Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) registered a comfortable 9-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in their first match of the UAE-leg of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021. With this win, KKR rose to the fifth spot in the points table with three wins and six points off their 8 games this season. RCB are still at third place in the points tally and looking good to qualify this year with six more games in their hand. Varun Chakravarthy and Andre Russell were the stars from Eoin Morgan-led KKR side with their 3 wickets ineach that helped their side to restrict batting heavy RCB to a total of 92 runs in the first innings. Later Shubman Gill and debutant Venkatesh Iyer who came in to open for KKR started dominating the chase right from the first over. (SCORECARD)
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) vs Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) IPL 2021 Match 31 Highlights From Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Varun Chakravarthy Steals Show With His Mystery Spin!
Kolkata Knight Riders registered a one-sided victory by 9 wickets over Royal Challengers Bangalore in their first match of the UAE-leg of the IPL 2021. Player of the match Varun Chakravarthy proved his worth after a stellar performance tonight. The spinner got 3 wickets in his four overs quota by giving away just 13 runs. Andre Russell also delivered with the ball as he got 3 wickets. Later when Shubman Gill and Venkatesh Iyer came in to bat in the second innings they got their hands in the low chase right from the first over.
That's all from KKR vs RCB blog. Do join us tomorrow where two young captains KL Rahul of Punjab Kings and Sanju Samson of Rajasthan Royals will spearhead to take their team closer to the playoffs.
Back to back boundaries for KKR and they won the game by 9 wickets. Shubman Gill missed out his fifty just by 2 runs but his opening mate and the debutant Venkatesh Iyer held the crease till the end.
KKR need 37 runs from 86 balls to win the match vs RCB. Till now openers Shubman Gill and Venkatesh Iyer dominated the RCB bowlers and they are looking to complete a low chase soon to boost up their net run-rate as well.
Chakravarthy to Harshal, looks like a run out and yes the review clearly shows Varun got his hands on the ball as it drills down the pitch to the non-striker's end.
Varun Chakravarthy bowled with tight line and length till now and took two wicket of Glenn Maxwell and Wanindu Hasaranga today. The mystery spinner is also part of the Indian team for the upcoming T20 World Cup in the UAE. The way he bowled till now clearly showed he is packed with confidence after being selected in the national side for the marque event starting next month.
RCB are at 54/4 after 10 overs. As of now they lost Kohli, ABD, Padikkal, Bharat and now their this year's most crucial investment Glenn Maxwell has a lot to do along with Sachin Baby who is playing for the first time in IPL since 2017.
RCB are trusting their first half batting order only there's is change in Number 3 where KS Bharat is batting today. Glenn Maxwell came in at No. 4 while it looks like ABD will continue at No.5.
Not AB de Villiers, not Glenn Maxwell at No.3 for RCB yet again. In the first half in India they went with Rajat Patidar for Number 3 also Shabhaz Ahmed in few matches but here they sent debutant KS Bharat in the middle. Bharat was the part of the Indian Test side last month in England and that confidence of sharing the dressing room with senior players of the national set up might have helped the youngster.
Kolkata Knight Riders
Royal Challengers Bangalore
Eoin Morgan
Virat Kohli