Rajasthan Royals are through to the Indian Premier League final after defeating Royal Challengers Bangalore in a comprehensive manner in the Qualifier 2. It is Rajasthan’s second IPL final in their history after the very first season in 2008, 14 years back which they won. It was an off day for RCB as their big guns failed once again.

Virat Kohli’s early departure sent the 2016 finalists on to back foot from the beginning and even Faf Fu Plessis, Maxwell and DK could not recover their innings. After a scintillating win against Lucknow Super Giants in the Eliminator, RCB could not produce the same which see them to getting knocked out of the tournament. Rajasthan dominated the game in almost every department and deservedly into the finals. Skipper Sanju Samson was overwhelmed with his team’s performance, especially Jos Buttler who smashed another match-winning century.

“Very grateful to have someone like Jos, and the way he is batting, touchwood, we have one more game to go.  It was tough (after a loss in the last game), but we are used to bouncing back in the tournament. In the 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,” he stated.

“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. 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,” Samson said in the post-match presentation.

Let’s look at the talking points of the game –

 Prasidh Krishna gave an early breakthrough

The right-arm pacer was all over the park in the Qualifier 1 against Gujarat Titans, but in this must-win game, he brought his A-game back to dismiss Virat Kohli in the beginning. In the death overs, Krishna got the better of his former captain Dinesh Karthik and Hasaranga to put a hold on RCB’s scoring. He finished his spell with 3/22 from four overs.

 Rajat Patidar rescues RCB innings 

After RCB lost both their star openers, the match-winner in the Eliminator for RCB once again did a great job with the bat to score 58 from 42 balls to rescue the innings. Patidar was unsold in the IPL auction and came in midseason as a replacement. The 28-year-old became the second-highest scorer in the playoffs of an IPL season after Jos Buttler.

Obed McCoy- the death bowler

One of the finds of this tournament, Rajasthan Royals’ West Indian pacer Obed McCoy was simply brilliant with the ball. Dismissing Faf Du Plessis early, McCoy did his job in the death overs as well picking up two more to finish his spell with 3/23.

 Jos Buttler matches Virat Kohli’s IPL century record

The fourth ton of the season from Jos Buttler made it very easy for Rajasthan Royals to cruise through the finals of the IPL. Buttler matched Virat Kohli’s record of four 100s in a single campaign and is currently just 150 runs behind to overtake Kohli for the most runs in a season (973). The English cricketer dominated RCB bowling right from the start and is looking in his prime form.