IPL 9, Match 48: KKR v RCB - 5 Talking Points

Royal Challengers Bangalore continued their winning streak after they registered a comprehensive 9-wicket win against the Kolkata Knight Riders. After being put into bat by Virat Kohli under overcast conditions, Gautam Gambhir and Manish Pandey hit fantastic half-centuries to help KRK post 183/5 at their home ground Eden Gardens. In reply, the RCB fans were treated by Chris Gayle’s entertaining knock at the start before the dynamic duo of AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli took over and finished off the chase without any hassle.

1. Gautam Gambhir and Manish Pandey slam half-centuries: 

It was an uneasy start for the KKR side. Robin Uthappa continued his struggle to get runs after he departed making just two runs in the 3rd over. However, the effect of the early setback was nullified by the skipper and Manish Pandey. Both forged together a quickfire 86 runs stand pushed RCB on the backfoot. Both, however, could not continue past the halfway stage of the game after Gambhir was run out in the 11th over just after completing his 5th fifty of the season. Pandey, who played the anchor’s role with Gambhir, then took charge and raced to his fifty. Unfortunately, he also lost his wicket in the 14th over just after reaching his half-century.

2. Andre Russell – Shakib Al Hasan blitz takes KKR to a formidable position:

Superb knocks from Gambhir and Pandey had placed KKR to a comfortable position. They now needed someone to play a knockout cameo to give the finishing touches to the innings. Unfortunately, Yusuf Pathan wasn’t able to it today after he was dismissed cheaply. However, Andre Russell did not disappoint and played a crackling cameo of 39 balls from just 19 balls. His cameo was laced with 2 fours and 3 eye-catching sixes. He received good support from Shakib Al Hasan (18 from 11 balls) from the other end. The duo put on a 58 runs stand in just 4.4 overs to propel the KKR side to a formidable 183/5 after 20 overs.

3. Chris Gayle back in the groove:

Chris Gayle’s continuous failures of the biggest turn off for fans this season. The Jamaican giant had eight continuous single digit scores in the tournament. His poor form also made him sit out in the dugout for a couple of matches! The left-hander finally broke the shackles and gave a superb start to the chase with his 31-ball 49 runs knock. He announced his return to form after he cracked two boundaries in the 2nd over of the innings by Morne Morkel. A pair of sixes in the following over by Russell made the 50,000 strong crowd in the stadium go mad. He went on to smash three fours and two more sixes in his entertaining knock before getting trapped by a knuckle ball from Sunil Narine in the 8th overs.

4. Ankit Rajpoot surprises:

Sitting at 63/0, RCB were cruising at the time the first powerplay got over. Morne Morkel Sunil Narine, Piyush Chawla and Sunil Narine – were all greeted with some crunch hits by Gayle and Kohli. KKR were looking for someone to contain both the danger men. Luckily for Gambhir, young seamer Ankit Rajpoot came to the rescue and bowled the first economical over of the innings. After being handed over the ball to bowl the 7th over, Rajpoot mixed up pace and lengths to curb the explosive RCB openers, giving away only two runs. This was most economical over of the match. Unfortunately, the de Villiers-Kohli pair then got after him and ruined his final numbers as he finished with none for 28 in three overs.

5. Kohli – AB shine again together:

After Chris Gayle’s perfect head start, the wonderful pair of AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli again got together and forged yet another mesmerizing partnership to help RCB race past the target without any problems. Both stitched an unbeaten 115 runs stand in just 11.1 overs and made the chase look extremely easy. The pair displayed great chemistry in running between the wickets and played entertaining cricket overall while taking RCB closer and closer to the target after each passing over. Eventually, the KKR bowler were rendered completely ineffective as the Virat and de Villiers overhauled the target in just 18.4 overs with 9 wickets in hands.

How did the match pan out? – IPL 9, Match 48 Review: Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers power RCB home