Match overview
Rajasthan Royals ended Royal Challengers Bangalore's five-match winning streak with a 4-wicket victory at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on 22 May 2024. Chasing 173, Rajasthan reached their target at 174 for 6, with Ravichandran Ashwin named Player of the Match. RCB's 172 for 8 was a solid effort but fell well short of the venue's first-innings average of 206. It was a result that tightened the all-time head-to-head between the two sides to 17–15 in RCB's favour.
RCB had looked threatening enough through the powerplay, scoring 50 for 1 in the first six overs. The middle overs proved their undoing: 75 runs at the cost of 4 wickets between overs 7 and 15 restricted their final total. Rajasthan, by contrast, managed their middle-overs phase slightly better, posting 79 for 3, then closed out the chase with 48 from the death for only 2 wickets down.
Rajasthan won the toss and opted to field, consistent with the ground's tendencies. Of toss winners at Narendra Modi Stadium, 60 per cent choose to bowl first, and the ground's chase success rate sits at 53 per cent. Both figures worked in Rajasthan's favour.
Venue and conditions
Narendra Modi Stadium is one of the largest and most used T20 venues in world cricket, with 95 matches in the database. The average first-innings total here is 206 and the average second-innings score is 196, making it a ground that generally rewards aggressive batting across both innings. RCB's 172 fell nearly 34 runs below the first-innings mean, which put pressure on their bowlers from the first over of the chase.
The powerplay at this ground averages 43 runs. Both sides exceeded that in this match: RCB posted 50 in the first six overs, Rajasthan 47. The death overs, where the ground average is 38, were the phase that separated the two teams most clearly. RCB scored 47 in their death overs for 3 wickets; Rajasthan scored 48 for 2, with that marginal efficiency proving the difference.
The pitch at Ahmedabad tends to be true-paced early and can slow as the game progresses, favouring teams that can bat deep. Rajasthan's ability to see through the tricky middle passage and accelerate late was the defining factor on the day.
How to watch
IPL fixtures are broadcast in the UK on Sky Sports Cricket. Streaming is available through Sky Go for subscribers or via a NOW TV day pass for those without a Sky contract. Evening matches in India typically start at 19:30 IST, which corresponds to 15:00 BST, so most games are accessible to UK viewers during the afternoon.
For dedicated IPL coverage and highlights, the Sky Sports app carries extended replays and post-match analysis. Cricket fans in the UK should note that scheduling for IPL matches can shift, so it is worth checking Sky's listings on the day.
Recent form
Royal Challengers Bangalore came into this fixture in the strongest run of form either side had shown all season. Their five consecutive wins included victories over Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, Punjab Kings, and two against Gujarat Titans. That sequence gave them real momentum and made them slight favourites on paper.
Rajasthan Royals, by contrast, had lost four of their previous five heading into Ahmedabad. Their only win in that run came against Lucknow Super Giants. Defeats against Punjab Kings, Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, and Sunrisers Hyderabad suggested a side struggling to string consistent performances together. The victory over RCB, given that backdrop, carried significant weight for their season.
