Last Updated on 2 years by Charbel Coorey
Cricket News: RCB vs MI Twitter reactions: Faf, Virat, Siraj star & MI lose first match yet again | Virat Kohli smashes 82 off 49 balls
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have emphasised their IPL 2023 credentials with a thumping victory by eight wickets and 22 balls to spare against Mumbai Indians (MI).
What made the victory all the more impressive for RCB was the quality they had missing. Rajat Patidar, Josh Hazlewood and Wanindu Hasaranga were all unavailable for different reasons, with Reece Topley also picking up a nasty shoulder injury in the field. However, led by superb powerplay bowling by Mohammed Siraj in particular and a wonderful opening stand between Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli, an RCB victory was never really in doubt despite Tilak Varma’s classy 84* off 46 balls.
IPL 2023 5th Match: RCB vs MI Twitter reactions – the key events
As often the case in an IPL game, there were various talking points. Here are some of the reactions from a game between teams containing two of the biggest fanbases in the league.
Mohammed Siraj with powerplay brilliance
MI openers Ishan Kishan and Rohit Sharma had little idea how to counter Mohammed Siraj. The pacer was back to his brilliant best in the powerplay, hurrying the batsmen and tucking them up with excellent line and length with a hint of movement.
He finished with figures of 1/21, but should have had Rohit Sharma after a dropped catch due to a nasty collision with keeper Dinesh Karthik. Thankfully, both were fine.
Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis turn on the style
Chasing 172, Kohli (82* off 49 balls) and du Plessis (73 off 43 balls) made a wonderful start to their 2023 campaign. They plundered 148 in 14.4 overs, after a strong powerplay (53/0) and first ten overs (97/0).
At the same respective period, MI had crawled to 29/3 in the powerplay and 55/4 at the halfway mark.
Tilak Varma stars for MI
MI were in all sorts of trouble at the batting-friendly Chinnaswamy. Tilak Varma, who had an excellent 2022 campaign, shone brightly again for MI with 84* off 46 balls courtesy of nine fours and four sixes. Thanks mainly to Tilak, MI struck 116 runs in the final ten overs, giving them something to bowl at.
Another first up loss for MI, with worries growing about their bowling attack
MI’s bowling attack looked thin on paper heading into IPL 2023. It proved to be the case in their opening match, with the bowling group barely firing a shot.
Yes, MI rarely win their first game and that hasn’t stopped them from winning titles before. However, whether they can trouble batting lineups regularly in IPL 2023 remains to be seen.
