May 22, 2024

Gujarat Cricket Body Breaks Silence After Report Claims ‘Security Threat’ To Virat Kohli In Ahmedabad – Indian Premier League

Earlier, a report claimed that Royal Challengers Bengaluru had to cancel its only practice session before the start of the knockout match due to security concerns.

Before the RCB vs RR IPL 2024 Eliminator, some chilling news came from Ahmedabad. A report claimed that Royal Challengers Bengaluru had to cancel its only practice session before the start of the knockout match due to security concerns. According to a Bengali daily report by Ananda Bazar Patrika, the issue arose over Virat Kohli’s security, prompting RCB to abandon the practice session. RCB was to practice at the Gujarat College Ground in Ahmedabad on Tuesday before the Eliminator on Wednesday but couldn’t proceed with the schedule. 

As per the ABP report, the Gujarat Police hinted that Virat’s security was the primary reason behind the cancellation of the practice session and the press conference. The police also reportedly arrested four people from Ahmedabad on suspicion of terrorist activity. 

A report in the Times of India quoted a top Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA) official as giving a different version of the incidents that unfolded.  

“There was no terror threat. We had made provision for both the Rajasthan Royals and RCB to practice at the Gujarat College ground. RCB were supposed to practice from 2 to 5pm, before they changed it to 3-6pm, as the light is good till 6.30pm in the summer in Ahmedabad. However, the Rajasthan Royals practiced from 3.30 to 6.30pm at the Gujarat College ground with their full squad,” Anil Patel, secretary, Gujarat Cricket Association, said.

“RCB skipped their practice session due to the prevailing heat wave in the city. We had told RCB that they can use the indoor practice facility there, or at the Indoor facility at the Narendra Modi Stadium. However, RCB didn’t want to practice because of the heatwave. We had taken special permission from the collector’s office (for the trams to practice at the college ground) because the college ground comes under its control. The collector had given special permission for both the teams to practice at the college ground. However, as I said earlier, the RCB avoided the practice session because of the heatwave,” Patel added.

There was no presser before the match, too, and that added to the speculation. However, the Times of India report quoted a BCCCI source as saying: “There was never a presser scheduled before this match, as there was already the first qualifier (between Kolkata Knight Riders and Hyderabad Sunrisers) being played yesterday at the Narendra Modi Stadium here. In any case, it’s not unusual for teams to not have practice sessions at this late stage of the tournament, as they try and remain fresh for the match after a long campaign.”

How RCB Gave IPL Its ‘Greatest Comeback Story’ In History

RCB could not buy a win at one point, but they have six successive wins now, which helped them write one of the greatest comeback stories in cricket history.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) put in a resounding display of resilience and commitment, securing a spot in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 playoffs most unexpectedly. After losing seven of their first 8 games of the season, RCB were only theoretically in the playoffs race. But, the Bengaluru side’s 6 consecutive wins from that stage, coupled with a few other results going its way, the Faf du Plessis-led team made the No. 4 spot in the points table its own and isn’t planning to take the foot off the gas as yet.

Up against the Rajasthan Royals, who have incurred a dip in form over the last 3-4 games, they remain a tough side to beat, especially in the absence of Jos Buttler. But, RCB’s beliefs are as high as they’ve ever been in the history of this competition, having given the league its ‘greatest comeback story’ ever.

The month of May has witnessed a massive change in fortunes for both sides. RCB could not buy a win at one point, but they have six successive wins now that have helped them write one of the greatest comeback stories in the history of cricket. Once sitting pretty at the top of the points table with eight wins and just one loss, Rajasthan Royals succumbed to four momentum-breaking defeats in a row, bringing them to this do-or-die clash against RCB.

Not only has RCB won matches but also kept statisticians, fans, experts, etc, busy by breaking records and the net-run-rate barrier match by match. Since April 25, when they won their second game against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) till now, they have put up some substantial numbers following a terrible first half. Let us look at some numbers which tell the tale of this inspirational comeback:

Overall run rate: Before April 25, the day they won their second game of the season against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), RCB’s overall run rate was at fourth-best with 9.73. Since the win against SRH till now, the team’s overall run rate has soared to 11.03, the best in the league.

Improvement in middle-overs batting: In the first half of the season, poor and inconsistent middle-order meant that openers Virat Kohli and Faf Du Plessis had to apply some brakes on their own run rate during the middle-overs. The team’s middle overs run rate was 8.72, the sixth-best in the competition. From April 25 till now, the middle-overs run rate soared to 10.18, the second-best in the competition.

Drastic leap in powerplay bowling: RCB has also improved its powerplay bowling by leaps and bounds. Before April 25, RCB had taken just seven wickets in this phase, the least by a team. Since the win against SRH, RCB has 16 wickets in the powerplay, the most by a team. Also, the economy rate has gone down considerably. While RCB bowlers were culprits of many defeats in the first half by conceding runs at 10.79 per over in the powerplay, their six wins saw them give runs at an economy rate of 8.72, the fourth-best.

Pacers bring the heat: For the first half of the competition, the RCB pace attack of Mohammed Siraj, Alzarri Joseph, Reece Topley, Lockie Ferguson, etc, were smashed in every corner of the park regardless of the venue. The ball traveled to the boundary as fast as their deliveries, especially at their home venue of M Chinnnaswamy Stadium. Subject to much criticism and ridicule, the quicks put in hard work. Before the April 25 win, pacers had taken 34 wickets, the least by a team. In their following six wins, the pacers went on to take 28 wickets, the second-most by a team. Also, their economy rate dropped from 10.66 (second worst among all teams) to 8.79 (best among all teams) since April 25.

Is it the best batting side in the tournament?
While Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have taken the league by storm with their fearless hitting and in-depth batting, RCB’s batting has also put in work worth documenting. They ended the league stage with 2,758 runs, outscoring SRH and KKR before the knockouts. In the overall tally, they are just six runs short of SRH, who has scored 2,764 runs this tournament.

They have also scored 1,806 runs through fours and sixes, the most by a team in the league stage, outdoing SRH (1,768 runs through boundaries by the team qualifier one against KKR concluded). Also, this season, they have the third-highest number of fours (216) and second-highest number of sixes (157).

Also, the franchise has 554 runs in the final three overs of a game across the season, with batters unleashing carnage in death overs, ending the league stage on top.

Also, a look at the franchise’s top batters’ since April 25

Virat Kohli: Before April 25: 379 runs in eight innings. Average: 63.16 Strike rate: 150.39. One century and two fifties. Since April 25, 329 runs in six innings. Average: 65.80. Strike rate: 162.06. Three fifties

Faf Du Plessis: Before April 25: 239 runs in eight innings. Average: 29.87. Strike rate: 152.22. Two half-centuries. Since April 25, 182 runs in six innings. Average: 30.33. Strike rate: 182.00. Two half-centuries.

Rajat Patidar: Before April 25: 161 runs in seven innings. Average: 23.00 Strike rate: 161.00. Two half-centuries. Since April 25, 200 runs in five innings. Average: 40.00 Strike rate: 198.01. Three fifties.

Cameron Green: Before April 25: 74 in six innings. Average: 14.80. Strike rate: 110.44. Best score: 33. Since April 25, 154 runs in five innings. Average: 77.00. Strike rate: 171.11. Best score: 46*.

Will Jacks: Before April 25: 76 runs in four innings. Average: 19.00. Strike rate: 149.01. One half-century. Since April 25, 154 runs in four innings. Average: 51.33. Strike rate: 183.33. One century.

A defeat for either franchise would be the final nail in their coffin this season. RCB would be determined to go all the way, making the most of their prime form, while RR would be desperate to arrest their slide.

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