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Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) stands as one of the most iconic franchises in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Their journey in the IPL playoffs since the inception of the league in 2008 reflects the rollercoaster of emotions that RCB fans have experienced over the years. RCB have undoubtedly emerged as a brand synonymous with passion, resilience, and a never-say-die spirit. Despite their numerous appearances in the playoffs, they have yet to lift the coveted IPL trophy, a fact that has left fans both heartbroken and hopeful season after season.
The ardent support of fans
The immense fan following of RCB is a testament to the team’s popularity and the emotional connection they share with their supporters. From packed stadiums to buzzing social media platforms, RCB’s presence is felt far and wide. Their star-studded line-up over the years, featuring cricketing legends like Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle, has only added to their allure. Each season, fans eagerly anticipate RCB’s performance, hoping that this might finally be the year when their team clinches the championship.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: The journey of near misses
However, RCB’s playoff journey has been marked by moments of brilliance overshadowed by heartbreaking defeats. The team has reached the IPL playoffs an impressive 16 times, showcasing their consistent performance and ability to compete at the highest level. Despite consistently reaching the playoffs, they have faltered at the final hurdle, failing to lift the IPL trophy even once. Each loss in the playoffs has been a bitter pill to swallow for fans who continue to stand by their team through thick and thin. The disappointment of falling short in the playoffs, coupled with the high expectations from fans and pundits alike, has only intensified the desire to see RCB emerge victorious.
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The unwavering spirit
Yet, despite the setbacks, RCB remained a beacon of hope for their fans. Their resilience in the face of adversity and unwavering commitment to the game have earned them respect and admiration across the cricketing world. With each new season, RCB entered the tournament with renewed determination, fueled by the unwavering support of their fans. While the quest for the IPL trophy continues, the journey of RCB is a testament to the undying spirit of cricket and the unbreakable bond between a team and its fans.
Here’s how Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have performed in the IPL Playoffs:
IPL 2009
In the 2009 IPL semifinals, RCB faced Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Manish Pandey‘s sensational 48 runs in 35 balls helped RCB chase down CSK’s 146/5 in 18.5 overs, winning by 6 wickets. In the final against Deccan Chargers, RCB’s bowlers, led by Anil Kumble‘s 4/16, restricted the Chargers to 143/6. Despite Ross Taylor’s quickfire 27, RCB fell short, ending at 137/9, losing by 6 runs.
IPL 2010
In the 2010 semifinals, Mumbai Indians (MI) posted 184/5, with Kieron Pollard scoring a rapid 33*. RCB’s chase faltered despite Robin Uthappa’s 52, ending at 149/9, losing by 35 runs. In the third-place playoff, RCB bowled out the Chargers for 82, with Anil Kumble taking 4/16 again. In reply, Rahul Dravid and Kevin Pietersen comfortably led RCB to victory by nine wickets.
IPL 2011
In 2011’s Qualifier 1, RCB set a target of 175/4 against CSK, thanks to Virat Kohli‘s 70*. CSK chased it down, with Suresh Raina‘s 73* securing a six-wicket win. In Qualifier 2 against Mumbai, Chris Gayle‘s explosive 89* helped RCB post 185/4. MI managed only 142/8, with Daniel Vettori taking 3/19, giving RCB a 43 runs victory. In the final, RCB struggled to chase CSK’s 205/5, despite Saurabh Tiwary‘s 42, finishing at 147/8 and losing by 58 runs.
IPL 2015
In the 2015 Eliminator, AB de Villiers’ 66* led RCB to 180/4 against Rajasthan Royals (RR). RCB’s bowlers, especially Harshal Patel with 2/15, bowled out RR for 109, winning by 71 runs. In Qualifier 2 against CSK, RCB managed 139/8, with MS Dhoni‘s 26* guiding CSK to a three wicket victory in 19.5 overs.
IPL 2016
In Qualifier 1 of 2016, RCB bowled out Gujarat Lions (GL) for 158, with Shane Watson taking 4/29. De Villiers’ brilliant 79* off 47 balls steered RCB to a four-wicket win. In the final against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), SRH scored 208/7 despite Chris Jordan’s 3/45. RCB’s chase was led by Gayle’s 76 and Kohli’s 54, but they fell short at 200/7, losing by 8 runs.
IPL 2020
In the 2020 Eliminator against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), RCB managed 131/7, with De Villiers scoring 56. SRH chased the target in 19.4 overs, with Kane Williamson’s 50* guiding them to a six-wicket victory, eliminating RCB.
IPL 2021
In the 2021 Eliminator, RCB scored 138/7 against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), with Kohli top-scoring with 39. KKR chased it down in 19.4 overs, with Sunil Narine‘s all-round performance (4/21 and 26) registering a four-wicket win, knocking RCB out.
IPL 2022
In the 2022 Eliminator, RCB posted 207/4 against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), with Rajat Patidar’s stunning 112* off 54 balls. LSG managed 193/6, with Josh Hazlewood’s 3/43 playing a key role, giving RCB a 14-run win. In Qualifier 2 against RR, RCB scored 157/8, with Patidar contributing 58. RR chased it in 18.1 overs, with Jos Buttler’s unbeaten 106 leading to a 7-wicket win and ending RCB’s season.
IPL 2024
RCB’s innings
In a crucial IPL 2024 playoff match, RCB batted first and posted a SCORE of 172/8 in their 20 overs. The innings began with a steady partnership between Kohli and Faf du Plessis, who added 37 runs before du Plessis was caught by Rovman Powell off Trent Boult for 17 runs off 14 balls. Kohli continued to anchor the innings with a well-paced 33 off 24 balls before falling to Yuzvendra Chahal, leaving RCB at 56/2. Cameron Green added 27 off 21 balls but was dismissed by Ravichandran Ashwin, who also took the crucial wicket of Glenn Maxwell for a golden duck, reducing RCB to 97/4.
Patidar played a significant role, scoring 34 off 22 balls, but his dismissal to Avesh Khan halted RCB’s momentum at 122/5. Mahipal Lomror‘s aggressive 32 off 17 balls, including 2 fours and 2 sixes, helped push the total. Dinesh Karthik contributed 11 off 13 balls before Avesh Khan claimed his wicket, and Karn Sharma managed a brief cameo of 5 off 4 balls. Swapnil Singh’s unbeaten 9 off 4 balls helped RCB finish at 172/8. Boult and Ashwin were the standout bowlers for RR, each delivering economical spells, with Boult taking 1/16 and Ashwin 2/19.
RR’s Innings
Chasing 173 for victory, RR started positively with Yashasvi Jaiswal leading the charge. Jaiswal scored a brisk 45 off 30 balls, hitting 8 fours, before being dismissed by Green. Tom Kohler-Cadmore contributed 20 off 15 balls but fell to Lockie Ferguson, leaving RR at 46/1. Sanju Samson added a quick 17 off 13 balls before being stumped off Karn Sharma‘s bowling, making it 81/2.
Riyan Parag kept RR in the hunt with a solid 36 off 26 balls, including 2 fours and 2 sixes, before Mohammed Siraj bowled him, reducing RR to 157/5. Shimron Hetmyer played a crucial role with his aggressive 26 off 14 balls, but his dismissal to Siraj at 160/6 brought some tension. Nevertheless, Powell’s unbeaten 16 off 8 balls, supported by a composed Ashwin guided RR to a successful chase. Powell’s final burst included 2 fours and a six, ensuring RR reached 174/6 in 19 overs, winning the match with an over to spare.
Key Performances
- Virat Kohli: Anchored the RCB innings with 33 off 24 balls, maintaining a solid strike rate.
- Rajat Patidar: Provided a mid-innings boost with 34 off 22 balls, crucial in setting a competitive total.
- Mahipal Lomror: Accelerated the scoring rate in the latter part of the innings with his quickfire 32 off 17 balls.
- Ravichandran Ashwin: Bowled an economical spell, taking 2/19 in 4 overs, and later contributed with a calm presence during the chase.
- Yashasvi Jaiswal: Set the foundation for RR’s chase with his aggressive 45 off 30 balls.
- Rovman Powell: Sealed the victory with his impactful 16 off 8 balls, showing composure under pressure.
- Mohammed Siraj: Was the pick of the RCB bowlers with figures of 2/33, providing crucial breakthroughs.
