Phil Salt’s extraordinary assault and Virat Kohli’s star power helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru outshine defending champion Kolkata Knight Riders by seven wickets in the Indian Premier League-18 season opener at the Eden Gardens here on Saturday.
After restricting KKR to 174, RCB cruised to victory with plenty to spare.
With a significant part of Eden switching loyalty and chanting ‘RCB, RCB’ and ‘Kohli, Kohli, RCB openers, Kohli and Salt, unleashed firepower to plunder 80 runs in the Powerplay on a batting-friendly track and make the chase a cakewalk.
Donning a different uniform in a familiar setting, Salt (56, 31b, 9×4, 2×6) exhibited his trademark ruthless hammering, comprising some awe-inspiring drives but also some deft cuts, to punish his former team’s bowlers as he raced to his fifty in 25 balls.
Kohli (59 n.o., 36b, 4×4, 3×6) joined the party with two straight-batted sixes off Spencer Johnson and as many fours off Vaibhav Arora.
Varun Chakaravarthy broke the breezy 95-run stand as Salt mistimed one to short third-man and Sunil Narine accounted for Impact Player Devdutt Padikkal.
Nevertheless, Kohli controlled the chase and played a few more well-executed shots to score a fast-paced half-century and clinch RCB the win. It ensured a memorable beginning for new skipper Rajat Patidar.
Earlier, Quinton de Kock was caught behind off Josh Hazlewood before making an impact in KKR colours.
With Hazlewood showing his quick adaptability to the impressive bounce and movement, RCB pacers kept it tight in the first three overs before KKR batters, led by Ajinkya Rahane (56, 31b, 6×4, 4×6), gathered runs briskly.
The experienced Rahane, showing control over his strokes and placement, chose the bowlers and his areas, mostly the leg side, brilliantly.
AS IT HAPPENED | KKR vs RCB HIGHLIGHTS
Along with, Narine (44, 26b, 5×4, 3×6), who swung his bat to good effect, Rahane put on a 103-run stand.
RCB’s Krunal Pandya appeals for a wicket against KKR.
| Photo Credit:
RITU RAJ KONWAR/The Hindu
RCB’s Krunal Pandya appeals for a wicket against KKR.
| Photo Credit:
RITU RAJ KONWAR/The Hindu
RCB claimed Narine and Rahane in quick succession around the halfway stage. Narine was caught behind off Rasikh Dar, while Rahane pulled Krunal Pandya to backward square-leg.
RCB bowlers fought back with Krunal scalping Vekatesh Iyer and Rinku Singh with his accuracy. RCB gained more ground in the middle overs and followed it up with a clinical finish.