RR vs RCB IPL 2019: Gopal, Buttler keep RCB winless

In the beginning of IPL 2019 Virat Kohli had stated that RCB’s abysmal performance in the recent seasons was due to wrong decisions at critical moments. It seems that the RCB skipper has only identified the problem but hasn’t cured it yet as his side remained winless in the second week of IPL 2019.

Not going with Marcus Stoinis as an opener and exposing himself against RR’s off-spinners was one such wrong call Kohli made at the beginning of the game and followed it up by waiting for the eighth over to unleash Chahal. All this and some terrific performances by S Gopal and Jos Buttler meanwhile earned Rajasthan their first points in IPL season 12.

Gopal rips apart RCB’s top order

After being put to bat first, Kohli walked with Parthiv Patel to open the innings. Rajasthan straightaway attacked with Gowtham who kept Kohli quiet and then entered S Gopal who dismissed Kohli in his first over.

In his next over, Gopal sent back ABD as well and inflicted further damage by accounting for Shimron Hetmyer. The RR spinner conceded just eight of his first three overs and pushed RCB to three down for 74 runs.

Virat, ABdV, Hetmyer's wickets✅@rajasthanroyals victory ✅
Man of the Match ✅

Here's #RR star @ShreyasGopal19 making for a happy picture in the #IPLSelfie #RRvRCB pic.twitter.com/ypqd73aTSQ

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 2, 2019

From the other end Parthiv Patel remained strong and scored 67 runs off 41 balls to repair the damage. Stoinis struggled to get going throughout the innings and remained not out on 31 off 28 balls.

That's a welcome half-century from @parthiv9 for @RCBTweets #RCB 97/3 after 13.4 overs pic.twitter.com/WyYJ6rG86h

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 2, 2019

The punch came from Moeen Ali who slammed 18 runs off nine balls as RCB finished with 158 for four wickets in 20 overs.

Don’t forget to check the CSK vs MI match preview.

Buttler sets the tone for RR

? @josbuttler ? #VIVOIPL pic.twitter.com/7YEhwDsuD8

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 2, 2019

Jos Buttler and Ajinkya Rahane milked RCB pacers with ease and kept the required rate in check. The duo scored 59 runs for the first wicket as Chahal got Rahane in his first over.

With Smith taking over Rahane’s role of anchoring the innings, Buttler cut loose and hammered Moeen Ali for a four and a six in the 12th over.

Know the top three players for MI vs CSK here.

Tripathi’s six takes Rajasthan to a win 

And that's how you end a game! ?

RT if you agree! ?#HallaBol #RRvRCB #RR pic.twitter.com/9N92bSuPd7

— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) April 2, 2019

Buttler was out for 59 in the 13th over but Rahul Tripathi (34 not out off 23 balls) and Smith (38 off 31 balls) kept RR on course. Smith was out on the last ball of the 19th over with five more to win but Tripathi hammered Umesh Yadav for a six on the fifth ball of the 20th over to seal Rajasthan’s first win in IPL 2019