The power-packed combo of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers were going great guns until a part-time spinner wrecked havoc. It was none other than Nitish Rana, who brought Kolkata back in the game.
A master-stroke by Knight Riders’ skipper Dinesh Karthik. Rana first got the wicket of de Villiers and then bowled Kohli in the very next delivery. He was on a hat-trick but the next delivery went for a boundary, making the over an interesting one.
Earlier in the game, Brendon McCullum provided a quick start. Bazz hit a 27-ball 43 to help Royal Challengers Bangalore build the innings. He was dismissed by Sunil Narine but the damage was done.
Fresh from a competitive series back home, de Villiers smashed five sixes and a four to get to 44 off just 23 balls. Skipper Kohli put his head down and scored a fluent 31 off 33 balls. The game was slipping out of Kolkata’s hands until Rana was brought into the attack. Rana’s over costed just 11 and brought two crucial wickets with it.
At one stage it looked like Bangalore would get to anything around 190 with the experienced duo finding the ropes at will, but their innings took a beating mid-way. Mandeep Singh put a fitting end to the innings, scoring 6,4,6 in the first three balls of the last over. He scored 37 off just 18 balls.
Rana the find of IPL 2017
Rana hogged the limelight last season. He played for Mumbai Indians and scored plenty of runs- 466 runs at an average of 66.57. Before the IPL, I didn’t even know I had the ability to be a powerful striker. But going there and observing others around me hitting the ball, I gradually started developing the same.
Let us take a look at how the internet reacted to Rana’s twin blow that damaged RCB’s run:
And who would have thought, who would have thought, that Nitish Rana will get both! Nitish Rana! You see something new everyday
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 8, 2018
Nitish Rana gets a double breakthrough. AB and Virat are back in the hut.
Our trusted pair of Macho and Mandy will look to resurrect the innings. #PlayBold #KKRvRCB #RCB
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) April 8, 2018
Nitish Rana can happily retire now.
— Trendulkar (@Trendulkar) April 8, 2018
Why would you send a lamb to the slaughterhouse? But someday the hunter also becomes hunted. Nitish Rana….tell this story to your grand kids ?? #KKRvRCB #IPL
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) April 8, 2018
Looked like a very risky move but it has paid off and like how. Nitish Rana has got AB De villiers and Kohli in successive balls. This is something worth telling his grandchildren #KKRvRCB
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) April 8, 2018
https://twitter.com/RohitsAvenger/status/983007217241567232
Nitish Rana should retire from all forms of cricket on this high..#RCBvKKR #PowerYourGame
— The Lying Lama 2.0 (@KyaUkhaadLega) April 8, 2018
If Nitish Rana hadn't bowled, target would have been 220+ #IPL2018 #KKRvRCB
— Abhishek ︎ (@ImAbhishek7_) April 8, 2018
nitish rana should retire now right? #KKRvRCB
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) April 8, 2018
Wow! 2 Best Batsmen Of The World Dismissed Off 2 Consecutive Balls. What A Brilliant Turn-around By Nitish Rana. Would This Be A Game Changer? #PowerYourGame #EeSalaCupNamde
— Sir Jadeja fan (@SirJadeja) April 8, 2018
WTF? WTF really? Ab de Villiers. Nitish Rana? pic.twitter.com/d6YJq5S98Y
— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) April 8, 2018
This might be a once-in-a-lifetime moment for Nitish Rana. Wickets of ABD and Kohli in successive balls.
— Sambit Bal (@sambitbal) April 8, 2018
This is newsfeed:
IPL 2018, Weather Report; KKR v RCB: Rain could play spoilsport at Eden Gardens
IPL 2018: Twitter Reacts As Royal Challengers Bangalore Post Competitive Total
