NEW DELHI: Rajasthan Royals ended their losing streak and Royal Challengers Bengaluru's victory run with a four-wicket win in the Eliminator of IPL 2024 at Ahmedabad on Wednesday.
The Royals will now face Sunrisers Hyderabad in Qualifier 2 at Chennai on Friday. The winner of that match will take on Kolkata Knight Riders in the final on Sunday.
The official X handle of the Royals shared a short video of skipper Sanju Samson and spinner Ravichandran Ashwin celebrating the win by cutting a cake.
The Royals, who won the inaugural edition of the IPL in 2008 under late Australian legend Shane Warne, bounced back from four losses in five matches including a washout.
RCB's dream run ended after they rose from the bottom of the table after eight matches to win six in a row and make the playoffs.
Ashwin was adjudged the Man of the Match for two wickets that came off successive balls sending back Cameron Green, for 27, and Glenn Maxwell, for a duck.
After the match, Ashwin said, "We haven't done very well in the last few games. We didn't put par scores and we lost Buttler, and Hetmyer was injured. Today's win was important. We were a bit rusty chasing it, but this win will give us some confidence. In the first half, I felt my body wasn't moving too well for the first half of the season. I had an abdomen injury as well. I am aging as well. To come into the tournament from Test cricket was difficult, I needed some time to get that bowling rhythm. But once you have committed to your franchise, you want to go through with the season."
"I think we hit the right lengths, the way Boult was bowling, he got a bit of swing and seam movement. In the second innings, I don't think there was a lot of dew. I think there were some exceptional shots from our boys to get that chase. I think our greatest strength is the exuberance of youth and the experience we have got to support that. Now that Hettie (Shimron Hetmyer) is back in, and Rovman (Powell) got a few boundaries today as well. We've got Keshav sitting outside. We have the right momentum for this team going forward," Ashwin added.
Sanju Samson equalled the record of Shane Warne for most victories as Rajasthan Royals skipper (31).
1/9:IPL trophy eludes Virat Kohli after Bengaluru's loss to Rajasthan
<p>IPL trophy eludes Virat Kohli after Bengaluru's loss to Rajasthan</p>AFP
2/9:RCB Knocked Out
<p>Virat Kohli suffered more heartbreak as Royal Challengers Bengaluru were knocked out of the IPL after a four-wicket loss to Rajasthan Royals in Ahmedabad.</p>AFP
3/9:Heatwave Challenges
<p>Ahmedabad remained hot, with temperatures soaring above 43 degrees Celsius, and over 85,000 fans turned up for the eliminator despite the heat.</p>AFP
4/9:Do-or-die play-off
<p>Rajasthan restricted RCB to 172-8, a total they overhauled with six balls to spare in the do-or-die play-off at the world's biggest cricket stadium.</p>AFP
5/9:Bengaluru's IPL Title Wait
<p>Bengaluru and Kohli extend their wait for a first IPL title, as Rajasthan will face Sunrisers Hyderabad in the last play-off on Friday in Chennai.</p>AFP
6/9:Kolkata's Final Berth
<p>Kolkata made their fourth IPL final after they hammered Hyderabad in the first play-off on Tuesday in Ahmedabad's intense heat.</p>AFP
7/9:Sensational Bowling
<p>Trent Boult, with figures of 1-16, and Ravichandran Ashwin, 2-19, played pivotal roles in a disciplined bowling attack for Rajasthan.</p>AFP
8/9:Rajasthan's Chase
<p>Rajasthan stuttered in their chase after Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson departed, but Riyan Parag and Shimron Hetmyer got their chase back on track.</p>AFP
