Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) faced a tough match against Rajasthan Royals (RR), who won the toss and elected to field first. Despite a rocky start with the loss of two wickets for just 12 runs in 2.1 overs, RCB’s Glenn Maxwell provided a glimmer of hope, securing a place in the team’s history books.
Maxwell, who typically bats in the No.3 position, surprisingly came to bat at No.4 after interim skipper Virat Kohli was dismissed LBW by Trent Boult on the first ball of the match. This early setback left RCB reeling, but Faf du Plessis stepped up to attack Sandeep Sharma in the 4th over, scoring 16 runs with two sixes and a four.
Despite the challenging pitch, Faf and Maxwell were tasked with building a strong partnership to solidify RCB’s position in the match, given the fragile middle order. RR skipper Sanju Samson aimed to utilize the bowling talents of Ashwin and Chahal to target RCB’s batting lineup.
In a notable moment, Glenn Maxwell reached 1000 runs for RCB during the 5th over bowled by Trent Boult. Maxwell’s achievement came with a strike rate of 159.25, making him the 5th batter in RCB history to reach this milestone. By the end of the 4.2 overs, RCB’s score stood at 43-2.
RCB batters with 1,000 or more runs to their name include:
- Virat Kohli with 6,903 runs at a strike rate of 129.60
- AB de Villiers with 4,491 runs at a strike rate of 158.63
- Chris Gayle with 3,163 runs at a strike rate of 152.72
- Jacques Kallis with 1,162 runs at a strike rate of 112.19
- Glenn Maxwell with 1005 runs at a strike rate of 159.27
With the match hanging in the balance, Glenn Maxwell played the role of the aggressor, while Faf du Plessis aimed to bat deep into the innings. RCB was keenly aware that even a score over 200 might not be enough on this surface, requiring significant contributions from either Faf or Maxwell.
Sanju Samson, looking to turn the tide in RR’s favor, considered introducing Jason Holder into the attack. The right-arm speedster boasts a variety of bowling variations, making him a potential threat to RCB’s batting lineup. RR hoped to secure another crucial wicket, putting pressure on the likes of Mahipal Lormor and Suyash Prabhudessai to step up for RCB.