IPL 2018: Rajasthan Royals ends RCB’s playoffs hopes with thumping victory

Young Shreyas Gopal spun a web around a star-studded Royal Challengers Bangalore batting line-up with a brilliant four for 16, helping Rajasthan Royals to a 30-run victory to keep his side in the reckoning for a play-offs berth in the IPL. The 24-year-old leg-spinner led a fine bowling display by the home side as it shot RCB out for just 134 in 19.2 overs after opening batsman Rahul Tripathi had helped the Royals post a competitive 164/5 with a solid unbeaten 80 off 58 balls. (Source: BCCI)

Ajinkya Rahane of the Rajasthan Royals and Virat Kohli of the Royal Challengers Bangalore launch the ‘Green Jaipur’ program before the match fifty three of the Indian Premier League 2018 on Saturday. (Source: BCCI)

Virat Kohli lost the toss but said, " We would have bowled first as well. If he (Rahane) would have told me what he was thinking, this toss would have been inconsequential."(Source: BCCI)

Umesh Yadav bowled a fine opening spell and grabbed three wickets for 25 runs to restrict Rajasthan to 164 for 5. (Source: BCCI)

Opener Rahul Tripathi rose to the occasion with an unbeaten 80 off 58 balls, hitting five fours and a six. Rahane and Klassen (32 off 21 deliveries) made useful contributions. (Source: BCCI)

Tripathi's 99-run second wicket partnership with Rahane resurrected the Royals innings after the slow start. (Source: BCCI)

RCB's run chase began on a bright note with Parthiv hitting two sixes in the first over off Jofra Archer, but Virat Kohli (4) continued his inconsistent run of form, as he failed to get the runs at the other end. Kohli was out in the third over off Gowtham. (Source: BCCI)

South African superstar AB de Villiers briefly threatened to take the game away in RCB's favour with a 35-ball 53 but Gopal and his bowling colleagues ensured Royals' victory.(Source: BCCI)

Pacers Jaydev Unadkat and Ben Laughlin chipped in with two wickets apiece while off-spinner Krishnappa Gowtham took one wicket as RCB's hopes for a play-offs berth went up in smokes. RCB ended the tournament with 12 points from 14 matches. They are now sixth in the standings.(Source: BCCI)