The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season has unfurled another spectacle as the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) notched their second win in style, painting the Narendra Modi Stadium with strokes of cricketing prowess. On a sweltering Sunday (April 28), a target of 201 runs, colossal by any standards, was scaled with a blistering ferocity in mere 16 overs. The architects of this extraordinary chase were none other than Will Jacks, with a scintillating century off just 41 balls, and the maestro Virat Kohli, whose unbeaten 70 from 44 deliveries was a spectacle in its own right. Such an authoritative chase was previously a rare occurrence for RCB, despite their history of star-studded line-ups, marking only the second time they have successfully scaled such a sizeable target.
As history beckons, when RCB does rise to the occasion, they shatter records, emulating their comportment on the day. Will Jacks, in particular, enscribed his name into the annals of the IPL by hitting the fifth fastest century in the league’s wealthy chronicle. He commanded the middle overs (7-16), accruing an incredible 95 runs, the third-highest tally in the history of the IPL, nestled behind trailblazing innings by Virender Sehwag (107 runs in 2011) and Chris Gayle (105 runs in 2013).
The narrative of the game, however, is apt to be encapsulated by not one but three extraordinary feats achieved by RCB and Will Jacks in their tussle against the Gujarat Titans. Here, we unfold these remarkable records:
1. Largest win by balls remaining chasing 200 or more in IPL
The assault orchestrated by Will Jacks in the 15th and 16th overs of the innings allowed RCB to reach the 201-run target with an unprecedented 24 balls to spare. This feat stands as the largest win in terms of balls remaining in chasing targets of 200 or more in IPL history. The performance also equated the record for the largest T20 win by balls remaining, a high-water mark set by Surrey against Middlesex back in 2018.
2. RCB is the first team to win by nine or more wickets chasing 200 or more in IPL history
The dominant display left RCB losing just a singular wicket, that of their captain Faf du Plessis, during their thunderous chase. This marked a seminal moment in IPL history, with RCB becoming the first team to clinch a win by nine or more wickets whilst chasing a target over the 200-run mark. An emphatic testament to their batting might and deep resolve.
3. Will Jacks’ blistering sprint from 50 to 100 in just 10 balls
An exhibition of raw hitting was on show as Will Jacks, initially reaching his half-century off 31 balls, wielded his bat like a sabre to reach the three-figure mark on the 41st delivery. This rapid acceleration, where only 10 deliveries were required to convert his fifty into a hundred, set a new benchmark in the IPL, surpassing Chris Gayle’s previous best where he had taken 13 deliveries against Pune Warriors in 2013.
The match against Gujarat Titans not only allowed RCB to etch their name into record books but also served as a reminder of the unpredictable and spectacular nature of T20 cricket. Jacks and Kohli’s partnership has put the cricketing world on notice, demonstrating that records are meant to be broken and that the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, even when seemingly against the ropes, are a force capable of legendary feats. As the IPL progresses, all eyes will remain on RCB, awaiting their next move in a tournament that continues to captivate and thrill fans around the globe.
