‘We dropped a catch of the class player, we paid the price’ – Shikhar Dhawan speaks about the turning point in Punjab’s loss to RCB

Shikhar Dhawan (Source-Twitter/X)

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 Match 6 between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium turned into a thriller. RCB eventually won the game by four wickets with four balls to spare in the final over. However, PBKS skipper Shikhar Dhawan couldn’t help but regret a crucial moment that turned the tide against his team.

After being asked to bat first, PBKS put up a total of 176/6 in their 20 overs led by Dhawan’s 45 and some blows from the lower order. Virat Kohli was handed a lifeline on the second ball of the chase itself. Jonny Bairstow, who was stationed at first slip, dropped a regulation catch off Sam Curran’s bowling when Kohli was yet to open his account.

Kohli paid PBKS in full with a spectacular 77 off just 49 balls, putting RCB on course for a possible victory. Speaking at the post-match presentation, Dhawan couldn’t hide his disappointment at the dropped catch. “Virat scored 70-odd runs and we dropped a catch of the class player, we paid the price. If we had taken that catch, the momentum would have come from the second ball. But we lost the momentum over there and then we paid the price for that,” said Dhawan during the post-match presentation.

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‘I played a bit slow’ – Shikhar Dhawan

Despite Kohli’s brilliance, the game went down to the wire. At 130/6 in the 16th over needing 47 off 24 balls, RCB looked down and out until Dinesh Karthik played a blinder, smashing an unbeaten 28 off just 10 deliveries to get RCB over the line. Mahipal Lomror also played a brilliant cameo of 17* runs off eight deliveries.

Dhawan also reflected on his batting performance, saying, “It was a good game, we brought the game back, and again we lost it. We scored 10-15 runs less, in the first six overs I played a bit slow. Those 10-15 runs cost us and the dropped catch as well.”

While Dhawan had his share of regrets, he was all praise for young spinner Harpreet Brar who had incredible figures of 2/13 in his quota of four overs. “He’s bowling well, especially bowling against left-handers, tremendous the way he soaked in the pressure and got us the breakthroughs,” concluded Dhawan.

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PBKS will look to regroup and return to winning ways in their next game against Lucknow Super Giants on March 30. For RCB, they registered their first victory of the season after facing a defeat in the opening game. The Faf du Plessis-led side faces Kolkata Knight Riders in their next fixture on March 29.