The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) registered a comprehensive 81-run victory over the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in their first home game of the season at the Eden Gardens on Thursday. KKR put up a mammoth total of 204/7 and then bundled out RCB for just 123 runs in 17.4 overs to register their first win of the season.
RCB vs KKR: 1st Inning
Du Plessis won the toss and asked KKR to bat first. KKR got off to a tumultuous start, being reduced to 89/5 with Andre Russell being dismissed the first ball. Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s crucial 57 off 44 balls at the top of the order, however, provided KKR with a glimmer of hope.
Shardul Thakur Blistering Knock
Shardul Thakur came to their rescue. Violently flipping the tables on the bowling side, Shardul wasted no time as he launched Akash Deep in a 19-run over with two fours and sixes. His dancing down the track against Michael Bracewell and successive sixes followed before he slammed the sixth four of his innings – against Harshal Patel – to get a 20-ball half-century – the joint-quickest this season alongside Jos Buttler. This took KKR to 160/5 in 17 overs – an impressive score considering their shaky start.
David Willey: Saving Grace
Despite the poor batting and death bowling, RCB can take solace in David Willey‘s exceptional performance. Coming in for Reece Topley – who has now been ruled out of the season with injury – he bowled a double-wicket maiden early to leave KKR in trouble with the bat. He finished with an impressive spell of 2 for 16, dismissing Venkatesh Iyer and Mandeep Singh.
Karn Sharma also contributed to RCB’s cause, picking up three wickets against Mumbai Indians before claiming Gurbaz’s wicket and then having Russell on the first ball of his spell. However, these performances were not enough to keep KKR from running away with two more points as RCB saw their hopes of a low total thwarted.
RCB vs KKR: 2nd Inning
Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis got RCB off to a perfect start, smashing 42 off the first four overs. But it all went downhill when Nitish Rana bowled Sunil Narine and Kohli missed his attempted flick away from the off-stump, causing the stumps to be crushed.
Varun Chakravathy then unleashed three googlies across two overs and had three batters misreading them. All three were bowled, leaving RCB at 54 for 4 and the asking rate climbing.
As Shahbaz Ahmed attempted a switch hit against Narine, he ended up holing out to Shardul Thakur at a deep backward point. With this sequence of events, RCB’s fate was sealed – proving that one moment of miscalculation can bring even the most well-crafted innings to its knees.
Suyash Sharma: Impressive Debut
Suyash Sharma’s debut could not have gone any better – with the 19-year-old picking up a remarkable three wickets! His first was none other than Royal Challengers Bangalore’s impact player, Anuj Rawat, who was sent packing after attempting to slog sweep a tossed-up delivery.
Still not over Suyash’s debut! ๐ #CantKeepCalm pic.twitter.com/jxDBbgFlPl
โ KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) April 6, 2023
He ended RCB’s chase in the same over, taking out Dinesh Karthik as he went after a ball outside off-stump and hitting it to Varun at short third man. Karn Sharma became Suyash’s third wicket as he too went for a slog.
With this RCB were nine down for 96. Varun then capped off an impressive performance with a diving catch off his own bowling to pick up his fourth and bundle out RCB for 123 in the 18th over. A dream debut for Suyash Sharma!
Shardul Thakur: Player of the Match
Shardul’s heroic innings of 68 off 29, which included 9 fours and 3 sixes, ultimately led KKR to the 200-run mark. His partner in crime, Rinku Singh, played a crucial role at the other end and even joined the onslaught in the death overs, finishing with 46 off 33.
๐๐ฉ ๐ฎ๐บ ๐๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฅ! ๐๐@imShard #KKRvRCB | #AmiKKR | #TATAIPL 2023 pic.twitter.com/Uc3Bv2EmO6
โ KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) April 6, 2023
The pair’s 103-run partnership off just 45 balls for the sixth wicket was a decisive factor in RCB’s downfall. RCB’s poor bowling performance during the last five overs saw them concede 64 runs, further proof that Shardul and Rinku were unstoppable.
Thakur’s performance in the match was extraordinary, as he not only scored a remarkable maiden T20 half-century but also took a wicket in his two overs of bowling. This impressive display of all-around excellence earned him the Player of the Match award, rightly recognizing his achievement.
Shah Rukh Khan and Virat Kohli Dance of Pathaan After IPL 2023
The latest edition of the Indian Premier League witnessed a thrilling encounter between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore. The game, which took place at Eden Gardens, not only witnessed a commanding performance by KKR but also had some moments of fun and entertainment that will be etched in the minds of cricket fans for a long time.
One such moment was the dance-off between two of the most iconic figures in the Indian entertainment and cricket world – Shah Rukh Khan and Virat Kohli. After the match, as the teams were making their way back to the dressing room, the two superstars got together on the field to dance to the tunes of the popular Bollywood song “Jhoome Jo Pathaan.”
โ KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) April 7, 2023
The sight of the Bollywood King Khan and the Indian cricket captain matching steps together was a delight to behold. The crowd at Eden Gardens cheered and roared as the two icons showed off their moves.
This dance-off was a testament to the camaraderie and sportsmanship between the two teams and their star players. It was also a reminder of the spirit of the IPL – where cricket meets entertainment, and the love for the game transcends beyond boundaries.
Conclusion: RCB vs KKR
In conclusion, KKR put up an all-around show to register a commanding win over RCB in their first home game of the season. The spin trio of Chakravarthy, Narine, and Sharma bamboozled the RCB batters in this rcb vs kkr match with their variety and accuracy, picking up nine wickets between them.
Thakur’s cameo with the bat and his vital wicket in the bowling department also proved to be crucial for KKR. With this win, KKR has jumped to third in the early standings, while RCB is currently in the sixth position.
This victory will give KKR a much-needed confidence boost as they look to build on this performance in the upcoming games. The spin trio’s performance will also be a big positive for KKR as they look to establish themselves as one of the teams to beat in the IPL.
On the other hand, RCB will be disappointed with its performance and need to regroup quickly to get its campaign back on track. They will need to address their batting issues and find a way to counter the spin threat if they are to be competitive in the remaining games of the season.
Overall, it was an entertaining game of cricket with KKR emerging as the clear winner. The fans at the Eden Gardens were treated to an all-round display from the home team, and KKR will hope to continue their winning momentum in the upcoming matches.
