CHAPTER 93: RCB VS. MUMBAI INDIANS – THE CHASE BEGINS

The crowd roared as RCB’s openers stepped onto the field, ready to chase down 183 runs against a formidable Mumbai bowling attack. The energy was electric—this was more than a regular league game. It was a battle of momentum, control, and execution, with every delivery carrying the weight of expectation.

Raj stood at the dugout, arms crossed, eyes focused on the pitch. Mumbai had posted a challenging total, but it wasn’t out of reach. The chase had to be calculated, with the batting order structured to absorb early pressure before launching an aggressive finishing phase.

"This isn’t about rushing. It’s about precision."

The players took their positions. The match was officially entering its second half—RCB’s chase had begun.

Mumbai’s bowling lineup wasn’t just strong—it was unpredictable. They had early swing specialists, mid-innings spinners who could disrupt rhythm, and pace options that thrived in death overs.

RCB couldn’t afford to take reckless risks. Their plan involved:

Powerplay discipline – Avoid unnecessary boundary-hunting, focus on strike rotation.

Anchor partnerships in middle overs – Raj’s role would be crucial in ensuring the innings remained stable.

Calculated acceleration post-15 overs – The final push had to be perfectly timed to counter Mumbai’s death bowling threat.

Kohlie and Duplesi took their stances. The first ball was about to be delivered.

Mumbai’s pacer sprinted in, delivering a full-length swinging ball on off-stump.

Kohlie reacted instantly, stepping forward and tapping it toward deep cover.

Single taken.

Mumbai wanted early containment—tight fields, no loose deliveries.

The second ball arrived—short-pitched, forcing Duplesi into a pull attempt.

He connected cleanly, sending the ball toward square leg.

Four runs.

Raj nodded slightly. The balance was being established.

Mumbai adjusted quickly, shifting field placements to prevent RCB’s batters from finding gaps.

They positioned:

Extra cover fielder forward – Blocking Kohlie’s driving ability.

Two deep leg-side fielders – Preventing boundary attempts on pull shots.

Quick bowler rotations – Switching from pure pace to seam-based variations.

RCB responded with strike rotation, keeping Mumbai from settling.

By the end of four overs, RCB had 29 for no loss, ensuring stability.

Score Update – Powerplay Progression

RCB – 54 for no loss (6 overs)

Virat Kohlie – 27*(17), 3 fours

Faf Duplesi – 24*(19), 2 fours

RCB had absorbed Mumbai’s early attack, avoiding setbacks.

Raj glanced at the scoreboard.

"We’re right where we need to be. Now, we build."

The powerplay had ended with RCB in a strong position, having reached 54 for no loss without taking unnecessary risks. But now, as they moved into the middle overs, Mumbai’s bowlers regrouped, sharpening their strategies.

Raj leaned forward, his gaze fixed on the field. He had seen this exact scenario play out before—Mumbai rarely panicked after a stable opposition start. Instead, they tightened their grip, bringing in their tactical adjustments to cut off easy scoring opportunities.

"They’ll try to squeeze us now," Raj murmured to Kohlie during the drinks break.

Mumbai’s captain signaled his bowler forward. The second phase of this chase was about to get serious.

Mumbai’s defensive setup was built around three major shifts:

Early spin introduction – Instead of waiting until over 10, Mumbai brought in their spinners immediately in over 7, hoping to break momentum.

Field compression strategy – Cutting off Kohlie’s preferred cover drives by positioning two fielders tighter inside the circle.

Off-speed variations against Duplesi – Expecting him to target gaps, Mumbai mixed slower balls and deceptive lengths to force hesitation.

RCB wasn’t surprised, but they needed a counter-strategy.

Raj signaled toward the dugout.

"Rotate strike. Don’t let them lock us down."

As expected, Mumbai’s lead spinner took the ball for the 7th over, rolling his fingers carefully over the seam, preparing to take pace off the deliveries.

First ball—flat trajectory, darting toward off-stump.

Kohlie adjusted his stance, leaned forward, and pushed the ball softly toward mid-off.

Single taken.

Next ball—slower, drifting toward leg-stump, expecting Duplesi to play across the line.

Duplesi anticipated the dip, stepped back, and guided the ball past fine leg.

Two runs.

RCB wasn’t forcing boundaries, but they were keeping Mumbai’s fielders constantly moving.

Mumbai realized that their containment strategy wasn’t fully working. RCB wasn’t rushing, but they also weren’t letting Mumbai settle.

So Mumbai modified their approach again:

Spin bowling angle shift – Instead of attacking straight, their spinners started bowling wider deliveries, hoping RCB would chase the ball recklessly.

Mid-wicket repositioning for Duplesi – Mumbai had studied his game and pushed their fielders closer, discouraging his flick shots.

Bowler rotation in shorter bursts – Mumbai’s captain limited each bowler to two overs max, preventing RCB’s batters from reading their rhythm.

RCB recognized the disruption, but remained patient.

By the 13th over, Mumbai had finally broken through.

Duplesi, attempting to push the run rate forward, flicked a quicker delivery toward deep square leg, mistiming the shot.

Caught.

OUT!

Mumbai’s fielders erupted in celebration—they had finally disrupted RCB’s control.

But Raj simply stood up from the dugout, tightened his gloves, and stepped forward.

"They wanted a breakthrough? Let’s see if they can stop me."

The chase was about to enter its next phase—Raj’s calculated approach in the pressure overs.

Score Update – RCB’s Position Before Acceleration

RCB – 112 for 1 (13 overs)

Virat Kohlie – 55*(39), 6 fours

Faf Duplesi (out) – 48 (34), 4 fours

New batter in – Raj

The match was perfectly poised

, but RCB needed another strong partnership to ensure stability before the final acceleration.

Raj glanced at Kohlie.

"We control the pace. No rush. No mistakes."

Raj walked to the crease with quiet determination, adjusting his gloves, his eyes scanning Mumbai’s defensive field placements. The chase had reached a pivotal stage—RCB had lost Duplesi’s wicket, and now the game demanded control and calculated aggression.

Mumbai’s bowlers were tightening their grip, expecting Raj to attack immediately. Their captain signaled adjustments in the field:

Deep square fielder pushed wider – Anticipating Raj’s flick shots.

Short cover positioned aggressively – Cutting off quick singles to slow strike rotation.

Mixed deliveries from pacers – Alternating between slow cutters and sharp bouncers to disrupt rhythm.

Raj exhaled.

"They want to force mistakes. We don’t give them that advantage."

He settled into his stance.

Raj watched the ball carefully, adjusting his feet, and guided it gently past backward point.

Single taken.

Mumbai had expected boundary attempts, but Raj wasn’t playing into their hands.

Next ball—short-pitched, rising toward the ribs.

Raj moved across quickly, controlling his pull shot toward fine leg.

Two runs.

The RCB dugout remained calm—Raj wasn’t rushing, but he was dictating the chase.

By over 15, Mumbai realized that Raj wasn’t falling into their boundary trap. So they adjusted again:

Third man pushed finer – Restricting late cuts.

Mid-wicket fielders pushed tighter – Preventing gaps for rotation singles.

Bowler tempo switched – One fast, one slow every two deliveries to disrupt rhythm.

RCB had expected these moves, but the key was timing the counterattack perfectly.

Raj signaled to Kohlie.

"We hold control for three more overs, then we accelerate."

Raj faced the first ball of over 17—a wide, flighted delivery from Mumbai’s spinner, designed to tempt him into an expansive drive.

But instead of forcing a shot, Raj adjusted, stepping forward and tapping it into the gap between point and cover.

Two runs.

Mumbai’s captain exhaled sharply—Raj wasn’t making mistakes.

Next ball—quicker, angling into the pads.

Raj reacted instantly, flicking it behind square.

Four runs.

RCB had now officially entered acceleration mode.

Score Update – RCB’s Position Before the Final Overs

RCB – 138 for 1 (18 overs)

Virat Kohlie – 76*(48), 8 fours

Raj – 32*(21), 2 fours

RCB needed 45 runs from 18 balls.

The tension inside the stadium was unbelievable—both teams knew that the next few minutes would decide the match

.

Raj cracked his knuckles, turning to Kohlie.

"Now, we go full attack."

The match had reached its peak intensity. RCB needed 45 runs from 18 balls. Every ball from this point forward would define the outcome.

Mumbai’s fielders spread out, adjusting their last defensive setup to stall RCB’s acceleration. Their captain had one last plan—to disrupt Raj and Kohlie’s stroke-making, making sure they couldn’t freely target the gaps.

Raj rolled his shoulders, gripping his bat firmly. He had seen plenty of high-pressure chases before, but this moment demanded absolute composure.

"No mistakes. No hesitation."

The first ball of the 19th over was about to be delivered.

Mumbai’s bowlers had switched to maximum containment strategy, focusing on:

Wide yorkers to eliminate boundary options – Preventing straight hitting.

Sharp bouncers to disrupt pull shots – Forcing mistimed strokes.

Pace change after every two deliveries – Alternating fast and slow balls to limit rhythm building.

Raj recognized the pattern instantly.

"They’re trying to force hesitation. We don’t give them time to adjust."

He signaled to Kohlie—RCB needed to target early runs before Mumbai locked them down completely.

First ball—fast, wide outside off, targeting Raj’s reach.

Raj stretched forward but let it pass.

Wide ball!

Mumbai had given away a free run.

RCB needed 44 from 17 balls now.

Next ball—short, rising toward the chest.

Raj stepped back, controlled the pull shot, and directed it toward deep square leg.

Three runs taken.

Mumbai’s fielders rushed to reposition—they saw RCB’s intent changing.

Mumbai’s bowler ran in fast, knowing they had one last chance to stall the chase.

First ball—off-cutter, angling toward off-stump.

Kohlie picked the line early, leaned in, and guided it through covers.

Four runs.

The crowd erupted—RCB was one shot away from sealing the match.

Raj adjusted his gloves.

"One more."

Next ball—sharp length, forcing Raj to react fast.

Raj adjusted, lifting his bat straight down the ground.

Boundary. Match over.

Final Score – RCB Wins the Battle

RCB – 184 for 1 (19.4 overs)

Raj remains unbeaten at 47(26), guiding the finish.*

Kohlie anchors the chase with 80(52), ensuring stability.*

RCB dominates the run chase, proving their strategic depth.

Raj walked toward the dugout, greeted by cheers and pats on the back.

This wasn’t just another win—it was proof that RCB’s chase tactics were among the best in the league.

To be continued.....

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