
Royal Challengers Bangalore are playing their first encounter of the season against Punjab Kings. Their new-look squad features South African star Faf du Plessis as their captain, after he was inexplicably released from the Chennai Super Kings after eight years with the franchise. He opened the batting alongside Anuj Rawat, but hardly got off to the start their team would have liked. 22-year-old Anuj Rawat could not live up to the hype and struggled against Punjab’s pace combo of Sandeep Sharma and Arshdeep Singh. After a couple of boundaries, he was bowled by Rahul Chahar.
du Plessis was joined by RCB’s ex-captain Virat Kohli at the start of the eighth over, and he still struggled to get going. Fans questioned the Challengers’ combination of the two right-handers at the top of the order, and their sluggish batting against the spinners in the middle overs. With 10 overs down, du Plessis had scored 17 from 30 balls.
RCB fans went straight from why buy faf, it's ok let's support skipper faf to get the fuck out faf
— arfan (@Im__Arfan) March 27, 2022
They can't even drop Faf 😆
— Mr. Chocolate Hazelnut Spread (@basedIITian) March 27, 2022
DDP hi thik tha
— Gun Mexwall (@Maxithebigshow) March 27, 2022
The slow start to the partnership between Kohli and Faf raised a few eyebrows as well.
Kohli trying to run out Faf for running out AB regularly? Biscuits for a reason..
— SMM (@Shhy10) March 27, 2022
Worst case scenario for RCB to have these two batting together against spin. Glenn Maxwell's return should make it easier but it also shows how key Lomror could be – unless Kohli decides to move down the order it's going to be an interesting tactical challenge
— Ben Jones (@benjonescricket) March 27, 2022
But since this is Faf we’re talking about, he soon lifted himself out of the rut. Virat Kohli joined in the carnage too.
Fans react to destruction by Faf du Plessis – Virat Kohli duo
A South African and partnership with Virat Kohli for RCB is never ending story.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 27, 2022
Gayle & AB rolling in their graves at all these quick singles and 2s no 6s. This is not the RCB they built
— Dave (@CricketDave27) March 27, 2022
Faf giving ABD vibes in his first ever game for @RCBTweets. What more could we ask! 🤩 #IPL2022 #PBKSvRCB
— Ajith Ramamurthy (@Ajith_tweets) March 27, 2022
Faf du Plessis eventually holed out off the bowling of Arshdeep Singh, ending his breathtaking innings at 88 runs from 58 balls. The South African’s stunning runs at the end, especially his three fours and seven sixes were a real treat to watch. Faf and Kohli put on a 118-run partnership for the second wicket, from just 61 balls. After Faf’s slow start, the statuesque Protean went on a rampage, scoring 71 runs off the next 27 balls he faced.
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