Royal Challengers Bangalore completed a hat-trick of defeats to start their Indian Premier League campaign as they went down by 118 runs against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday.
Replying to the hosts’ massive total of 231/2, Virat Kohli’s men could manage just 113 in 19.5 overs.
SRH rode on centuries from openers Jonny Bairstow [114 of 56] and David Warner [100 not out off 55] and a brilliant spell of 4/11 from Mohammad Nabi to get their second win of the season.
Sunday’s encounter at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium was a complete mismatch, with SRH outplaying RCB in every department of the game.
The Royal Challengers, who have never won the IPL, were expected to put up a better performance this year after remaining near the bottom of the table in most previous editions of the T20 tournament.
However, this year so far has been no different. In fact, it looks like the men in red are set to suffer an even more humiliating campaign. In their opening match this season, they had gotten all-out for a shocking 70 runs in a seven-wicket loss to defending champions Chennai Super Kings.
Twitter was abuzz with appreciation for Warner and Bairstow, firstly, but was later dominated by more jokes on RCB’s plight. Here’s a selection of the best reactions:
The beauty of #VIVOIPL 😍 pic.twitter.com/kqiIE1VyCo
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 31, 2019
Power hitting to another level @jbairstow21 and @davidwarner31 💪🏏🔥🔥 @IPL @SunRisers vs @RCBTweets
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) March 31, 2019
“The 12 months have done me well,” says an exhausted Warner. Brilliant knock by Bairstow too.
— Peter Lalor (@plalor) March 31, 2019
Loved the celebration of #Warner . Could very well be in the colours of #Australia or the whites during the Ashes. Just pure emotions from a man who’s absolutely enjoying playing cricket n scoring runs. Doesn’t matter the format or the stage. Simply brilliant. #SRHvsRCB #IPL2019
— RK (@RK_sports) March 31, 2019
Peoples who are happy after SRH innings
— Kuptaan 🇮🇳 (@Kuptaan) March 31, 2019
1. SRH fans
2. Warner Fans
3. Bairstow Fans
4. Gambhir#RCBvSRH #SRHvRCB
David Warner scores a sensational century and is the second best batsman of the innings...Speaks volumes about Jonny Bairstow... #SRHvRCB
— .... (@ynakg2) March 31, 2019
The British divided and ruled. The IPL unites and rules. David Warner, Jonny Bairstow Bhai Bhai #IPL2019 #SRHvRCB #Warner #Bairstow @cricbuzz
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) March 31, 2019
Ultimately, it was a chastening defeat for Kohli and Co.
Earth hour was meant to be last night. RCB decided to switch off today. 🙃 #SRHvRCB #CricbuzzLIVE
— Gautam Bhimani (@gbhimani) March 31, 2019
RCB distributing two points to every team..
— Nilesh Alone (@NileshAlone143) March 31, 2019
#SRHvRCB pic.twitter.com/F6RBcCXsQz
Breaking News:
— North Stand Gang - Wankhede (@NorthStandGang) March 31, 2019
RCB have been relegated to Karnataka Premier League. Bijapur Bulls to play IPL next season#IPL2019 #SRHvRCB #Fakingnews
What's Wrogn with RCB!?
— Trendulkar (@Trendulkar) March 31, 2019
#RCB has avoided the follow-on...but innings defeat still looming large. #SRHvRCB #IPL
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) March 31, 2019
RCB are a shambles....... #Fact #IPL2019
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 31, 2019
Parthiv Patel walking out to open the batting in a 232 run chase. Just RCB things.
— Srini Mama (@SriniMaama16) March 31, 2019
David Warner & Johny Bairstow playing against RCB 😃#SRHvRCB #OrangeArmy pic.twitter.com/9KEzC6RY8Q
— AK (@iam_billa_arun) March 31, 2019
Things going all WROGN for #RCB here...
— Hemant (@hemantbuch) March 31, 2019
They won't get close in terms of the total, but there's something of the 248-3 about this batting performance from Warner and Bairstow. Just chaos, complete loss of control from the bowling side; RCB look absolutely out of ideas. #IPL2019 #SRHvRCB
— Ben Jones (@benjonescricket) March 31, 2019
RCB fans on TL disappearing faster than Vijay Mallya #RCBvSRH
— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) March 31, 2019
Kohli: We are playing at the IPL and not club cricket.
— cricBC (@cricBC) March 31, 2019
Bairstow: LOL
Warner: LOL
Nabi: LOL
Umpires: LOL
Each time you watch such an RCB performance, think of the of joy you will feel when they finally win IPL (in 2037)
— Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) March 31, 2019
Clarification: The report originally mentioned SRH’s score to be 231/1 instead of 231/2.