Gill Smashes Consecutive Ton To Knock Out RCB

Shubman Gill countered it with a quicker hundred, also his second in a row, to propel Gujarat Titans to a six-wicket win in a match Royal Challengers Bangalore needed to win in order to qualify for the playoffs.

After defeating Sunrisers Hyderabad in the earlier game on Sunday, Mumbai Indians joined Titans, Chennai Super Kings, and Lucknow Super Giants after Gill deposited a free-hit from Wayne Parnell behind the sight screen to score a brilliant century (104*) and eliminate RCB.

Evening precipitation had caused RCB concern, but the heavens cleared just in time for the match to begin without delay. Upon being sent in to bat, RCB were in a precarious position after losing three top-order batsmen within 10 overs. However, Kohli scored a calculated and magnificent hundred while guiding the innings alongside Michael Bracewell and Anuj Rawat.

Gill's mature innings was complemented by a fine fifty from Vijay Shankar (53 off 35 deliveries) as the Titans responded.

Titans would have won decisively if they had not lost wickets in quick succession near the conclusion of the game. Gill and Shankar's 123-run partnership was followed by the dismissal of Dasun Shanaka and David Miller within two overs of one another. However, because Gill was still performing at a high level, the Titans were never truly threatened.

Miller was dismissed after Gill struck Mohammed Siraj for two sixes in the same over. Gill then hit Harshal Patel for another six before Parnell was asked to defend seven in the final over. He botched his lines, allowing Gill to create an unforgettable ending.

Statistically speaking, 197 is an excellent score, but it is scarcely par at the Chinnaswamy. If not for Kohli's caution when wickets were falling in clusters, RCB would not have even reached that point. Noor Ahmad induced Faf du Plessis to miscue a wild throw, which took an edge and struck the keeper's shin before rising to Rahul Tewatia at slip.

Glenn Maxwell, who was having an exceptional IPL season, was dismissed by a skidder from Rashid Khan after just five deliveries. And when Kohli required an experienced batsman in the final over, Dinesh Karthik lasted only one ball while attempting to pull Yash Dayal.

This compelled Kohli to maintain control of the innings until the final delivery. It was a typical Kohli innings, with 13 controlled boundaries and numerous twos slicing through the gaps on a slightly firmer outfield. As soon as the slog overs began, Kohli stepped up his game, striking a flurry of fours. After attaining his century on the first ball of the 20th over, Kohli received only one more delivery. Nonetheless, it is difficult to critique such an innings in light of the tense beginning.

Also See | Virat Kohli Breaks Gayle's Glorious Record With Second Consecutive Century

During the innings break, Kohli told the broadcasters, "Many people believe my T20 cricket is declining, but I don't feel that way at all." "I feel like I'm playing my best golf once more; I'm having fun, striking gaps and big shots at the end. I take great pride in rising to the occasion when the situation calls for it, and I've been doing so for quite some time.

Yet, it was not sufficient. Despite scoring well, RCB could be said to have lost the match at multiple points in retrospect. With the exception of Siraj's powerplay burst and Patel's slower deliveries, their bowling lacked initiative. In the first innings, however, when RCB scored only three sixes at a venue with the narrowest boundaries in the IPL, the greatest disparity between the two teams was revealed.

Maxwell's six over long-on in the eighth over, which was the only over-boundary for RCB until the 18th over, was all they had managed until then. At the same time, the Titans scored six. The match was likely won there and then.