IPL 2021: Glenn Maxwell, Yuzvendra Chahal shine, here's Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Rajasthan Royals clash in pics

Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore displayed a clinical performance with both bat and ball to record a comprehensive seven-wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League 2021 on Wednesday (September 29). The win has boosted their prospects of a top-two finish. Chasing 150, RCB completed the task with as many as 17 balls to spare. 

Glenn Maxwell hit his second successive half-century to fire Royal Challengers Bangalore to a convincing win. The Australian batting all-rounder made an unbeaten 50 off 30 deliveries as Bangalore chased down their victory target of 150 in 17.1 overs in the Twenty20 tournament.

"I thought we played really well. They got off to an absolute flier and to bring them back in the last 10 overs was outstanding, then we controlled the tempo of the innings and finished it off. I have felt good since coming here, got myself into a nice routine at training and outside of training as well, just feel like it is really clicking for me," said Maxwell. 

RCB skipper Kohli hailed team's performance as he said, "We have come back strongly in two games back-to-back with the ball which is a great sign. In T20 cricket if you can hold nerve with the ball, it means you are heading in the right direction. We came back and dominated."

Kohli (25) and Devdutt Padikkal (22) gave the team a required start for the opening wicket, laying the foundation for the chase. 

"Everything is coming along nicely and people are making contributions at the right time. We were blown away completely in game one, we took it as a positive. You need to be up with the pace of the tournament. We are getting into the groove at the right stage of the tournament," he added. 

Rajasthan Royals collapsed from a comfortable 100-1 in 11 overs to 117-5 with debutant left-arm quick George Garton sending back Evin Lewis for 56 and Ahmed striking twice in his first over. 

For RCB, Yuzvendra Chahal struck twice to return impressive figures of 2-18 from his four overs of leg spin and was named man of the match. Harshal Patel rattled the middle and lower order and struck on successive deliveries. 

"In the first half of IPL, I didn't get wickets in the first three-four matches. After the break, I backed myself. I bowled well in the SL series and I got my confidence back. I wanted to maintain that momentum here," said Chahal while receiving his Player of the Match award. 

Rajasthan Royals skipper Sanju Samson believes "funny things can happen" in the Indian Premier League and urged his team to "keep believing" till the last match we play. 

"We don't have anything to lose. That kind of mindset brings a lot of freedom, have seen some funny things happen. Need to keep on believing and fighting till the last match," said Samson during the post-match presentation. 

"We got a really good start, our openers played really well, but we couldn't capitalise on it. Think the middle-order needs some confidence, it has been a hard one week for us, we need to put up a good fight," Samson said. 

"The wicket was a bit two-paced, so the batters couldn't time the ball properly, they kept mistiming it. Happy with the effort and intent with the bowling," he added. 

With this win, RCB now has 14 points in 11 games, on the other hand, Rajasthan is currently at the seventh spot with eight points.