On Friday, April 25, Royal Challengers Bengaluru had four overs to bowl at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Jos Buttler was fine and started to look dangerous. Washington Sundar walked in and immediately found his timing. The scoring rate was already above 10 and despite Sai Sudharsan’s earlier dismissal, the platform was firmly in place, well over 170 in total, maybe even pushing for 190 if things worked out.
RCB vs GT: HIGHLIGHTS | SCORECARD
This was the stage where games usually run away. Instead, RCB pulled him back.
Only 17 runs were awarded during the 17th, 18th and 19th overs. There were no boundaries in two of those overs, one crucial wicket fell and, most importantly, the momentum shifted completely.
THREE OVERS, TOTAL CONTROL
The shift began with Rajat Patidar’s decision, which was far from obvious.
He went back to Suyash Sharma, even after the young spinner was taken for 14 in his previous over. At that stage of the innings, with the batter established and the new one looking fluid, most captains might have turned to safer options.
But Patidar read the situation differently.
Sundar was still new at the crease, still finding his pace. Buttler, though set, has yet to go into full acceleration mode. The idea was clear. If he was going to sneak in quietly, this was it.
Suyash executed this plan to perfection. Caption: IPL 2026: Suyash Sharma once again gives RCB an important breakthrough against GT. (PTI Photo)
No great attempts were made, no risks. Sundar played himself, Buttler stayed alert and the over yielded just four runs. It looked harmless on paper. In context, it was the beginning of squeezing.
THE PRESSURE IS ON
T20 games don’t always turn on big moments. Sometimes they move through small, silent steps that force the batsman to reconsider.
From cruising comfortably, the batting side suddenly found themselves needing to pick up the pace as there were fewer deliveries left. The margin of error narrowed and the pressure began to transfer to the batters.
It was there that Bhuvneshwar Kumar made an impact. Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s hot form continued against GT. (PTI Photo)
He recognized the moment, and more importantly, the batter. Buttler’s ramp shot is often a release option in the death overs, a way to disrupt the bowler’s rhythm. Bhuvneshwar set the trap and executed it well, leading to Buttler’s dismissal.
That goal changed everything.
With the batter gone, the inning lost its anchor. Sundar now had to take on the role of the aggressor while Jason Holder stepped up to make his franchise debut. While Holder has the ability to clear the ropes, expecting him to do so immediately in a situation like this was always going to be difficult.
The over reflected this reality.
There were no boundaries, no shots. Just singles and doubles, resulting in five runs. At a stage where teams often struggle to score 15 or more, this kind of dominance is invaluable.
CHECKMATE BEFORE FINALS COMPLETED
After creating this pressure, Patidar made another crucial call.
Instead of saving his leading driver for the final, he fielded Josh Hazlewood in 19th. It was a move that ensured he would no longer be easy to target.
If the batting side found momentum in this over, it could have carried over into the last six balls. By using Hazlewood earlier, RCB shut that door completely.
Hazlewood delivered with control and discipline.
There were no boundaries, no chance for the batsmen to break free. Each delivery added to the pressure that had already been built up in the previous two overs. By the end of the 19th, the shift was firmly withdrawn.
Seventeen runs in three overs.
What once looked like a total course well over 170 was now much more manageable.
There were several late boundaries in the final, with fatigue visible in the field as Rasikh Salam Dar a Krunal Pandya pushed through the spasmsbut by then the hard work was done.
In a format where totals can escalate quickly, it was a reminder of how quickly control can be regained with the right decisions and execution.
RCB did not rely on a single moment of brilliance. Instead, they built pressure, made smart calls and backed their bowlers to deliver.
And finally, those three overs ensured that the target remained within reach and started the chase that followed.
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– The end
Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
25 Apr 2026 08:29 IST
