The Lucknow Super Giants set a massive target of 213 for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru and they began proceedings with the wicket of Jacob Bethell in the 5th ball of the first over. The catch taken by Prince Yadav was an absolutely brilliant one, after misfielding early in the over. After a masterful century by Mitchell Marsh and a late-inning blitz from Rishabh Pant, LSG did a good job to put the pressure on the RCB openers. RCB needed a blistering start to keep pace with the DLS-adjusted requirement, but the Lucknow pacers had other plans for the visitors.

The chase began in dramatic fashion as Mohammad Shami exploited the conditions with clinical precision. The wicket of Jacob Bethell was a huge one as he could have landed a couple of blows early in the game. With the ball nipping around under the night sky, Virat Kohli was dismissed for a stunning two-ball duck, leaving the Bengaluru fans in silence. Prince Yadav was brilliant with the ball as he bowled an absolute peach of a delivery to get rid of the King.

Prince Yadav’s all-round brilliance catches Royal Challengers Bengaluru off-guard

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru knew that it wouldn’t be an easy target to take down considering the kind of pace attack the home side has. The opening partnership between Jacob Bethell and Virat Kohli could have been the key to success but they simply couldn’t get going. The pressure fell back on Devdutt Padikkal and Rajat Patidar as the duo was left with a modest score of 9/2. However, the duo managed to stitch together a fine partnership of 95 runs and RCB are still in the game.

The turning point of the powerplay arrived in the fifth ball of the first over. Mohammad Shami, steaming in with an upright seam, delivered a good-length ball just outside the off stump. Seeking to break the shackles, Jacob Bethell extended his hands, attempting to loft the ball over the infield toward mid-on. However, the extra bounce and movement caused Bethell to slice the shot off the outer half of his bat. The ball spiraled high into the night sky and the catch was taken safely by Prince Yadav.

This dismissal was a massive blow for RCB, as Bethell’s lean run in the tournament continued. Prince Yadav, who later showcased his talent by uprooting Virat Kohli’s off-stump with the ball, proved his worth early in the field. This catch ensured that RCB were reeling at 9/2, a setback from which they would struggle to recover. The duo of Rajat Patidar and Devdutt Padikkal has ensured that RCB are still in the game and it is still anybody’s game from here on.