Typically, the Man of the Match award goes to the player whose performance contributes significantly to their team’s victory. However, there are rare occasions when the award is given to a player despite their team losing. Tim David recently became the first player this season in the IPL to receive the Man of the Match award despite his team’s loss.
In a rain-affected match between Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, RCB were invited to bat first. The three-time finalists saw their entire batting order collapse, except for David. With the team struggling at 43 for 7, he scored a gritty fifty in tough conditions and helped RCB post a fighting total.
The Aussie scored 50 runs off just 26 balls, hitting 5 fours and 3 sixes. In RCB’s final over, he smashed 3 sixes off Harpreet Brar. Without his fighting knock, RCB would have been bowled out for a very low total. David has been in great form since the start of the season, scoring 147 runs in 5 innings at an incredible average of 142 and a strike rate of nearly 200.
Mohammed Shami was the last player to win the Man of the Match award in a losing cause. He took 4 wickets for just 11 runs in his spell. However, the Gujarat Titans lost the match as they failed to chase a target of 130 against the Delhi Capitals in 2023. Over the years, some of the greatest players, like Virat Kohli, Dale Steyn, and Jasprit Bumrah, have also won the Man of the Match award in a losing cause.
What does RCB need to do to win their first match at their home ground this season?
Although Royal Challengers Bengaluru have had a decent start to the season, they are yet to win at home. While they have won 4 matches away, they have also lost 3 matches at their home ground. After their loss to Punjab Kings, many fans felt that RCB needed to make some changes.
One common pattern in every RCB home game is that they were invited to bat first. Instead of assessing the situation and building the innings, the top order, including Kohli, got out while going for big shots. No batter tried to settle in and play sensibly. Captain Rajat Patidar or Kohli could take on the responsibility of holding one end, allowing the others around them to take risks.
Another issue with RCB’s batting lineup is the poor form of players like Liam Livingstone and Krunal Pandya. The English batter has scored only 83 runs in 6 matches. He has been dismissed multiple times due to careless shots. RCB might consider replacing him with fellow Englishman Jacob Bethell.
