IPL 2021 Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kolkata Knight Riders highlights: Clinical all-round performance powers RCB to 38-run win

Match Synopsis: RCB pulled off a season-opening hat-trick with a clinical all-round performance. Chahal and Jameison proved expensive in a couple of overs but Patel, Siraj and Sundar made up for giving away runs with crucial wickets and economical overs. In the first innings, Maxwell and A B de Villiers played some classic shots to power RCB to 204 after losing only 4 wickets. KKR started off well in the first half of the innings but the high target forced the top order to play desperate shots and they way to the middle order by the 10th over. Russell's firepower towards the end did help KKR make the victory margin much smaller, but the target proved too much for even Dre Russ's magic. RCB win by 38 runs.

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Player of the match: AB de Villiers

I did play well and had a lot of fun. Maxi made it easier and it's difficult coming into a game on a pitch that has been slower. It was a bit of both. It wasn't a 200-wicket; maybe 170 was about par today. The most important thing is I'm enjoying myself and my cricket - my family is here.

Virat Kohli

Especially Siraj's over to Russell [was good] - he has had some history against Russell. He's a different bowler after the Australia tour and he shut the game out. Harshal has so much clarity in the end and I think Jamieson also bowled well. That's the reason why we have three out of three. To be fair, on a pitch like Chennai, you probably have a bit more space to make an error on the longer boundary. It has to be on the off side and not on side. Siraj did miss on the full-toss, but he has two men on the boundary. The execution was spot-on. We played in Wankhede, Kolkata and Ahmedabad where the margin of error keeps getting smaller. Well, I said at the halfway mark we have 200 because of two genius innings back-to-back. Maxwell was outstanding and AB to follow. When he gets in with that kind of form and flow, it's impossible to stop him. We got 40 extra runs on that pitch which slowed down. Maxi has taken to this team like duck to water. AB loves the team and they were the difference today. There are areas we can work on. We're not getting ahead of ourselves and not getting over-excited.

Eoin Morgan

Certainly RCB's day with the bat on a rocket-hot afternoon game. It pitch certainly has stumped me, and I can't gauge the wicket. Everyone who batted on this wicket felt it played better but RCB played better. Probably not to be honest. Maxwell is a fine player, but to bowl to AB you need to have that option. Yeah, yeah, we struggled to kick on and got us into a position where only Andre could do it. Different wicket in Mumbai, dew, and we have been watching those games.

RCB wins by 38 runs after a clinical all-round performance

RCB pulled off a season-opening hat-trick with a clinical all-round performance. Chahal and Jameison proved expensive in a couple of overs but Patel, Siraj and Sundar made up for giving away runs with crucial wickets and economical overs. In the first innings, Maxwell and A B de Villiers played some classic shots to power RCB to 204 after losing only 4 wickets. KKR started off well in the first half of the innings but the high target forced the top order to play desperate shots and they way to the middle order by the 10th over. Russell's firepower towards the end did help KKR make the victory margin much smaller, but the target proved too much for even Dre Russ's magic.

RCB WIN BY 38 RUNS

Harshal Patel to Russell

19.1 WICKET! PATEL CLEANS UP DRE RUSS! PATEL IS A HUGE FIND FOR RCB. Second wicket of the match for Patel. The ball crashes straight into the stumps

19.2 Varun Chakravarthy comes in. Dot ball. Hit straight to the bowler. Yorker, bending in from wide of the crease

19.3 Bouncer and one run.

19.4 Lifted over the field and lands in no man's land. One run.

19.5 Another single. Slower ball outside off

19.6 Single to finsh the innings and RCB WINS BY 38 RUNS

162/7 after 19 overs

Siraj to Russell

18.1 Dot ball. A good start to the over. Russell doesn't want to give strike to Harbhajan and stands in the crease. Doesn't move an inch.

18.2 Another dot. Siraj is showing some mettle in the death. A beautiful yorker!

18.3 Another yorker and no run. Russell simply doesn't want to run. That could've been a single at the very least.

18.4 Doesn't run yet again. Again that could've been a single! Curious this is.

18.5 Slower bouncer and another dot.

18.6 One run and Russell keeps strike

161/7 after 18 overs

Jameison to Shakib

17.1 Fuller delivery and one run.

17.2 SIX! RUSSELL HAS PUT THAT INTO THE STANDS WITH EASE!

17.3 Wide and one run.

17.3 Hit with power and that went straight to the fielder. One run.

17.4 Jameison was expensive BUT HE HAS TAKEN A WICKET! SHAKIB IS OUT! Crashed traight into the stumps.

17.5 Pat Cummins comes in and straight away THAT'S A SIX! WHAT A STRIKE STRAIGHT OVER LONG ON! And the game is on!

17.6 OUT! Jameison takes his third wicket! Cummins walks out. Sweet sweet revenge for Kyle!

146/5 after 17 overs

Chahal to Russell

16.1 SIX! Russell whacks that straight into the stands. Dre Russ whacks it high over midwicket.

16.2 FOUR! Do KKR have a chance. Sure. If they keep going at this rate. That's very possible. Much better delivery this time around.

16.3 FOUR! Much wider and Russell slashes it away. Chahal is not looking that great this over. Russell on the other hand!!!

16.4 ANOTHER BOUNDARY! RUSSELL IS IN GREAT NICK! His batting wasn't great in the previous match, but this innings he has been explosive!

16.5 One run.

16.6 Another single to finish the over.

126/5 after 16 overs

KKR need to continue the chase at 16.8 runs per over to win this match and that doesn't look easy with a shaky middle order and disciplined bowling from RCB.

Patel to Russell

15.1 Dot ball. Back of a length delivery and no runs.

15.2 One run.

15.3 Yet another single. A well executed yorker.

15.4 One run. Palel is bowling an economical over so far.

15.5 Another single and the required run rate is nearly 20 per over.

15.6 One run to end the over.

121/5 after 15 overs

Jameison to Shakib

14.1 One run That shot finds the fielder.

14.2 No run. Straight to the fielder.

14.3 Another single. Shorter delivery but lifted but in vain.

14.4 Dot ball. Jameison is much more economical this over. Shakib misses that delivery completely.

14.5 FOUR! Jinxed that. Not a bad over yet. But that can turn quickly. Shakib lifted that over the keeper.

14.6 No run.

115/5 after 14 overs

Harshal Patel to Morgan

13.1 No run. Wider delivery and Morgan misses it.

13.2 One run.

13.3 Poor communication and Siraj and Chahal leave the ball. Morgan gets life. Might prove costly for RCB.

13.4 OUT! NOPE THAT WAS NOT COSTLY AT ALL. KING KOHLI TAKES AN EASY CATCH! Pace off that delivery and Morgan tried for a bigger shot.

Andre Russell comes in

13.5 In the blockhole and no run.

13.6 Straight drive for one run.

112/4 after 13 overs

Maxwell to Shakib

12.1 SIX! Shakib is trying to claw back as the required run rate nears 13.

12.2 A single. Maxi bowls a straighter and fuller delivery.

12.3 Dot ball.

12.4 SIX! Morgan PULLED THAT SUPREMELY! WHAT A SPLENDID SHOT! Morgan is leading by example in the middle.

12.5 One run.

12.6 No run

98/4 after 12 overs

Harshal Patel to Shakib

11.1 One run.

11.2 Dot ball.

11.3 Another single. Patel bowled into the deck.

11.4 Yet another single. Angled into the body and no run.

11.5 Another single.

11.6 Another single to finish the over. A good over for RCB

93/4 after 11 overs

Maxwell to Morgan

10.1 One run.

10.2 Another single. Slower and right down the middle.

10.3 SIX! Morgan tries to claw back with a cleanly hit shot! THE SKIPPER IS SHOWING HOW IT IS DONE! On one knee and lifted over the field.

10.4 No run. AB catches a fizzing ball! Saves a boundary.

10.5 One run.

10.6 Another single.

83/4 after 10 overs

Sundar to Shakib

9.1 Dot ball.

9.2 One run. Shakib comes forward but just a single.

9.3 FOUR! Morgan edges that delivery and goes over the keeper's head.

9.4 One run. Slower through the air and Sundar decieves Morgan.

9.5 Another single.

9.6 Single to finish off the over.

75/4 after 9 overs

Chahal to Morgan

8.1 One run. Wrong'un outside off

8.2 Dot ball. Karthik defends with a straight bat.

8.3 OUT! Chahal seems to have found form all of a sudden and he has clicked this match! That was an LBW.

8.4 Dot ball! That was a fantastic delivery!

8.5 Shakib scores his first runs. Nearly a boundary.

8.6 Dot ball

73/3 after 8 overs

Sundar to Morgan

7.1 WIDE and two runs

7.1 Wider delivery off the off stump and that's a single.

7.2 One run.

7.3 Dot ball.

7.4 Another single.

7.5 No ball.

7.6 Yet another single to finish the over

67/3 after 7 overs

Chahal to Morgan

6.1 Googly to the left hander and that's a single.

6.2 Wrong 'un and slip misses a catch and that ball runs away for a FOUR!

6.3 Dot ball.

6.4 FOUR! What a clever shot! Rana just lifted that over AB.

6.5 OUT! Chahal takes his first wicket of the tournament and the top order is now gone. An easy catch for Padikkal. A big wicket for RCB!

Dinesh Karthik walks in after Rana lost his wicket to Chahal.

6.6 One run.!

57/2 after 6 overs

Sundar to Tripathi

5.1 Hit hard but Kohli fields well and saves 3 runs. Just a single.

5.2 SIX! Rana hits that clean AND RIGHT OUT OF THE MIDDLE OF THE BAT!

5.3 One run! Siraj slows that ball down and thathas saved some runs.

5.4 FOUR! That was smoked down the leg side!

5.5 No run.

5.6 That was skyd and Siraj takes a catch! Tripathi is OUT!

45/1 after 5

Maxwell returns to the field after warming up.

Siraj to Tripathi

4.1 FOUR! Brilliant footwork and he picked that length well! Great improvisation! Tripathi might be a gamechanger.

4.2 No run.

4.3 FOUR! Tripathi makes use of the pace and lofts it over the fielders! HE IS GOING ALL GUNS BLAZING!

4.4 No run.

4.5 Tripathi comes forward and hits but no run.

4.6 Whipping yorker and one run

36/1 after 4 overs

Sundar to Tripathi

3.1 Cleared straight and one bounce for FOUR! Tripathi was good on the field and now with the bat too?

3.2 Dot ball

3.3 One run. Quick running!

3.4 Another single. Sundar recovers after conceding a boundary.

3.5 Leg side delivery but hits the body, no wide.

3.6 One run to finish the over.

29/1 after 3 overs

Chahal to Rana

2.1 Sweeps and just one run.

2.2 No run. Appeal for LBW but in vain.

2.3 Another dot ball. Attempted sweep but missed.

2.4 Similar delivery and no run.

2.5 One run.

2.6 Dot ball to finish the over.

27/1 after 2 overs

Jameison to Gill

1.1 Gill finds another hole in the field and that came straight off the middle of the bat! Clean hitting!

1.2 NO run.

1.3 SIX! GILL HAS HIT A BEAUTIFUL LOW MAXIMUM! KKR are off to a great start!

1.4 ANOTHER MAXIMUM! Gill is in top form!

1.5 GILL IS OUT! Jameison whipped that into full length and Dan Christian takes an easy catch. KKR lose Gill.

1.6 Tripathi walks in and four!

7/0 after 1 over

Siraj to Nitish Rana

0.1 Wider delivery and that's missed.

0.2 Good length delivery and that's a single.

0.3 WIDE. That delivery strayed down leg side.

0.3 Gill finds the gap and that cover drive looks sublime! FOUR!

0.4 Delivered into the body and no run.

0.5 Similar delivery and no run.

0.6 Similar delivery just a single.

RCB players are in a huddle before the second innings. They may be looking to win with a huge margin.

KKR have a hard chase ahead

KKR have a tough chase ahead of them. With an out-of-form middle order, this might end up being a very hard chase. Glen Maxwell proved he was worth that massive tag. Sensible hitting at first and fireworks towards the end provided a platform for superhuman A B de Villiers. Rahul Tripathi's fielding and Varun Chakravarthy's first over are the only good take always for KKR.

204/4 after 20 overs

Russell to ABD

19.1 AB thrashes Russell's yorker down the ground for FOUR!

19.2 SIX! SUPERHUMAN HITS THAT WITH STYLE! HOW IS HE HUMAN? Does he have no Kryptonite?

19.3 One run.

19.4 WIDE. Russell is making errors under pressure.

19.4 FOUR! That brings up 200 for RCB! Quite something that was!

19.5 No run. Fielded by bowler.

19.6 FOUR! What a way to end the innings! AB and Maxwell bring up some rocketry!

183/4 after 19 overs

Harbhajan Singh to Jameison

18.1 That's clever delivery and that's missed. No run.

18.2 Flighted delivery and that's a FOUR!

18.3 WIDE and that's THRASHED FOR A MAXIMUM! RCB CRUISING TO A BIG TOTAL!

18.4 One run.

18.5 AB takes a fifty with that MAXIMUM! WHAT A SHOT! AB TAKE A BOW!

18.6 A single.

165/4 after 18 overs

Russell to ABD

17.1 Dot ball

17.2 WIDE. That strayed well past the offside tramline

17.2 THAT'S A MAXIMUM! AB hits it straight to the second tier.

17.3 FOUR! AB picks out the length early that's hits that yorker straight to the offside.

17.4 Another yorker and that's two. Easy two that was for the duo.

17.5 FOUR! THAT PRESENCE OF MIND SERVES HIM WELL! That short delivery was ramped to third man.

17.6 Dot ball.

148/4 after 17 overs

Cummins to ABD

16.1 Short delivery and one run.

16.2 Maxi tries an awkward shot but misses it.

16.3 Hit hard and that's just a single. Straight to long off.

16.4 Hits straight to the ground and another single.

16.5 Dot ball. That was a sharp bouncer.

16.6 That's skyd and Maxi walks out.

145/2 after 16 overs

Krishna to ABD

15.1 Leg side delivery and nudged for a single.

15.2 Whacked hard but Shakib just about stops the boundary. One run.

15.3 Hit to the ground. No run.

15.4 AB finds the gap and that's FOUR!

15.5 FOUR! Krishan tries a yorker again but misses it.

15.6 Another single this over.

134/3 after 15 overs

Chakravarthy to ABD

14.1 Edged and that's a FOUR!

14.2 AB comes down the ground that's another FOUR!

14.3 Well hit again and that's just a single.

14.4 One run.

14.5 Closer to the leg side and that's well hit and fantastic fielding saves a few runs! Tripathi is on fire in the field!

14.6 Maxi switches, hits that out of the park! SIX

117/3 after 14 overs

Cummins to ABD

13.1 Shorter delivery and goes straight to third man. Two runs.

13.2 Another shorter delivery and deflected to third man. One run.

13.3 Whacked but straight to the fielder. One run.

13.4 Delivered into the body and no run.

13.5 Hard running and a single.

13.6 WIDE delivery, strays down off side guideline.

13.6 Another WIDE delivery from Cummins

13.6 Another wide delivery but that's hit for a FOUR!

106/3 after 13 overs

Chakravarthy to ABD

12.1 Hit to offside for a single.

12.2 Turns into the body and one run.

12.3 Flighted delivery and that's another single.

12.4 Switch hit and Rana stops a powerful shot!

12.5 Nudged for a single.

12.6 Dot ball.

101/3 after 12 overs

Krishna to DDP

11.1 LOFTED SHOT and THAT'S OUT! DDP now walks out.

A B de Villiers replaces Padikkal

11.2 That might be the first ball Maxwell has missed this innings. No run.

11.3 Into the body and that's no run.

11.4 One run. ABD on strike.

11.5 Wider delivery and he uses his hands to whack it to third man. Two runs.

11.6 Not much power and that's three runs.

95/2 after 11 overs

Singh to Padikkal

10.1 Missed and that's a dot ball.

10.2 Padikkal mimics Maxi. SWITCH HIT and that's a FOUR!

10.3 Some more power but that's just a single.

10.4 Wider delivery and that's thumped for a boundary! FOUR!

10.5 Maxwell tries a switch hit but fails, just a single.

10.6 DDP comes forward and hits but just one run

84/2 after 10 overs

Krishna to Maxwell

9.1 Hit high and that's only a single.

9.2 Edged and that's no run. Morgan nearly catches it.

9.3 Flicked, that's high but lands in no man's land close to the boundary. That's a single.

9.4 Dot ball after Maxwell nudges it.

9.5 Full length delivery and that beats the third man for FOUR!

9.6 Dot ball

78/2 after 9 overs

Cummins to Maxwell

8.1 Nudged and a single.

8.2 Leg side delivery and that's two runs.

8.3 Smacked hard but that finds the fielder. Just a single.

8.4 Short delivery and Maxwell lifts it and that's a FOUR!

8.5 Another short ball and that's two runs.

8.6 Fuller delivery and that's a single. That's a half-century for Maxi

67/2 after 8 overs

Chakravarthy to Maxwell

7.1 Nudged, no run. Yet another no ball.

7.1 THAT'S A MAXIMUM! Maxwell makes full use of the free hit!

7.2 Down leg side by hit onside for FOUR!

7.3 Fuller delivery and that's a single.

7.4 Padikkal nudges it, get's a single.

7.5 Smacked but only a single.

7.6 Edged and no run

53/2 after 7 overs

Prasidh Krishna to Maxwell

6.1 Into the body, fuller length and that's no run.

6.2 Shorter delivery and that goes to third man for a single.

6.3 One run to third man. NO BALL!

6.3 Wide of off stump delivery and that's a FOUR! Lifted over the set field.

6.4 Into that body and no run.

6.5 Into the body again and another dot ball.

6.6 Good length delivery and that's a single.

45/2 after 6 overs

Shakib al Hasan to Padikkal

5.1 Leg stump line from Shakid and that's smashed to the second tier! SIX! Big show is in the house!

5.2 Hit again and that' just one run. Straight to mid wicket

5.3 FOUR for Padikkal! That's well timed and well placed! He had to wait for that ball.

5.4 Leg stump line and that's a single.

5.5 FOUR! REVERSE SWEEP! A Big Show trademark!

5.6 Hit to long off and that's the end of the powerplay

28/2 after 5 overs

Pat Cummins to Maxwell

4.1 Good length delivery and no run

4.2 Edged and that goes for a four!

4.3 Fuller delivery and that's a single.

4.4 Well timed and deflected for two runs.

4.5 Closer to the body and defended. No run.

4.6 Smacked and that's a single.

19/2 after 4 overs

Shakib al Hasan to Maxwell

3.1 FOUR! Maxwell find the gap and that's a boundary!

3.2 No run.

3.3 Straight to the fielder and no run again.

3.4 A single. Hit straight to long off

3.5 Quickly run and that's a single.

3.6 Lofted and hit to long off

12/2 after 3 overs

Maxwell comes in

2..1 Quick running and that's one run. Misfield!

2.2 A lot of turn again and that's nearly caught behind. No run.

2.3 Fuller delivery and no run

2.4 Another dot ball.

2.5 That's strayed down leg side. Wide.

2.5 Flicked and a single.

2.6 Flicked for another single.~

9/2 after 2 overs

Varun Chakravarthy bowls to Kohli

1.1 Pushed for no run.

1.2 That has turned a lot and lofted into the air and that's a stunner of a catch! BOY OH BOY! THAT'S QUITE A CATCH BY TRIPATHI! King Kohli goes back for 5. KKR have an early breakthrough.

Rajat Patidar comes in

1.3 Nudged for a single.

1.4 Flicked to long on for a single.

1.5 A good length delivery and that's a single.

1.6 That's quite a delivery and Patidar walks back! What a wicket! Bowled into the middle stump!

6/1 after 1 over

Virat Kohli on strike. Harbhajan Singh to bowl first over

0.1 A fuller delivery with a lot of turn and that's missed.

0.2 Another fuller delivery nudged for no run. That's adjuged a no ball

0.2 Free hit and that runs away for a boundary.

0.3 Kohli comes down the track and pushes it for a single.

0.4 Padikkal on strike and he misses that. The pitch as expected is providing turn.

0.5 Fuller and smacked. No run. Straight to the fielder.

0.6 Towards the body and no run.

Eoin Morgan

We were looking to bat first as well, we've played good cricket despite the last game. No changes for us, same team. We have done pretty well in the first two games, and want to finish things in Chennai on a high. When I was the vice-captain, my role was to support DK, now as a captain, it's just about letting the team flow and make the correct decisions on the field. Obviously, have a lot of support from the backroom staff.

Virat Kohli

We will bat first, the pitch will become slower and slower as the game goes on, but this surface looks better, want to put up a decent total on the board. We're playing three overseas players - Dan Christian misses out, Rajat Patidar is in. We just want to do a professional job, do the process right, take one game at a time and enjoy - keep calm under pressure.

KKR's Playing XI

Nitish Rana, Shubman Gill, Rahul Tripathi, Eoin Morgan(c), Shakib Al Hasan, Dinesh Karthik(w), Andre Russell, Pat Cummins, Harbhajan Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Varun Chakravarthy

RCB's Playing XI

Virat Kohli(c), Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers, Washington Sundar, Shahbaz Ahmed, Kyle Jamieson, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal

RCB win the toss and choose to bat.

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Team news

On the eve of the match, RCB informed that all-rounder Daniel Sams has joined the team’s bio-bubble after testing negative for Covid-19. KKR have no fitness issues.

Weaknesses for KKR

The middle-order consisting of Eoin Morgan, Andre Russell and Dinesh Karthik looks a bit shaky at the moment. The three batsmen have collectively scored only 53 runs. Russell’s horror show with the bat against MI was the reason KKR choked in the chase. Ironically, these three batsmen are well known for their exploits in white-ball cricket and considered some of the best finishers in the shorter versions of cricket.

Strengths for KKR

KKR seem to have finally resolved their top-order issues. Opener Nitish Rana has hit back-to-back fifties. Rahul Tripathi has one fifty already this season and Shubhman Gill is always one inning away from getting back to form. After struggling for much of the last season to find the right opening pair, KKR’s top-order this season looks promising.

Weaknesses for RCB

Usually, Virat Kohli’s go-to man to pick wickets and break partnerships, Yuzvendra Chahal, has endured a slow start to his season. Chahal is yet to pick a wicket and he has been hammered for 70 runs in the eight overs that he has bowled so far.

Strengths for RCB

The team’s batsmen seem to be in good form. Captain Virat Kohli has scored 66 runs in two matches. AB de Villiers fetched a 48 in RCB’s first match while Glenn Maxwell hit a half-century against SRH. If Devdutt Padikkal too starts firing at the top of the order, then RCB will have an enviable batting lineup.