Riding on Mandeep Singh’s quickfire knock, Royal Challengers Bangalore posted a formidable total of 176 for 7 against Kolkata Knight Riders.
Sent in to bat first, the Royal Challengers were off to a great start with Brendon McCullum collecting 14 runs off the very first over. However, the Knight Riders were quick to respond with Piyush Chawla accounting for Quinton de Kock in the second over.
The dismissal helped the hosts slow down things a bit. Both McCullum and Virat Kohli struggled to find their groove early on. But McCullum was managing to hit the occasional boundaries and as a result the score was 52 at the end of the powerplay. The former Kiwi international soon found his groove and raced away to 43 off just 26. But before he could inflict more damage, Sunil Narine castled him.
McCullum’s dismissal brought AB de Villiers on the crease. And as expected, fireworks followed. Within no time, the Proteas star hit four sixes to give his side the much-needed impetus. As a result, the visitors reached the 100-run mark in the 12th over. On the other hand, Kohli was finding it tough to find his timing and looked content to play the role of second fiddle.
With de Villiers looking in murderous mood, Dinesh Karthik brought in Nitish Rana. And the move immediately paid off as he dismissed both de Villiers and Kohli on consecutive deliveries. Not surprisingly, the visitors struggled to recover from those setbacks. But cameo from Mandeep Singh (37 off 17) helped them post a competitive total.
Here is how Twitter reacted to the innings:
This is why you turn up to watch #RCB play. AB and Kohli together. Fusion music
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 8, 2018
RCB is South Africa lol
— Wolfgang (@UniqueIdiot_) April 8, 2018
Vinay Kumar is so average that if you make a list of most average bowlers ever, he will be average amongst them too.
— The Lying Lama 2.0 (@KyaUkhaadLega) April 8, 2018
KKR have taken too many gambles in just one game. Vinay Kumar opening and closing the innings is too 2008. RCB will have enough thanks to a Brain-Fade.
— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) April 8, 2018
Twist in the tale! @ABdeVilliers17 and @imVkohli dismissed off successive deliveries, @RCBTweets suffer double whammy & @KKRiders are back
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 8, 2018
nitish rana sabse saana
— sunil the cricketer (@1sInto2s) April 8, 2018
And now he gets Virat Kohli. Dinesh Karthik for PM https://t.co/CNGyXGcYRF
— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) April 8, 2018
https://twitter.com/sagarcasm/status/983006323825676288
Nitish Rana should retire from all forms of cricket on this high..#RCBvKKR #PowerYourGame
— The Lying Lama 2.0 (@KyaUkhaadLega) April 8, 2018
Some bowlers don't dismiss Kohli and de Villiers in their lifetime and Nitish Rana has done it in a single over on back to back deliveries. #KKRvRCB #IPL2018
— Shubh Aggarwal (@shubh_chintak) April 8, 2018
AB jaisa koi nahin… #KKRvRCB
— Jatin Sapru (@jatinsapru) April 8, 2018
Dhoni got out yesterday on 5 runs.
Yuvi scored 12 runs off 22 balls.Virat Kohli playing on 14 runs on 23 balls.
ye sab milke hamko pagal bana rahe………..#KKRvRCB
— sunil the cricketer (@1sInto2s) April 8, 2018
The amount of time Kohli is taking to settle, KL Rahul would've scored another 50. Choose your heroes wisely
— EngiNerd. (@mainbhiengineer) April 8, 2018
De Villiers picked Starc's reverse swing first ball in SA. He picked Cummins swinging it both ways too. Here he is playing Kuldeep, one of the toughest bowlers going around, like a club level bowler.
— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) April 8, 2018
This is a scary top 4 for #RCB with McCullum, de Kock, Virat and AB. Fasten your seat belts, this will be fun
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 8, 2018