The 18th edition of Indian Premier League (IPL) got a dynamic start with the first match between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. The newly appointed RCB captain Rajat Patidar won the toss first and opted to bowl first following which KKR had set the target of 174/8.
Strong Start For KKR But RCB Dominates
Ajinkya Rahane (56) and Sunil Narine were the top performers for KKR and the only pair that managed to stitch a solid partnership. But RCB bowlers wrecked havoc and despite a weak start they bounced back denying KKR from reaching a big total. Krunal Pandya was the top bowler for RCB with 3 wickets followed by Josh Hazlewood who took 2 wickets.
RCB Batters Leave KKR In Ruins
RCB came to bat in the second innings and left KKR in ruins as the opening partnership between Virat Kohli and Phil Salt gave bowlers no chance to build pressure. Former KKR player Phil Salt and new recruit of RCB hit a quickfire half-century in just 25 balls. Virat Kohli also scored his fifty in just 30 balls.
Rajat Patidar also played a captaincy knock and scored 34 runs, his cameo was extremely crucial in the match. Liam Livingstone came and ended the match with his power-hitting, he hit 15 runs off 5 balls.
Throughout the match, RCB batters established their dominance and took advantage of the fast outfield. Even though RCB’s top bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar had to stay out of the first match due to minor injury, the bowling lineup managed to handle all the pressure and put it back on KKR batters.
Top Performers From RCB
| RCB Bowlers | Wickets Taken |
|---|---|
| Krunal Pandya | 3 |
| Josh Hazlewood | 2 |
| RCB Batters | Runs Scored |
|---|---|
| Phil Salt | 56 |
| Virat Kohli | 59 |
| Rajat Patidar | 34 |
Top Performers From KKR
| KKR Batters | Runs Scored |
|---|---|
| Ajinkya Rahane | 56 |
| Sunil Narine | 44 |
| Angkrish Raghuvanshi | 30 |
