Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) started their IPL
2022 campaign on a disappointing note. Despite posting a massive 205 for 2 in
20 overs, the franchise failed to win the match against Punjab Kings at the DY
Patil Stadium on Sunday.

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In a closely fought match, PBKS chased down the target with
five wickets in hand, with six balls to spare. This shocking defeat definitely
left the cricketing fraternity analysing the reasons for RCB’s defeat.

Asked to bat first by PBKS captain Mayank Agarwal, RCB
got off to a brilliant start from their captain cum opener Faf du Plessis, who scored
88 off 57 balls. The right-handed batter smashed seven sixes and three
boundaries during his quickfire knock. Virat Kohli scored 41 while Dinesh Karthik provided them with a
late blitz to take the innings past 200 runs mark.

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Despite such wonderful performances by batters, RCB’s
defeat left everyone finding out the reasons for the defeat.

While chasing the mammoth target, PBKS got off to a
flying start from their opening pair of Mayank Agarwal (32) and Shikhar Dhawan
(43). They shared a 71-run partnership before Wanindu Hasaranga got Agarwal’s scalp.
Bhanuka Rajapaksa then scored 43 off 22 balls to keep PBKS’s chances alive in
the march. But it was still not enough for PBKS to chase down the massive target.

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Dropped catch

In the end, the responsibility to complete the chase
reclined with Shahrukh Khan and Odean Smith. They shared a 52-run partnership
off 25 balls which made the difference between the two sides.

In the 17th over of PBKS innings, Smith, who took just
8 balls to score 25, was dropped on 10 by Anuj Rawat, who earlier took two
brilliant catches to dismiss Dhawan and Liam Livingstone. The dropped catch by
Rawat proved too costly for RCB as PBKS raced to victory in 19 overs.  There were a couple of other catches dropped
in the match which cancelled RCB’s attempt to block PBKS’s chase.

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RCB captain Faf du Plessis also admitted that dropped
catches have cost them the match.         

Also Read: Nice to start on winning note: PBKS skipper Mayank Agarwal after beating RCB

“I think the batting was really good. The catches
towards the end. Odean Smith 25 off 8 balls. I think we probably dropped him on
10. After that, we are looking at some tailenders coming in. The cliche of
catches win matches. There was a bit of dew out there, a tough night for the
bowlers, but I thought they were pretty decent with the wet ball. Small margins,
but they chased it down really well. They had a really good powerplay,”
said Du Plessis in a post-match presentation.