IPL Play of the Day: RCB's triple-threat chokehold that clamped GT in final stretch
RCB vs GT, IPL Play of the Day: RCB flipped the script at the death, conceding just 17 runs in three overs as Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar and Suyash choked the flow to keep the target firmly within reach.
With four overs to go for the Gujarat Titans, Royal Challengers Bengaluru had a problem to solve at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Friday, April 25.
Jos Buttler was set and beginning to look dangerous. Washington Sundar had walked in and immediately found his timing. The scoring rate was already above 10, and despite the earlier dismissal of Sai Sudharsan, the platform was firmly in place for a total well beyond 170, maybe even pushing towards 190 if things clicked.
RCB vs GT: HIGHLIGHTS | SCORECARD
This was the phase where games usually get away. Instead, RCB pulled it back.
Across the 17th, 18th and 19th overs, just 17 runs were conceded. There were no boundaries in two of those overs, one key wicket fell, and most importantly, the momentum shifted completely.
THREE OVERS, TOTAL CONTROL
The shift began with a decision from Rajat Patidar that was far from obvious.
He went back to Suyash Sharma, even after the young leg-spinner had been taken for 14 in his previous over. At that stage of the innings, with a set batter in and a new one looking fluent, most captains might have turned to safer options.
But Patidar read the situation differently.
Sundar was still new at the crease, still finding his tempo. Buttler, although set, had not yet gone into full acceleration mode. The thinking was clear. If there was an over to sneak through quietly, this was it.
Suyash executed that plan to perfection.
There were no big shots attempted, no risks taken. Sundar played himself in, Buttler stayed watchful, and the over yielded just four runs. On paper, it looked harmless. In context, it was the start of the squeeze.
THE PRESSURE BUILDS
T20 games do not always turn on big moments. Sometimes, they shift through small, quiet overs that force batters to rethink.
From cruising comfortably, the batting side suddenly found itself needing to accelerate with fewer deliveries left. The margin for error narrowed, and the pressure began to transfer onto the batters.
That is where Bhuvneshwar Kumar made his impact.
He recognised the moment and, more importantly, the batter. Buttler’s ramp shot is often a release option in the death overs, a way to break the rhythm of a bowler. Bhuvneshwar set the trap and executed it well, resulting in Buttler’s dismissal.
That wicket changed everything.
With the set batter gone, the innings lost its anchor. Sundar now had to take on the role of aggressor, while Jason Holder walked in for his franchise debut. While Holder has the ability to clear the ropes, expecting him to do so immediately in that situation was always going to be difficult.
The over reflected that reality.
There were no boundaries, no release shots. Just singles and doubles, resulting in five runs. In a phase where teams often look to score 15 or more, that kind of over is invaluable.
CHECKMATE BEFORE THE FINAL OVER
Having built that pressure, Patidar made another key call.
Instead of saving his lead pacer for the final over, he brought on Josh Hazlewood for the 19th. It was a move that ensured there was no easy over left to target.
If the batting side had found momentum in that over, it could have carried into the final six balls. By using Hazlewood earlier, RCB shut that door completely.
Hazlewood delivered with control and discipline.
There were no boundaries, no chances for the batters to break free. Every delivery added to the pressure that had already been created in the previous two overs. By the end of the 19th, the innings had been firmly pulled back.
Seventeen runs in three overs.
What had once looked like a total heading well beyond 170 was now far more manageable.
There were a few late boundaries in the final over, with fatigue visible in the field as Rasikh Salam Dar and Krunal Pandya pushed through cramps, but by then, the hard work had already been done.
In a format where totals can escalate rapidly, this was a reminder of how quickly control can be regained with the right decisions and execution.
RCB did not rely on a single moment of brilliance. Instead, they built pressure, made smart calls, and backed their bowlers to deliver.
And in the end, those three overs ensured that the target stayed within reach, setting up the chase that followed.
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With four overs to go for the Gujarat Titans, Royal Challengers Bengaluru had a problem to solve at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Friday, April 25.
Jos Buttler was set and beginning to look dangerous. Washington Sundar had walked in and immediately found his timing. The scoring rate was already above 10, and despite the earlier dismissal of Sai Sudharsan, the platform was firmly in place for a total well beyond 170, maybe even pushing towards 190 if things clicked.
RCB vs GT: HIGHLIGHTS | SCORECARD
This was the phase where games usually get away. Instead, RCB pulled it back.
Across the 17th, 18th and 19th overs, just 17 runs were conceded. There were no boundaries in two of those overs, one key wicket fell, and most importantly, the momentum shifted completely.
THREE OVERS, TOTAL CONTROL
The shift began with a decision from Rajat Patidar that was far from obvious.
He went back to Suyash Sharma, even after the young leg-spinner had been taken for 14 in his previous over. At that stage of the innings, with a set batter in and a new one looking fluent, most captains might have turned to safer options.
But Patidar read the situation differently.
Sundar was still new at the crease, still finding his tempo. Buttler, although set, had not yet gone into full acceleration mode. The thinking was clear. If there was an over to sneak through quietly, this was it.
Suyash executed that plan to perfection.
There were no big shots attempted, no risks taken. Sundar played himself in, Buttler stayed watchful, and the over yielded just four runs. On paper, it looked harmless. In context, it was the start of the squeeze.
THE PRESSURE BUILDS
T20 games do not always turn on big moments. Sometimes, they shift through small, quiet overs that force batters to rethink.
From cruising comfortably, the batting side suddenly found itself needing to accelerate with fewer deliveries left. The margin for error narrowed, and the pressure began to transfer onto the batters.
That is where Bhuvneshwar Kumar made his impact.
He recognised the moment and, more importantly, the batter. Buttler’s ramp shot is often a release option in the death overs, a way to break the rhythm of a bowler. Bhuvneshwar set the trap and executed it well, resulting in Buttler’s dismissal.
That wicket changed everything.
With the set batter gone, the innings lost its anchor. Sundar now had to take on the role of aggressor, while Jason Holder walked in for his franchise debut. While Holder has the ability to clear the ropes, expecting him to do so immediately in that situation was always going to be difficult.
The over reflected that reality.
There were no boundaries, no release shots. Just singles and doubles, resulting in five runs. In a phase where teams often look to score 15 or more, that kind of over is invaluable.
CHECKMATE BEFORE THE FINAL OVER
Having built that pressure, Patidar made another key call.
Instead of saving his lead pacer for the final over, he brought on Josh Hazlewood for the 19th. It was a move that ensured there was no easy over left to target.
If the batting side had found momentum in that over, it could have carried into the final six balls. By using Hazlewood earlier, RCB shut that door completely.
Hazlewood delivered with control and discipline.
There were no boundaries, no chances for the batters to break free. Every delivery added to the pressure that had already been created in the previous two overs. By the end of the 19th, the innings had been firmly pulled back.
Seventeen runs in three overs.
What had once looked like a total heading well beyond 170 was now far more manageable.
There were a few late boundaries in the final over, with fatigue visible in the field as Rasikh Salam Dar and Krunal Pandya pushed through cramps, but by then, the hard work had already been done.
In a format where totals can escalate rapidly, this was a reminder of how quickly control can be regained with the right decisions and execution.
RCB did not rely on a single moment of brilliance. Instead, they built pressure, made smart calls, and backed their bowlers to deliver.
And in the end, those three overs ensured that the target stayed within reach, setting up the chase that followed.
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