Virat Kohli's 77-run inning and Dinesh Karthik's cameo help RCB register their first victory of the IPL 2024 campaign

Royal Challengers Bangalore beat Punjab Kings by 4 wickets to register their first victory of the IPL 2024 campaign. RCB had to chase 177 runs and it was not easy, especially after delivering a poor performance against the defending champions in the season opener. Virat Kohli once again played a vital knock to help RCB reach a winning position. But, it was Dinesh Karthik's fiery cameo that ensured Bangalore's victory.

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RCB register their first IPL 2024 victory

Faf du Plessis won the toss and decided to chase in the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, their first home game of the campaign. Punjab Kings finished on 176/6 in 20 overs after Glenn Maxwell, Mohammed Siraj, and Yash Dayal bowled brilliantly to restrict PBKS batters. Last match hero Sam Curran (23) couldn't add much while Jitesh Sharma could only contribute with 27 runs to the total. Shikhar Dhawan's 45 and Shashank's strong finish (21) helped Punjab put up a fighting total. Maxwell and Siraj picked up 2 wickets each while Yash Dayal and Joseph scalped 1 wicket each although Joseph again proved to be an expensive one. 

Chasing a target of 177 runs, RCB lost their skipper Faf du Plessis and Cameron Green early in the match and Rabada picked up those wickets. Harpreet Brar then struck two times, sending Maxwell and Patidar both back to the dugout to keep Punjab Kings into the game. But, Virat fought alone, scoring 77 runs in only 49 deliveries, hitting 11 fours and 2 sixes. He led the chase from the front but ex-RCB player Harshal Patel came up with Virat's wicket. 

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Now, it came upon Dinesh Karthik's shoulders to take RCB to victory. He remained unbeaten till the end, scoring 28 runs off just 10 deliveries with 3 fours and 2 sixes while Mahipal Lomror also hit 17 off 8 to see through Bangalore's first victory of the campaign. For PBKS, Sam Curran picked up 1 wicket while Harpreet Brar and Kagiso Rabada got two wickets each. Brar only conceded 13 runs in his 4-over spell but couldn't stop RCB from chasing down the target. Arshdeep Singh was expensive in his 3.2-over spell and the same case was with Harshal Patel too. They couldn't contribute much in defending the total which caused them a defeat at Bangalore.