks bemused. The length ball and the batsman slogged it away to send it skywards. Samson came charging in and dropped it, but the ball popped up. But Gowtham, who almost collided with his mate kept his wits and took it low and one-handed. Tremendous reflexes after the ball ricocheted off Samson's palm. Siraj c Gowtham b Unadkat 14(12) [4s-2]

Unadkat to Siraj, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Unadkat to Siraj, FOUR, reverse paddle and gets the ball away past short third man. That was on the sticks and the batsman got it away amidst an appeal from the bowler

Jofra Archer to Chahal, no run, 35 off the last over it would be. The yorker was delivered well and the batsman blocked the ball out. He gave an impression that he was trying to thump it back

Jofra Archer to Chahal, no run, short ball, the bumper and the batsman somehow manages a bit of wood on it as he tried to pull it away. Inside edges the ball down into the turf

Jofra Archer to Chahal, no run, right up there and the batsman fails to put it away

Harsha Bhogle: No Buttler, no Stokes, no worries. #RR

Jofra Archer to Siraj, 1 run, hits the ball back to the bowler, who boots it back. Does not try to stop the single as the ball rolled away into the point region for a single

Jofra Archer to Siraj, no run, looks to play the scoop and misses. He moved completely across his sticks to play but missed it

Jofra Archer to Chahal, leg byes, 1 run, that was a comedy of errors? The yorkerish delivery was missed by the batsman and was hit on the boot. It was going down leg and the bowler kept on appealing. Number 10 and Jack decided to steal a single and they did. The keeper could not manage to throw the sticks down at the bowler's end, else it could have been tight

Yuzvendra Chahal, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Gaurav: Shreyas Gopal was purchased for just 20 lakh. Today he has delivered a million dollar performance.

Unadkat to Southee, out Caught by Gowtham!! Final nail in the coffin. Shortish, slower ball and the batsman heaved the pull away to be taken at cow corner. The batsman never connected properly and the mistimed hit was taken. RR only a wicket away from staying in contention for a place in the play-offs. RCB's dreams are over. Well almost. Southee c Gowtham b Unadkat 14(17) [4s-2]

Unadkat to Southee, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Unadkat to Southee, no run, slower ball. Could it have been anything different? The batsman looks to go across his sticks and fetch it from well outside off. Misses as the ball limps away to the keeper

Unadkat to Siraj, 1 run, just short of the man at deep cover. The length ball outside off held up on the surface a bit and the uppish drive landed short of the man at sweeper cover, who was coming in