Varun and Suyash’s spin
In a repeat of their previous encounter, Varun Chakravarthy and Suyash Sharma once again wreaked havoc on the Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) chase. Their exceptional bowling performance proved to be the downfall of RCB’s batting lineup.
Varun Chakravarthy, known for his deceptive spin and variations, was a thorn in RCB’s side. He consistently troubled the batsmen with his accuracy and ability to extract turn from the surface. Varun’s introduction into the attack brought immediate success as he dismissed the well-set Mahipal Lomror, who was looking to stabilize RCB’s innings. Lomror’s departure further tilted the game in KKR’s favor.
Suyash Sharma, the young and relatively inexperienced spinner, also made a significant impact. Opting to bowl him ahead of more established spinners like Sunil Narine paid off for KKR. Suyash proved his worth by taking the crucial wicket of Faf du Plessis, who was beginning to pose a threat to KKR’s target defense. Du Plessis’ dismissal put RCB in a precarious position, with their chances of victory slipping away.
Throughout the innings, Varun and Suyash continued to apply pressure on RCB’s batsmen, taking regular wickets and never allowing them to build substantial partnerships. Their disciplined and intelligent bowling restricted the flow of runs and forced RCB’s batsmen into making desperate and reckless strokes.
The combined efforts of Varun Chakravarthy and Suyash Sharma once again dismantled RCB’s chase, leaving them short of their target. The duo’s exceptional bowling skills and ability to take crucial wickets at crucial moments proved decisive in KKR’s victory. It was a remarkable display of their talent and a testament to their effectiveness as bowlers in the IPL.
In their eighth game of the season, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) finally showcased a cohesive team performance, excelling with both bat and ball. They emerged as the better team in the field as well, securing only their third win of the season. This victory marked an ideal start to the second half of the league stage, as they defeated the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for the second time in the season. KKR’s triumph was largely facilitated by their new opener, Jason Roy, who provided a solid foundation for their total of 200 by smashing 56 runs off just 29 deliveries. Nitish Rana contributed significantly with a quickfire 48 off 21 balls, maintaining the momentum during the middle overs. Rinku Singh (18 off 10) and David Wiese (12 off 3) added the finishing touches.
While RCB’s chase was on track as long as Virat Kohli was at the crease, he managed to score 54 runs off 37 balls, keeping his team in contention. However, regular wickets from Suyash Sharma, Varun Chakravarthy, and Andre Russell continuously disrupted RCB’s progress. Eventually, RCB ran out of steam and fell short by 21 runs. Kohli and Faf du Plessis launched a blistering attack, scoring 30 runs in two overs from Vaibhav Arora and Umesh Yadav, which forced KKR’s Nitish Rana to introduce spin in the third over. Opting for his least experienced spinner, Suyash Sharma, ahead of Sunil Narine and Varun, Rana was rewarded with du Plessis getting caught at long-on on the second ball. Despite Kohli finding the boundary, he struggled to find support in the powerplay, with Shahbaz Ahmed falling lbw to Suyash and Glenn Maxwell getting dismissed while trying to clear the ropes off Varun. With RCB three wickets down in the powerplay, Kohli and Mahipal Lomror stabilized the chase by running hard and taking on Sunil Narine. Rana reintroduced Varun, who dismissed Lomror in the deep. In the 13th over, Kohli’s superb catch on 54 by Venkatesh Iyer, diving to his left at deep midwicket, put KKR in a commanding position. The dismissals of Wanindu Hasaranga and Dinesh Karthik in the span of four balls sealed RCB’s fate, and Kohli, who was standing in as captain for du Plessis once again, admitted they had “gifted” the victory to KKR.
Kohli’s post-game comments were particularly scathing due to RCB’s fielding performance. Although they missed a tough caught-and-bowled chance off Jason Roy, it was the two dropped catches that cost RCB dearly. According to ESPNcricinfo’s Luck Index, the two drops by Mohammed Siraj in the 13th over and Harshal Patel in the 15th over accounted for a total of 29 runs. The first chance occurred when Nitish Rana was on 5 off 5 deliveries, and the second when he was on 19 off 12. Rana capitalized on these opportunities and went on to score a crucial 48 off just 21 balls. His innings included three fours and four sixes, allowing KKR to seize the momentum after sluggish innings from N Jagadeesan and Venkatesh Iyer. However, it was Jason Roy’s explosive knock that truly set the tone for KKR’s successful night. Having struggled with their opening partnership throughout the season, KKR finally
KKR’s victory over RCB marked a turning point for the team, as they finally found their rhythm and delivered a strong team performance. Jason Roy’s aggressive opening innings provided the much-needed foundation, while Nitish Rana’s explosive batting further propelled the team’s momentum. RCB, led by Virat Kohli, put up a valiant chase but faltered in the face of consistent wickets from KKR’s bowlers. The dropped catches by RCB cost them dearly, and Kohli’s frustration with his team’s fielding was evident in his post-match comments. Overall, KKR’s victory showcased their potential and highlighted the importance of a cohesive team effort in the IPL.
Final Score
Kolkata Knight Riders 200/5
,br> Royal Challengers Bangalore (20 ov, T:201) 179/8
,br> Royal Challengers Bangalore (20 ov, T:201) 179/8
Match Highlights
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