In the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) edition, we’ve witnessed a mix of straightforward wins and thrilling matches. So far, Rajasthan Royals, Chennai Super Kings, Gujarat Titans, Kolkata Knight Riders, Punjab Kings, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru have all secured victories. However, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals, and Lucknow Super Giants are yet to open their account.
On the opening night, Chennai Super Kings comfortably defeated Royal Challengers Bengaluru, thanks to Mustafizur Rahman’s stellar performance with four wickets. Mumbai Indians continued their trend of losing season openers. The match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad was a nail-biter, as was the encounter between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings.
A common thread in all these matches is that they’ve been won by the home side. Whether it’s Chepauk, Mullanpur, Eden Gardens, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, or Bengaluru, the home advantage has been evident. Now, all eyes are on Chennai Super Kings to maintain this trend when they face Gujarat Titans on March 26.
In a thrilling Monday evening match at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Virat Kohli played a crucial innings, guiding Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a four-wicket victory over Punjab Kings. Kohli’s well-crafted half-century (77 off 49 balls) was instrumental in chasing down the target of 177 runs. When Kohli departed, RCB still needed 47 runs from 24 balls. Dinesh Karthik and Mahipal Lomror held their nerves and steered RCB to victory with some sensible batting.
The challenging pitch was evident throughout the match, as indicated by the highest partnership for RCB being only 43 runs. Shikhar Dhawan’s pragmatism laid the foundation for Punjab Kings’ total of 176 for six, with contributions from Jitesh Sharma and Prabhsimran Singh.
Overall, the IPL 2024 edition has kicked off with excitement and anticipation, with teams showcasing their strengths and battling for supremacy on both familiar and unfamiliar turfs.