Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, Qualifier 2 - Live Cricket Score, Commentary

Alas, it just wasn't to be for RCB. The wait for their maiden trophy continues.... If only there was a table to calculate luck, RR had the least of them and RCB had their fair share in the last three weeks. Heading into this contest, Sanju Samson won just two tosses (out of 15 games) and after his team's loss at the Eden Gardens, he mentioned about how luck (toss) plays a huge role in this format. Well, someone clearly heard him. Though the flip of the coin had little impact on the final result today, RCB only have themselves to blame as they failed to kick on in the slog overs, mustering only 34/5 in the last 5 overs. 158 just never proved to be enough, and on a surface that seemed perfect for metronomic line and length bowling, Hazlewood just bowled one over out of the top five. And Hasaranga, their best bowler of the season, only had his second over with required run rate under 6. That said, it would have looked much worse sans the contributions of Patidar in both their playoff games. As for RR, it's a great sign of relief as they enter the IPL final for the first time since 2008. Ahmedabad is gonna be buzzing for their home team, Gujarat Titans, on Sunday as the IPL gears up for one final dash. Plenty of pre-game events lined up and we promise to bring all the nitty-gritty details up and early from the comm box. Thanks for tuning in and for all the wonderful comments, of course. Until next time, this is Kumar Abhisekh Das signing off alongside Raju Peethala, Sagar Chawla and Siva. Cheers!!

Jos Buttler | Player of the Match: I came into the season with very low expectations, but with a lot of energy and excitement and to be stood here now and have the season I had with such a great team and get us into the finals is incredibly exciting. I had a tournament of two halves. I had some really honest conversations with some close people around me, Kumar Sangakkara and Trevor Penney. I was feeling a bit of pressure, getting distracted and I was trying to suppress it and it was only until a week ago or so I opened up inside and talking about that made me feel a lot better going into Kolkata and that innings gave me the confidence that helped today. I am always trying to play the game, what is the game asking me to do any particular time and what skill set do I have to try and use on that particular day. Some days I have been slow to start with, I wish I was never like that, I wish I could play fast all the time. Certain times I found it tough and maybe a younger version of myself would have gone for big shot and got out and something Sanga has been saying to me that the longer you stay there, at some point it will come. I came today so excited and the thought of playing in front of 100 thousand people, incredible support, fantastic stadium and brilliant game of cricket. I just enjoyed today so much. To be able to get the opportunity to go and play in the final of the biggest T20 tournament in the world is incredibly exciting. Shane Warne is such an influential figure for the Rajasthan Royals and having led the team to success in the first season, we will miss him dearly, but we know he is looking down on us with a lot of pride today.

Sanju Samson | RR skipper: It was tough (after a loss in the last game), but we are used to bouncing back in the tournament. In IPL it's very normal that you go ups and downs throughout the tournament. We lost a few games, we knew how to come back and we did really well. The wicket was a bit sticky and was helping the fast bowlers a bit, it had really good bounce and was easier playing the spinners. We closed the innings really well, having DK and Maxi at the end we knew what they could do but having belief and composure in our skills is what got us through. It (winning the toss) made it easier to win this game, toss plays a huge role and I think the wicket played completely different in the first and second innings. This is his (Obed McCoy) first IPL, he is very calm and composed and backs his strengths and we really trust him to do well. Very grateful to have someone like Jos, and the way he is batting, touch-wood, we have one more game to go. I was very young and it was the first IPL season and I remember playing an under-16 game somewhere in Kerala and I remember watching the last game with my friends and remember that last run where Shane Warne and Sohail Tanvir hit the run and they were running, it was a very vague memory which I have.

Kumar Sangakkara: Very satisfying. All the hard work and training has come off. The last one versus Gujarat wasn't easy as we were defending 16 off the final over. His overall game is wonderful. He trusts his strengths. He is great against spin. He chooses which shots to play and which not to on a given day. He can accelerate anytime. He can change gears anytime and that is an exceptional talent. The entire bowling unit has been fantastic. Special credit to Prasidh. The way he was honest with me was really impressive. He is a very special talent. Boult also looks to learn all the time. McCoy's mother has been recovering back in the West Indies but his committment has been superb. Then the spin twins have been phenomenal. We want to spend 95 percent of our purse, We did almost 8 months of work with our new investors. That has paid off. We avoided just looking at specific players. The core of our group is a group of seasoned international players. I remember playing against Rajasthan. Warnie was the captain and I got caught and bowled off him. Then they went on a dream run. We would look to get the basics right against Gujarat. Whoever plays better on that day will win.

Faf du Plessis | RCB skipper: When we walked off the field, we felt were a few short. Was challenging the first 3-4 overs, was movement. Felt 180 was a par score on that pitch. First six overs felt like Test cricket. Compared to the other wickets, this one was quicker off the new ball, and then it eased off later in the innings. Great season for RCB. Really proud. My first season coming in and seeing how special the fans are everywhere we go. A big thank you to everyone coming out and supporting us. Have had some incredible performances for us. Harshal has been amazing. DK.. all the guys picked for India. Obviously disappointed tonight. Came up against a really strong Rajasthan team who probably deserve it more than us. That's the incredible thing, not just the bubble but also you have a deep respect of the people in India. When you go back to your hotel and there's always people working till 3am, and then up at 7am for breakfast again. Grateful for all the kindness shown to us as a team, but I know it happens all across India. It's a very good part of Indian culture. Nice young talent in our squad, and obviously with a 3-year plan.. that's what you try to maximise.. you get them raw at the beginning but they can turn into superstars. We've seen that Rajat, since he's came in, has looked at home. A great future of Indian cricket. You can always pick three Indian teams after the IPL with the amount of young talent coming through. That's been the most obvious thing when I joined the franchise. RCB RCB got chanted in that game (DC v MI). The guys got emotional. The support you get as a cricketer in India is remarkable. You can only be in awe of the support every franchise gets. Well done to everyone and thank you very much.

STAT: Hundreds in IPL Play Offs
122 V Sehwag PBKS v CSK 2014 (Q2)
117*S Watson CSK v SRH 2018 (Final)
115*W Saha PBKS v KKR 2014 (Final)
113 M Vijay CSK v DC 2012 (Q2)
112*R Patidar RCB vs LSG 2022 (Eliminator)
106*J Buttler RR vs RCB 2022 (Q2)

Ever since the introduction of Play Offs in 2011, the side that finished second on points table in the league phase has made it to the finals every single time!!!

23:03 Local Time, 17:33 GMT, 23:03 IST: Rajasthan have won the battle Royale! They were head and shoulder above RCB tonight. Their bowlers, especially pacers, hit the right lines. There was a tinge of extra bounce on the surface and both Krishna and McCoy took advantage of it by delivering 3-fers. Patidar once again starred with a fifty but wasn't as fluent as the last game. RCB looked for a final gasp. But the hurrah never came as they failed to come to terms with the bounce on the surface. Once they only had 158 to target, Buttler and Jaiswal made it pretty clear. They added 61 in no time and the game continued to slip away. Buttler in the process brought up 800 runs and his 4th IPL ton as well.?RR made some changes at the auction and all of that has born fruition. And for RCB, agony lives on...

Harshal Patel to Buttler, SIX, that's it! RR will take on GT in the finale of IPL 2022. Second time they are in the finals. This has been an anti-climactic game. RR have been just too good on the day

Harshal Patel [3.0-0-23-0] is back into the attack

Most 100s in IPL
6 Chris Gayle
5 Virat Kohli/ Jos Buttler
4 Shane Watson/ David Warner/ KL Rahul

Stat: Most hundreds in a T20 series
4 Virat Kohli (IPL 2016)
4 Jos Buttler (IPL 2022) *
3 Michael Klinger (T20 Blast 2015)

Maxwell to Buttler, 1 run, Kohli, you have a companion now! 4th IPL ton of the season. He has been sensational this season. Impeccable run so far. That was a flatter delivery outside off, Buttler punches it to deep cover for a single. Only 3 needed now. He might have slacked off a little towards the end of the league stage. But Buttler has come up with the goods when it has mattered the most for RR

Maxwell to Buttler, 2 runs, flogs that away! The ball slowed down a little and that allowed the man at long-on to dive to right and stop it. Buttler on 99. He has been such a wonderful player for RR this season

Maxwell to Hetmyer, 1 run, goes back and punches it down to long-on for a single. Only a shot away now

Maxwell to Buttler, 1 run, goes back and tucks the ball away to deep mid for a single

Maxwell to Hetmyer, 1 run, quicker, fuller, Hetmyer clips the ball away behind square on the on-side for a single

Maxwell to Buttler, 1 run, turning in, Buttler tucks the ball away on to the on-side for a single

Glenn Maxwell [2.0-0-10-0] is back into the attack

Hazlewood to Hetmyer, no run, stays his crease and stabs it to the man at cover