RCB vs GT, 70th Match at Bengaluru, IPL, May 21 2023 - Match Result

So this is how it's lined up: CSK vs GT in Qualifier 1, and LSG vs MI in the Eliminator. Both matches will be held in Chennai, as IPL 2023's last leg of the journey begins. Gill and co knocked RCB out this evening, and gave MI a lifeline. Here's Monga's report from the day, as we bid you goodbye after what were 70 league games. That's it from Chandan, Miller, and me, Himanshu tonight! Take care.

Shubman Gill is the Player of the Match: "It's all about getting a start and converting it into a big one. Thankfully it's working out for me in the business end. You have to keep applying yourself, that's important. The new ball was holding on a bit. The ball was getting wet with the dew. I thought Vijay Shankar was trying to go too hard. Once he found the momentum, he hit it a long way. I know my game... for any player it's important to know who you are. I think we have a great bowling attack for that [Chennai] wicket."

Hardik Pandya, the winning captain: "We wanted the momentum going, and wanted to finish on a high. As a bowler, Gill doesn't give you a chance. Other batters also get confidence from it. We would have taken 197 at the start. We should have bowled good balls. Special innings from Virat as well. I can't ask for anything better. Last year, everything went our way. This year, we were expecting people to challenge us. A lot of credit goes to all the boys."

Time for the presentations

Arunabh: "Traffic jam for days, water logging for hours, no trophy for years.. really feel for Bengaluru at times" --- The Cursed One!?

Vijay Shankar: "The way we chased was really satisfying. Personally I should have finished it. It wasn't that easy with the new ball I felt... that was the reason why we couldn't find many gaps along the ground. But Shubman showed everyone how to bat on different wickets. [Him not bowling] I've been practising and bowling in the nets. With the current role, we already have six bowlers. We have the firepower... any total can be chased. Chasing 200 here, we paced it pretty well. We've been playing good cricket, and we have bowlers among the top wicket-takers. It's just about taking game by game. To face CSK in Chennai will be really special."

Rummy: "The lack of sixes in RCB's innings was definitely a factor in loss. This ground is known for small boundaries and a lot of sixes. RCB hit only 3 in their entire innings"

Faf du Plessis on RCB's loss: "Obviously very disappointing. We got a really strong team tonight; excellent innings by Shuman Gill. There was a lot of grip in the second innings. I thought 195-200 was a good score. We needed that wicket of Shubman. From our batting perspective, our top four contributed really well... We missed a few runs consistently throughout the season, especially in the back-end of the innings. Perhaps in the middle [overs], we didn't get as many wickets as we would have liked. We need a good middle order, and make sure we finish games off. Last season it was DK, but this season it wasn't to be."

12.10am Gill's 104* trumps Kohli's 101*. Perhaps a day when India's batting baton passes on from one generation to another. It was a one-man show from the RCB batter, before Gill continued his dream run since last year to keep performing and smashing them clean. GT hunted down 198 with five balls to spare, with Shankar contributing a quick 53 in their chase. Hang around for the presentation formalities.

Free hit still

Free hit for Gill on 98

Parnell will finish off

GT need 8 off 6. If they get it, MI are through to the playoffs. If they don't, RCB will.

Bim: "Gill is doing to Kohli what Kohli did to Klassen..!!"

18 off 11. Gill on 91.

Harshal back

Gowrishanker: "Prabhudessai not only looks like Kohli, he catches like Kohli too."

Tewatia at No. 6

Rajkumar Lingav: "16.3 wide was a harsh call!" --- Indeed

Siraj returns