Good morning,
If the loudest thing last night wasn't the crowd but your friends on that big-screen outing you planned, we understand. Here's Cricbuzz Pulse, with a little more banter and a two-minute scan of the IPL-verse.
@B0$
RCB remembered how to lose at home, going down to DC at the Chinnaswamy for the second straight year.
Phil Salt's 63 powered them to 175/8, but the innings stalled badly at the death (and no, @L0$).
KL Rahul and Tristan Stubbs rebuilt calmly before David Miller iced it at the finish.
In Hyderabad, SRH's 194 looked under threat with CSK cruising at 111/3.
But wickets in clusters and @L1$ flipped it, as CSK fell short by 10 runs.
@B1$
@L2$, this time after cruising to 112/3 chasing 195, with the win probability at 69%, only to fall short by 10 after managing just 30/2 in the next five overs. It mirrors a deeper slide; they have the second-worst chasing record since 2024 (6 wins in 16) and have lost 16 of 18 chases of 175-plus since 2020.
@B2$
The @B3$ award goes to KL Rahul for taking Josh Hazlewood apart at the Chinnaswamy and reminding everyone that even the best can be made to look mortal.
The @B4$ award goes to SRH pace bowling coach Varun Aaron for maintaining a straight face on air while Praful Hinge travelled to all parts of Uppal in the background.
The @B5$ award goes to David Miller for finishing the job this time, after letting one slip not too long ago against GT.
The @B6$ award goes to Abhishek Sharma for taking on Matthew Short's offspin and sending it out of sight.
The @B7$ award passes from KL Rahul to Heinrich Klaasen for saying he does "not care about SR" because he's playing the match situation (and the press).
@B8$
SRH are still starting fast, but @L3$, with returns and strike rate down from 2024 and the burden shifting to the rest. The bigger issue is what follows: clustered wickets, as seen in five of six games, that break momentum and force resets for a side that likes to play high-risk cricket. That has pushed Heinrich Klaasen into a holding role early on.
@B9$
Axar Patel had to retire hurt with cramps (that's how hot Bengaluru is!). Also watch out how Rishabh Pant, who was injured by a Josh Hazlewood delivery last match, recovers for the PBKS match later in the evening.
@L4$, saying "it looks pretty bad unfortunately". And yes, there's still no clarity on MSD's return.
@B10$
Ishan Kishan admitted SRH were "20 runs short" but was ecstatic to see his "bunch of young bowlers" execute their plans well. Eshan Malinga, who was the PoTM, spoke about the importance of reverse swing (remember, bowlers can use spit to shine the ball in IPL, but not in international cricket).
David Miller was candid enough to admit that he was a "bit disappointed" at being unable to finish the game against GT and that the loss "played at the back of his mind."
Tristan Stubbs, the PoTM for RCB-DC, called the Chinnaswamy wicket for the day match "little bit slow, a little bit low". Rajat Patidar called it "tacky" at the start.
KL Rahul said that drawing-circle-on-the-ground-with-his-bat celebration last year was a "one-time thing only" and he wasn't planning an encore.
@B11$
Of the 63 batters who have aggregated at least 500 runs in successful IPL chases, David Miller has the highest average!
@B12$
Taking a cue from LSG, word is other teams are eyeing a shift to red in their kits. Not hard to see why, with everything red, orange or pink sitting at the top of the points table right now.
@B13$
It's @L5$ as they continue their hunt for the first win this season. Later in the evening, @L6$ in New Chandigarh.
@B14$
Speaking as an optimist, Eden Gardens will be quarter full.
