Bangalore, March 25: Thursday was not a holiday in Karnataka but cricket crazy Bangaloreans filled the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium to near capacity, expecting local Royal Challengers to win their fifth Indian Premier League (IPL) match in a row.
They cheered almost non-stop to pep up the home side against Delhi Daredevils and maintain their winning momentum.
All their boisterous shouting of ‘RCB, RCB’ went in vain as the home team batsmen returned to the pavilion in quick succession and finally could only manage 166 for nine wickets, falling 15 runs short of the Delhi Daredevils’ total.
Robin Uthappa’s early exit did not dampen the spirit of the fans, who stayed put till the last ball wildly cheering Virat Kohli, who entertained them with a 23-ball 38 runs, hitting four fours and one six.
Bangalore’s first loss at home nothwithstanding, the last IPL’s runners-up have been the most consistent performers this season so far.
There was buzz around that RCB owner and liquor baron Vijay Mallya visited Tirupati, the abode of Hindu god Venkateshwara, in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, seeking the blessings of the Lord of the Seven Hills to help his team win the third edition of the shortest version of the game.
The RCB still can win but Thursday they were far away from the fighting spirit they have exhibited so far in this third edition of IPL after losing the opener to Kolkata Knight Rider
—Agencies7