Bangalore: There was no respite for Royal Challengers Bangalore in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2016 as they suffered a six-wicket defeat against Mumbai Indians at M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday.
While both teams needed a win to improve their ranking in the points table, Rohit Sharma and his boys played much better cricket compared to star-studded Bangalore, who are yet to click as a unit.
Here are three talking points from the match:
Kohli's rare failure
The Indian right-hander took IPL 2016 by storm with a series of back-to-back incredible knocks. Such had been his form that RCB were relying heavily on him to play another big knock at Bangalore. But that was not the case as Kohli was dismissed for 7 – his lowest score this season, where he has slammed two centuries and four half-centuries. Kohli's dismissal in the second over was one of the turning points of the match.
Lokesh Rahul's consistency
The wicketkeeper batsman, who was considered a Test match material, has been a revelation for RCB at the top of the order ever since he was promoted to open the innings. While wickets tumbled from one end against Mumbai, Rahul made sure he put a prize on his wicket yet again and remained unbeaten on 68. This was Rahul's fourth 50 in last six matches.
Pollard-Buttler partnership
Chasing a decent total of 151 runs, Mumbai had lost four wickets for 98 runs. While Rohit Sharma contributed with 25 runs, Ambati Rayudu, who has been in great form this season, scored 44. Throughout the tournament, we have seen MI lose wickets in a flurry. But on Wednesday, Jos Buttler (29*) and Kieron Pollard (35*) looked determined to score the needed runs without any further damage. The duo stitched a match-winning unbeaten 55-run stand for the fifth wicket.
