Indian Premier League 2020 Match 15, Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Rajasthan Royals: As it happened

Kohli's brilliant 72* and a clinical bowling performance from RCB spinners powered them to an emphatic 8-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals

By Zee Media Bureau | Last Updated: Saturday, October 3, 2020 - 20:52
Image credits: Twitter/@IPL

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the match number 15 of IPL 2020 between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals which is all set to begin today ( October 3) from the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. 

Royal Challengers Bangalore have completed an emphatic 8-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals thanks to a brilliant all-round performance. Virat Kohli scored a magnificient 72* off 53 balls to complete the chase for his side. 

Earlier, Rajasthan Royals won the toss and chose to bat first against RCB. 

A clinical bowling performance from RCB saw them restrict Rajasthan Royals to just 154/6 from their 20 Overs.

RCB bowlers bowled some great lines right from the onset, thus picking-up the much needed early wickets. With their side tottering at 31/3 in four overs, Mahipal Lomror played a good hand for his 47 off 39 balls but the run-rate never really gained pace.

It was only the late blitz from Rahul Tewatia and Jofra Archer which powered the Royals past the 150-run mark.

Rajasthan Royals had caught the eye of the fans with their emphatic performances in the first two games, scoring 216 and 226 respectively to complete two fabulous victories.  With those two victories they well and truly shed the pre-tournament tag of being the underdogs or outsiders of the tournament. 

But, as fate would have it, they disappointed in their last game against KKR - which it must be said was largely their own doing. Chasing just 174, by their lofty standards these days, they would have fancied their chances but folded up for a paltry 137/9 in their 20 overs with only three players reaching double digits.

Royal Challenges Bangalore are coming on the back of a thrilling Super Over victory against the defending champions Mumbai Indians in their last outing, which would have done wonders for their confidence.

While their bowling remains a cause of concern- leaking runs at will in their last two games against KXIP and Mumbai Indians, it’s the dismal show from the bat by their skipper Virat Kohli that is drawing all the attention. In his three innings, the batting maestro has scored  just 1, 14 and 3 respectively - much to the dismay of the RCB faithful.

In a matchup of epic proportions, its Kohli vs Smith and it promises to be an electrifying contest.

The match, as it happened: 

3 October 2020, 19:27 PM

3 October 2020, 19:25 PM

3 October 2020, 19:25 PM

3 October 2020, 19:08 PM

Although RCB are just on the cusp of victory, the biggest highlight of the game will be Virat Kohli finding his form back. He is finishing it off now. Just 8 needed now. RCB: 147/2 (18 Overs)

3 October 2020, 18:58 PM

Out!! WICKET!! Jofra Archers dismisses Padikkal. Rattles his stumps but Padikkal has already done his out. He is out for an effortless 63 off 45 balls. RCB closing in on an emphatic victory here. AB de Villiers is the new man in. RCB: 124/2 ( 16 Overs)

3 October 2020, 18:54 PM

3 October 2020, 18:48 PM

Kohli has completed his half-century- which is his first in this edition. Great batting from the duo as they have reached a 90-run partnership. Kohli hits a brilliant six off Tewatia before taking a single to reach the mark. RCB inching towards a big win here. RCB: 118/1 (15 Overs)

3 October 2020, 18:39 PM

3 October 2020, 18:39 PM

3 October 2020, 18:34 PM

Fifty for Padikkal. Reaches the mark with a deft late cut for four, straight to the third man fence. 50 off just 34 balls. It's been a fantastic season for this youngster as he completes his third fifty of IPL 2020. Brilliant batting, he has looked effortless at the crease. RCB: 91/1 (12 Overs)

3 October 2020, 18:27 PM

Kohli and Padikkal have completed their 50-run partnership. They have looked at ease and never reallt tried to take any big risks. They don't need it. Smart batting from the duo. RCB: 77/1 (10 Overs)

3 October 2020, 18:20 PM

Now Kohli has started to get into the act. He was still trying to find his feet in the middle up until now but hits a beautiful cover drive off the final ball - a misfield from Mahipal Lomror at extra cover doesn't help the Royals chances. Padikkal meanwhile is closing in on a well deserved fifty. RCB : 64/1 (8 Overs)

3 October 2020, 18:08 PM

RCB cross the 50 mark in just 6 Overs. Good start for them. Padikkal is looking in fine touch here. He has probably been the find of the tournament so far. He has already raced to 36 off just 20 ball, hitting Tom Curran to two smart boundaries in the last over. RCB: 50/1 (6 Overs)

3 October 2020, 17:56 PM

Meanwhile Padikkal is looking very good for RCB and scored a huge six and a four off Unadkat's first over. Virat Kohli is the new man in

3 October 2020, 17:53 PM

OUT!! Wicket!! Aaron Finch is gone. He is dismissed leg before by Shreyas Gopal. The original decision is not out but Gopal almost forces Steve Smith to go for the reveiw and the original decision is overturned. RCB: 27/1 (3 Overs)

3 October 2020, 17:42 PM

Aaron Finch and Devdutt Padikkal open Royal Challengers Bangalore's innings against Rajasthan Royals. Jofra Archer opens the bowling attack. Good pacy over from Archer but Finch hits a boundary off the last ball. RCB: 5/0 (1 Over)

3 October 2020, 17:37 PM

3 October 2020, 17:36 PM

3 October 2020, 17:33 PM

After being hit on the chest by Saini, Tewatia replies immediately with two huge consecutive sixes.  Why wasn't he sent up the order is something we can't seem to understand. Rajasthan Royals finish their innings at 154/6.  RR: 154/6 (20 Overs)

3 October 2020, 17:18 PM

Oh No! What's happened there. Tewatia was going for a reverse sweep off Saini's last over but Saini tries to follow him. Saini, though, bowls an unintentional beamer to Tewatia which hits him around the chest area and he goes straight to the ground. He looses his shoe in the process as well but slowly gets back to his feet. RR: 141/6 ( 19.2 Overs)

3 October 2020, 17:11 PM

Good batting from Tewatia and Archer. They pick-up 13 runs from Navdeep Saini's 18th over. But why weren't these two sent early against RCB ? Is it too late now. Let's see what these two can conjure up now for the Royals. RR: 129/6 (18 Overs)

3 October 2020, 17:01 PM

Wicket!! Out!! Chahal dismisses Lomror. Good hand from Lomror in his first outing of this edition. He is gone for 47 off 39 balls and had hit Chahal for a huge six earlier on in the over. Tried to go for another maximum on a wide ball from Chahal but fails to connect and Padikkal takes a good catch. RR: 116/6 (17 Overs)

3 October 2020, 16:55 PM

OUT!! Wicket!! Riyan Parag is gone. Like we said earlier it was a risky move to send Parag ahead of in form batsmen Tewatia and Tom Curran. He is dismissed for just 16 off 18 balls when he tries to go big against Isuru Udana. Finch takes an easy catch in the deep. RR: 106/5 (16 Overs)

3 October 2020, 16:53 PM

Another brilliant outing with the ball for Washington Sundar. 

3 October 2020, 16:50 PM

Mahipal Lomror is playing well here and hits a huge six off Chahal but still the run-rate remains at a lowly 6.6 per over. Parag is still striking it at less than a 100. With just 30 balls left, Royals need to go all out here. RR: 99/4 (15 Overs)

3 October 2020, 16:36 PM

Tom Curran had scored a fifty against KKR in his side's last outing whereas Riyan Parag has failed to get going so far. But still, the Royals management has sent Parag before Curran and Tewatia. We can only hope this risky move pays off for them. RR: 85/4 (13 Overs)

3 October 2020, 16:35 PM

3 October 2020, 16:34 PM

3 October 2020, 16:26 PM

Out!! Wicket!! Uthappa is gone. Tried to go big against Chahal but failed to connect as Udana takes a good catch in the deep. Uthappa was struggling in the middle and is dismissed for a disappointing 17 off 22 balls. RR: 70/1 (10.1 Overs)

3 October 2020, 16:23 PM

Good on the part of the Royals that they haven't lost more wickets but the run-rate still needs to be amped up if they want a stake in the game. RCB bowlers bowling according to the field and this is some fantastic captaincy from Kohli. He is rotating his bowlers at will, not allowing the batsmen to settle. RR: 70/3 (10 Overs)

3 October 2020, 16:12 PM

Uthappa and Mahipal Lomror are trying to rebuild the Royals innings after losing three early wickets but the sheer quality of RCB spinners is winning the battle at the moment. They are bowling their overs quickly and bowling accurate lines - thus not allowing the Royals batsmen to free their hands. RR: 57/3 (8.2 Overs)

3 October 2020, 16:12 PM

3 October 2020, 16:02 PM

What an eventful first 6 overs of the game. A flurry of boundaries from Buttler early on and then three quick wickets which put RCB well on top. Sundar and Chahal are building a web around the Royals batsmen with some fantastic lines and now their third spinner, Adam Zampa is into the attack. RR: 38/3 (6 Overs)

3 October 2020, 15:58 PM

3 October 2020, 15:58 PM

3 October 2020, 15:52 PM

Wicket!! Out!! Sanju Samson is dismissed caught and bowled. RCB well on top now. Wonderful diving catch from Chahal after having beaten Samson in the flight. There's a long check with the third umpire but it is finally given. RR: 31/3 (4.1 Overs)

3 October 2020, 15:46 PM

Wicket!! Out!! Buttler is gone. Both openers sent back to the pavilion. Full delivery from Navdeep Saini and the ball takes the outside edge off Buttler's bat and Padikkal completes a brilliant catch in the slips. RR: 31/2 (3.1 Overs)

3 October 2020, 15:40 PM

Out!! Wicket!! Huge Wicket!! Steve Smith is dismissed by Isuru Udana. Smith tried to cut one to close to his body and the ball takes the inside edge and rattles his stumps. RR: 27/1 (2.4 Overs)

3 October 2020, 15:34 PM

Royals off to a good start. Both batsmen hit a boundary each off Udana. Royals need a strong start from these two. RR: 9/0 (1 Over)

3 October 2020, 15:31 PM

Steve Smith and Jos Buttler will open Rajasthan Royals’ innings. Isuru Udana will start the proceedings for Royal Challengers Bangalore. RR: 0/0 (0 Overs)

3 October 2020, 15:16 PM

Rajasthan Royals playing XI: J Buttler, S Smith (C), S Samson, R Uthappa, R Parag, R Tewatia, M Lomror, T Curran, S Gopal, J Archer, J Unadkat

Royal Challengers Bangalore playing XI: D Padikkal, A Finch, V Kohli (C), AB de Villiers, S Dube, GM Singh, W Sundar, I Udana, N Saini, A Zampa, Y Chahal

3 October 2020, 15:15 PM

3 October 2020, 15:14 PM

Rajasthan Royals have won the toss and opted to bat first against Royal Challengers Bangalore