Royal Challengers Bengaluru Edge Rajasthan Royals In IPL Thriller
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Edge Rajasthan Royals In IPL Thriller...
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) clinched a dramatic 6-wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Saturday's Indian Premier League (IPL) clash, shaking up the tournament standings. The match, played at Jaipur's Sawai Mansingh Stadium, saw Virat Kohli's 72-run knock propel RCB to their third consecutive win while halting RR's four-match unbeaten streak.
The game is trending among US cricket fans as it featured several American viewers' favorite players, including Kohli and RR's Jos Buttler. Disney+ Hotstar, the IPL's US streaming partner, reported a 22% spike in viewership during the match compared to last week's fixtures.
With this result, RCB jumps to fifth place in the standings (8 points), while RR remains second (12 points) behind Kolkata Knight Riders. The match's nail-biting finish - requiring a last-ball boundary - sparked over 180,000 tweets in the US within three hours of the game ending.
Cricket analysts note the growing US interest coincides with preparations for next month's T20 World Cup, co-hosted by America. Major League Cricket franchises are also tracking IPL performances to scout talent for their July season. The next RCB-RR matchup on May 18 is already drawing significant US betting interest, with DraftKings reporting early wagers 300% higher than typical IPL matches.
Saturday's game saw standout performances from both teams. RR's Riyan Parag scored 56 runs, continuing his breakout season, while RCB's Yuzvendra Chahal took 2/34 against his former franchise. The match also featured a controversial DRS review that overturned an LBW decision against Kohli, sparking debate among ESPN's US commentary team.
IPL viewership in the US has grown 47% year-over-year according to Nielsen, with weekend matches averaging 425,000 viewers. The league's rising stateside popularity comes as New York prepares to host the India-Pakistan World Cup match on June 9 at a temporary 34,000-seat stadium.
Both teams face quick turnarounds, with RCB playing Sunrisers Hyderabad on Monday and RR meeting Punjab Kings on Tuesday. US fans can catch both matches on Willow TV, with start times adjusted for prime evening viewing on the East Coast.
