Data Shorts: RCB outdo MI in tactics and spin smarts

This was a high-profile contest played between two of the most followed teams boasting of some of the biggest names in sport. The likes of Rohit, Surya, Hardik, and Bumrah in one corner against Kohli, Patidar, Livingstone, and Hazlewood in the opposite.

RCB's spinners played a key role in the game, with the visiting spinners bowled that made the difference at the end. Despite Boult and Chahar getting the ball to swing appreciably in the first couple of overs, Chahar was not given a second over in row and instead the final over of the Powerplay when the swing had completely died down.

RCB's spinners, particularly Hazlewood, conceded just two runs in their respective overs, taking the asking rate to 12 an over at the end of six. From overs five to 11, RCB conceded just 38 runs, with five of these bowled by the unfancied duo of Krunal and Suyash.

Suyash predominantly bowled outside off stump to the right-handers, asking them to hit against the turn to the longer 66-meter boundary. He bowled 15 balls to the right-handers and conceded just 14 runs off them, with both boundaries hit off him being to the shorter leg side boundary, hitting against the turn.

Krunal bowled nearly 75% of his deliveries over 100+ kph and only thrice did he clock under 90 kph. In his second over against Jacks, he bowled two deliveries wide outside off that yorked the batter and followed it up with a straightish quick bouncer that clocked 117.1 kph.

RCB's spinners, particularly Santner, recorded average speeds of 90.88, 88.95, 92.90, and 90.10 across their four overs but could not contain RCB batters effectively.

Hardik and Tilak Varma did some heavy lifting in the back half to propel a possible Mumbai comeback, but the excellent work done in the first five overs by the duo combined with Patidar's tactical smarts ensured they fell short eventually.

RCB's tactical nous combined with an exceptional spell of defensive bowling by their spinners took them over the line.