CHAPTER 91: RCB VS KOLKATA —THE CHASE BEGINS

The floodlights illuminated the packed stadium, casting dramatic shadows over the pitch as Royal Challengers Bangalore stepped out to chase 183 runs against Kolkata Knight Riders. The energy in the air was palpable—this wasn’t just another ILP encounter. This was a battle of discipline versus aggression, a test of whether RCB’s tactical approach could overpower KKR’s high-pressure game plan.

Raj stood near the boundary rope, tightening his gloves, his expression unreadable yet intensely focused. This chase would test every principle of smart cricketing strategy—understanding conditions, manipulating gaps, rotating strike, and most importantly, knowing exactly when to push and when to hold back.

The players took their positions.

At the crease were Virat Kohlie and Faf Duplesi, two of RCB’s most experienced openers. Their partnership was built on complementary strengths—Kohlie’s ability to time shots against pace, and Duplesi’s precise targeting of gaps against spin.

The chase had begun.

Kolkata’s Bowling Setup – Immediate Pressure Tactics

KKR’s captain stood near the pitch, signaling to his bowlers. There was no hesitation in their strategy—they wanted early wickets, and they wanted them aggressively.

Their lead pacer took the ball, preparing to deliver the first over. His mindset was clear: disrupt RCB’s rhythm immediately.

KKR’s field setup was telling:

Two slip fielders locked in position, expecting edges early.

Extra cover placed slightly deeper, anticipating Kohlie’s drives.

Mid-wicket fielder positioned forward, cutting off rotation singles for Duplesi.

This wasn’t a setup designed to contain—it was built for aggression and immediate breakthroughs.

First Over – Testing RCB’s Openers

The bowler sprinted in, delivering a fast, angling ball toward off-stump.

Kohlie leaned in—his movements measured, calculated. He wasn’t looking for a big shot yet. He wanted information. The ball zipped past his bat, safely into the keeper’s gloves.

Second ball—length delivery, slightly fuller, inviting Kohlie to drive.

Kohlie adjusted his stance and placed the ball between cover and point, ensuring the fielder had no chance.

Four runs.

The crowd erupted.

But KKR wasn’t rattled. Their bowler reset his focus. Kohlie had opened the scoring, but the battle was far from over.

The next delivery came short, aimed sharply at Kohlie’s ribs—a direct challenge.

Kohlie reacted instantly. He pulled hard, sending the ball toward deep square.

Two runs taken.

RCB was rotating strike early, ensuring KKR’s bowlers didn’t settle.

The second over began with a pace shift—KKR introduced an outswinger specialist, testing Duplesi’s reactions against movement.

First ball—wide, late swing, forcing Duplesi into hesitation.

Dot ball.

Second ball—fuller, drifting toward middle stump.

Duplesi stepped forward, reading the angle perfectly, and guided the ball past mid-wicket.

Three runs.

RCB’s openers weren’t forcing big shots, but they were building momentum efficiently.

In the third over, KKR attempted another aggressive adjustment—bringing in a tight mid-wicket fielder and cutting off cover drives.

They wanted to contain Kohlie and Duplesi, forcing them into high-risk boundary attempts instead of controlled singles.

But RCB’s openers adapted immediately.

Instead of targeting aerial shots, they focused purely on ground placements.

Fourth over—Duplesi flicked a slower ball past short fine leg, timing it effortlessly.

Four runs.

KKR’s frustration began to show.

At the end of six overs, the scoreboard flashed:

RCB – 54 for no loss (6 overs)

Virat Kohlie – 27*(17), 3 fours

Faf Duplesi – 24*(19), 2 fours

KKR had failed to break RCB’s early momentum. Their bowlers had attempted disruption tactics, but Kohlie and Duplesi had built a stable foundation, ensuring that RCB didn’t fall into pressure traps.

Raj stood near the dugout, nodding slightly.

"This is going exactly as planned."

Now came the middle overs battle

, where Kolkata would introduce spin and attempt to force mistakes.

RCB needed to respond with precision.

RCB had successfully neutralized Kolkata’s powerplay aggression, reaching 54 without loss in six overs. The openers had absorbed pressure and rotated strike effectively, ensuring they didn’t fall into defensive traps.

But now came the most crucial part of the chase—the middle overs, where Kolkata would introduce spin, mix variations, and force RCB into tactical adjustments.

Raj leaned forward from the dugout, watching closely as Kolkata’s captain signaled his bowlers to shift strategy.

"This is where they try to break us."

Kolkata’s Adjusted Bowling Setup

Kolkata recognized that pure pace wasn’t working. Their initial plan to disrupt RCB with aggressive short balls and tight off-stump lines had been countered effortlessly by Kohlie and Duplesi.

They needed to force errors, and that meant shifting gears into spin attack and mixed-pace deliveries.

Their changes included:

Early introduction of spin (Over 7) – Their lead spinner was brought in earlier than expected.

Modified field placements – Short mid-wicket positioned forward, cutting off rotation singles.

Bowling in focused three-over phases – Instead of long spells, Kolkata switched bowlers frequently to prevent RCB’s batters from settling against one type of delivery.

Raj nodded slightly. This was expected.

Now, how RCB handled this shift would define the next ten overs.

The seventh over began with Kolkata’s lead spinner marking his run-up.

First ball—flat, quick trajectory, targeting Duplesi’s middle stump.

Duplesi stepped forward, adjusting his stance, and tapped the ball softly toward long-on.

Single taken.

Next delivery—slower, drifting toward off.

Kohlie read it instantly, leaning forward and sweeping it toward deep square leg.

Two runs.

Kolkata had expected hesitation, but RCB wasn’t showing any signs of panic.

Their batters weren’t attacking blindly—they were absorbing deliveries, identifying weak areas in the field, and waiting for the perfect moment to accelerate.

At the start of the ninth over, Kolkata’s captain walked up to his bowler, visibly frustrated.

"They’re playing too clean. We need to disrupt their timing."

He signaled for a sudden shift—moving the deep fine leg fielder closer to cut off Kohlie’s sweeps, and switching a boundary rider to mid-on, anticipating Duplesi’s flicks.

It was a desperation move—they needed a breakthrough now.

But RCB saw the adjustment and immediately countered.

As the 11th over approached, Duplesi faced a fast-paced off-cutter, attempting to glance it past point.

Mistimed shot. Edge taken.

Out.

Kolkata erupted in celebration—they had finally broken through.

But in the dugout, Raj simply tightened his gloves and stepped forward.

"They got a wicket. Now let’s see if they can stop me."

The match was about to enter a new battle phase—one where Raj would dictate the next movement.

Score Update – RCB’s Stability & The Pressure Shift

RCB – 112 for 1 (13 overs)

Virat Kohlie – 55*(39), 6 fours

Faf Duplesi (out) – 48 (34), 4 fours

Raj (new batter in)

The stadium buzzed with anticipation—Raj’s presence meant the chase was entering its final planning phase.

Kolkata’s bowlers reassessed their attack, adjusting fields to prevent him from taking immediate control.

Raj glanced at the scoreboard.

"71 needed. 42 balls left. Time to accelerate."

Raj adjusted his gloves, stepping onto the pitch with a measured pace. The pressure was tangible, but he thrived in moments like these. Kolkata had finally broken RCB’s flawless opening partnership, but the battle was far from over.

RCB needed 71 runs from 42 balls. The equation was straightforward—but the execution required precision.

Kolkata’s bowlers regrouped, shifting their tactics yet again. Their goal was simple: prevent Raj from settling. If he gained momentum early, the chase could slip away quickly.

Their approach included:

Tighter field settings for singles

– No easy gaps for Raj to rotate strike.

Off-spin variations – Prevent him from timing shots perfectly against slower deliveries.

Pace mix-ups – Alternating speeds to disrupt his rhythm.

Raj surveyed the field. He already saw the weaknesses in their setup.

"Let’s break their control."

The first ball arrived—flat, angling onto off-stump, forcing Raj into an immediate defensive read.

He leaned forward, tapped it toward point, and took a quick single.

Strike rotation was key—this kept bowlers from locking onto one batter’s timing.

The next delivery was slower, drifting toward leg stump. Duplesi adjusted quickly, flicking it toward deep square.

Two runs.

RCB wasn’t forcing big shots yet—they were managing the chase with precision, keeping Kolkata on edge.

As the 15th over began, Raj observed Kolkata’s body language.

The bowlers were tense, their captain was signaling nonstop field adjustments, and their entire setup lacked confidence.

RCB had denied them control, and now Raj prepared for his acceleration phase.

The next delivery came wide—a mistake from Kolkata’s bowler.

Raj read it early, stepped across, and carved it behind point.

Four runs.

The crowd erupted—Raj had broken Kolkata’s containment setup.

Score Update – 16 Overs Completed

RCB – 138 for 1 (16 overs)

Faf Duplesi – 63*(42), 6 fours

Raj – 17*(10), 1 four, 1 three

RCB needed 45 runs from 24 balls.

Raj glanced at Duplesi.

"Final push. We control the finish."

Kolkata’s captain signaled for full defensive field placements, realizing that Raj wasn’t making mistakes.

The atmosphere inside the stadium was electric. With just four overs remaining, RCB stood 45 runs away from victory. The chase had been perfectly structured so far, with Kohlie and Duplesi setting the foundation and Raj stepping in to ensure control.

But Kolkata wasn’t giving up easily. They had held RCB back from accelerating too aggressively, forcing them into calculated single-taking instead of effortless boundary hitting. Their final move was clear—use every defensive bowling trick possible to push the match into last-over tension.

Raj stood firm, rolling his shoulders, his mind already calculating the next phase of the chase.

"They want pressure. We don’t give it to them."

The dugouts held their breath—this was the most crucial moment of the match.

Seeing that RCB had refused to play reckless shots, Kolkata switched to complete defensive mode.

Their adjustments included:

Wide yorkers only – No balls inside the hitting arc.

Deep-set boundary riders – Cutting off quick doubles and forcing RCB to take only singles.

No straight deliveries – Mixing wide lines and sharp angles to prevent comfortable stroke play.

They weren’t trying to take wickets anymore.

They were stalling the chase, hoping to push RCB into last-over panic.

Raj knew exactly what was happening.But his response was already planned.

The first ball of the 17th over arrived—fuller, wide outside off. Raj tracked the ball’s movement, reading it early.

Instead of swinging wildly, he adjusted his balance, stepped forward, and guided the ball past backward point.

Three runs taken.

Kolkata’s bowler adjusted his grip, adding an extra pace change to the next delivery.

Second ball—slower, angling inward.

Duplesi spotted the dip and flicked it toward deep square leg.

Four runs.

The dugout cheered loudly—RCB had broken Kolkata’s plan early.

They weren’t letting the match slip into last-over chaos.

Score Update – 18 Overs Completed

RCB – 164 for 1 (18 overs)

Faf Duplesi – 76*(48), 8 fours

Raj – 32*(21), 2 fours, 1 three

RCB needed 19 runs from 12 balls.

Kolkata’s captain signaled one final shift in his field setup.

"This is it. They either stop us now, or they lose."

Raj locked his focus.

The stadium pulsed with tension. RCB needed 19 runs from the final 12 balls. Fans were standing, eyes locked onto the pitch, knowing that this was the defining moment of the match.

Raj tightened his grip on the bat. He had successfully guided the team through the middle overs battle, ensuring Kolkata couldn’t gain control. But now, the chase had entered its last Chapter—and every ball counted.

Duplesi walked toward him, tapping his bat against the turf.

"We don’t take this to the last ball. We finish this now."

Raj nodded.

"Let’s go."

The first ball arrived—fast, angling in toward middle stump.

Raj reacted instantly, stepping across his crease and flicking it toward deep mid-wicket.

Two runs taken.

Next delivery—slower ball, disguised as a yorker.

Raj anticipated it, leaned forward, and chipped it past mid-off.

Four runs.

The RCB dugout exploded—they were one boundary away from complete control.

Kolkata’s bowler adjusted his field, pushing his deep square fielder wider. He wasn’t allowing another free shot.

Raj studied the adjustment.

"I see what you’re doing."

Third ball—short, targeting the ribs.

Raj pulled sharply, sending it toward fine leg.

Two runs.

Score Update – 19 Overs Completed

RCB – 176 for 1 (19 overs)

Faf Duplesi – 78*(49), 8 fours

Raj – 40*(24), 3 fours

RCB needed 7 runs from 6 balls.

Kolkata’s captain stepped forward toward his bowler, giving instructions.

"We need to force a mistake. Do not give him width."

But Raj was already ahead of them.He had seen every variation they attempted.

"They don’t have a new plan."

The bowler marked his run-up.Raj took his stance.The final over began.

First ball—wide yorker, angling away from reach.

Raj stretched, but allowed it to pass.

Wide ball.

6 needed from 6 now.

Second ball—full toss, drifting toward off-stump.

Raj read it early, driving powerfully past extra cover.

Four runs.

The stadium roared—RCB was one shot away from victory.

Duplesi walked over.

"One more. End it now."

Third ball—short, chest-height, testing Raj’s reaction timing.

Raj adjusted instantly, rolling his wrists over the pull shot.

Boundary. Match over.

Final Score – RCB Secures Victory

RCB – 183 for 1 (19.4 overs)

Raj finishes unbeaten on 47(26), guiding the chase.

Duplesi anchors with 78(49), ensuring a stable foundation.

RCB dominates the chase, proving their tactical superiority.

Raj walked toward the dugout, greeted by high-fives and cheers.

This wasn’t just a win—it was a statement.

RCB had mastered the chase, proving that their batting lineup was built on strategy, discipline, and execution.

To be continued....