RCB Beat KKR by 7 wickets, off to flying start in the season.
- KKR 174/8 (20)
- RCB 177/3 (16.2)
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Krunal Pandya
Chasing a target of 175, Virat Kohli and Phil Salt wasted no time in taking charge. The duo blasted 80 runs in the powerplay, effectively killing the chase early on.
- Phil Salt set the tone with an explosive 56 off 31 balls.
- Virat Kohli anchored the innings with an unbeaten 59 off 36 balls.
- Their 95-run partnership ensured a smooth finish for RCB.
Livingstone sealed the match in the 17th over, bringing RCB’s fans to their feet as they thumped the defending champions.
RCB’s Bowling Brilliance: Restricting KKR to 174/8
RCB’s bowlers stifled KKR’s power-hitters, ensuring they never got away with big runs.
- Josh Hazlewood (4-0-22-1) used the spongy bounce effectively to put early pressure on KKR.
- Krunal Pandya (4-0-29-3) played a pivotal role in dismissing key batters, including Ajinkya Rahane.
- Suyash Sharma removed the dangerous Andre Russell, keeping KKR in check.
Despite a strong start by Sunil Narine and Ajinkya Rahane (98-run stand in overs 4-10), KKR failed to accelerate, crumbling under RCB’s disciplined bowling attack.
With Ajinkya Rahane leading KKR, questions were raised about their conservative approach to captaincy. However, he silenced critics with a quickfire 50 off 25 balls, setting up a promising start for KKR.
Unfortunately, KKR’s middle-order failed to capitalize, leading to their downfall. With a long IPL season ahead, Rahane will have to prove his leadership consistently.
RCB’s off-season saw a complete squad overhaul, retaining only three players: Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and Yash Dayal. The fresh look paid dividends as RCB’s new recruits delivered instantly.
- Josh Hazlewood, Phil Salt, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar played pivotal roles in securing this win.
- New captain Rajat Patidar started his leadership journey on a high with a tactical masterclass.
With this victory, RCB fans reignited their famous chant: “Ee Sala Cup Namde” (This year, the cup is ours).
As IPL enters its 18th season, fans are expecting another thrilling two months of cricket. With India’s recent T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy wins, the excitement around IPL is even higher.
RCB’s dominant win against the three-time champions KKR serves as a bold statement of intent. Will this be the year RCB finally lifts their maiden IPL trophy? Only time will tell!