Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) crushed the Rajasthan Royals (RR) by 112 runs on Sunday. RR recorded 3rd lowest total of mere 59 runs. RCB moved up to fifth place, while the Royals dropped to sixth in the points table.
RCB finished their 20 overs on a sluggish pitch in Jaipur with a par score of 171/5. RCB’s batting was led by Captain Faf du Plessis (55 runs off 44 balls) and Glenn Maxwell (54 runs off 33 balls), as has been the case frequently this season. Another superb connection between the two right-handers.
In response, RR were never truly in the game since both of their openers were dismissed for ducks. It was a day when the RCB bowlers could not go wrong.
Except for Shimron Hetmyer and Joe Root, no one in the Royals lineup could reach double figures as they were bowled out for 59, the third lowest total in IPL history.
Below are the five lowest totals in the IPL’s history:
1) KKR vs RCB, IPL 2017 (49)
RCB were chasing a 132-run mark on a green surface that aided both pacers and spinners. RCB would have thought this was a piece of cake.
What happened afterwards aptly summed up RCB’s terrible 2017 season. The downfall began when Virat Kohli was out for a golden duck in the opening over. None of the RCB hitters could even reach double figures. The RCB innings ended at 49, which is the record for the lowest total ever.
Nathan Coulter-Nile (3-0-21-3), Umesh Yadav (3-0-15-1), Chris Woakes (2-0-6-3), and Colin de Grandhomme (1.4-0-4-3) created the havoc for KKR.
2) RR vs RCB, IPL 2009 (58)
In Cape Town, RCB batted first and scored a competitive total of 133/8 on a tough surface. RCB’s batting was led by captain Kevin Pietersen (32 runs off 30 balls) and Rahul Dravid (66 runs off 48 balls).
In response, RR’s batting lineup was bowled out for 58 in 15.1 overs. This was the lowest total at that time. The RCB bowlers had a remarkable day as their efforts absolutely destroyed the opposition’s batting.
The great Anil Kumble (3.1-1-5-5) was the highlight of the bowlers for RCB on the day. He picked up a 5-fer with a world-class show of leg-spin bowling. The other top bowlers were Praveen Kumar (3-0-7-2) and Jesse Ryder (4-0-14-2).
3) RR vs RCB, IPL 2023 (59)
RCB finished with a competitive total of 171/5 after 20 overs, thanks to half-centuries from Faf du Plessis and Glenn Maxwell. In response, RR was put out for just 59, which is the 3rd lowest total ever.
It was one of those rare days when every bowler the captain threw the ball at struck. Except for Shimron Hetmyer (35 runs off 19 balls), none of the RR batters appeared to be confident in the middle.
Mohammed Siraj (2-0-10-1), Wayne Parnell (2-0-10-3), Michael Bracewell (3-0-16-2), Karn Sharma (1.3-0-19-2) and Glen Maxwell (1-0-3-1) struck for RCB
4) DC vs MI, IPL 2017 (66)
MI batted first and produced a massive total of 212/2 after 20 overs, thanks to half-centuries from Kieron Pollard and Lendl Simmons. In response, DC was hauled out for 66. They recorded the 4th lowest total.
MI dominated with the ball, while none of the DC batters appeared comfortable in the middle. The only exception was Karun Nair (21 runs off 15 balls).
Mitchell McClenaghan(2-0-18-1), Lasith Malinga(2-0-5-2), Jasprit Bumrah(1-0-6-1), Harbhajan Singh(4-0-22-3), and Karn Sharma(3.4-0-11-3) were the wicket takers for MI. It was a humiliating defeat for DC at home.
5) DC vs PBKS, IPL 2017 (67)
The hosts batted first at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium (now Arun Jaitley Stadium) in Delhi, hoping to record a competitive score. However, fate had it that DC were bundled out for 67. This was the fifth lowest total in IPL history.
Sandeep Sharma(4-0-20-4), Varun Aaron(2-0-3-2), Axar Patel(4-0-22-2), Glenn Maxwell(4-0-12-1) and Mohit Sharma(1.1-0-3-1) took wickets for PBKS.
In response, PBKS chased down the mark for no loss, with Martin Guptill (50* runs off 27 balls) and Hashim Amla (16* runs off 20 balls) finishing the job.
The ease with which Martin Guptill smashed the ball demonstrated that the surface was not tough to bat on. However, it was DC’s second game at home in the same season in which they scored fewer than 70 runs.