Bangalore Royal challengers were literally reduced to spectators with a Gilchrist merciless 45 ball 71 run onslaught, which caught them off – guard and were never able to provide any answers for Deccan Chargers clinical performance, where they lost the match by 24 runs.

Right from toss, nothing went in favour of Kevin Pietersen and Gilchrist had no hesitation to bat first in one of the finest tracks which tournament witnessed till now. Adam Gilchrist and Hershelle Gibbs two of the world’s best ferocious hitters in middle, the Royal Challengers bowlers were made to face litmus test.

The opening pair piled up 46 valuable runs in mere 3.4 overs, before Gibbs local favourite was adjudged LBW, to a straight swinging delivery of Praveen Kumar, but nothing stopped Adam Gilchrist though, who hit five intriguing sixes, which left the crowd with awe. Even though other batsmen like Laxman was finding difficult, to wield the bat, Deccan’s captain was in form of his life.

Deccan Chargers innings spun around two pivotal performances in form of Adam Gilchrist who started the fiesta and Rohit Sharma, who clubbed three out of his five sixes in a single Anil Kumble over and carried out the baton left by Adam Gilchrist in middle overs.

Royal Challengers showed some flashes of brilliance with ball, but was never consistent, with Kevin Pitersen turning up with a best figures with 2 for 31 in four over’s, a surprising one indeed. Deccan Chargers fostered the momentum, even though wickets kept on tumbling and ended up piling 184 runs.

Challenger chase took a horrendous turn, when Jesse Ryder found his stumps rattled, by a fierce Fidel Edwards delivery, in first over for a duck, his second in two matches. Even though Jacques Kallis showcased some brilliance with bat, Royal Challengers were never in hunt, with an ever climbing run rate.

It appeared that their batsmen were inventing strokes, to find the fielders. Jacques kallis got out, to a half volley of R P Singh, which he carved straight to throat of Rohit Sharma, in cover region and Robin Uthappa miserable stay in crease ended, to a fine catch in deep mid – wicket boundary by Ravi Teja in 8th over.

Dravid was only Royal challengers batsmen, who looked secured and showed Spanking intent, which would have raised eyebrows of few Indian selectors for sure. He along with Kevin Pietresen tried, to rope in a partnership, but their day dreams soon ended, with Kevin getting stumped of an enticing delivery of Prajahan Ojha.

Virat Kohli and Dravid tried to fabricate a spirited chase, by knitting a half century partnership, but damage was already done and it all came to a standstill, when Dravid clouted a delivery of Scott Styris straight to long on. Virat Kohli meanwhile struck a good looking half century and Pravin Kumar took mantle of entertaining the crowd, with two huge sixes at end, but only to find their team agonisingly loose by twenty four runs.

Deccan Chargers sound to have all charged up and appear more likely, to give other teams run, for their money, in this edition of IPL.