RCB and KKR went head-to-head in a thrilling encounter in Bengaluru for match number 10 of IPL 2024. Shreyas Iyer made the decision to field first after winning the toss on a slow pitch. Virat Kohli delivered an impressive performance, scoring 83 runs off just 49 balls. He displayed his consistent form from the previous match against Punjab Kings. Cameron Green notched an impressive 33 runs off just 21 balls.
Meanwhile, Dinesh Karthik added the final flourish with a quickfire 20 runs off a mere 8 balls. The RCB batters struggled to find their rhythm on a sluggish and parched wicket. The KKR bowlers expertly utilised slower balls to their advantage, deceiving the batsmen with their clever variations. The RCB batters faced some challenges with their timing. Yet they managed to accumulate a commendable total of 182 runs within their allotted 20 overs.
The KKR openers, Phil Salt and Sunil Narine, displayed an explosive performance with the bat. Salt smashed 30 runs off just 20 balls, while Narine contributed a brilliant 47 runs off 22 balls. KKR raced to 86 runs in a mere 6.3 overs. Venkatesh Iyer then smashed 50 runs off just 30 balls, while the captain, Shreyas Iyer, played a crucial role in leading KKR to victory with a score of 39 runs off 24 balls. KKR emerged victorious against RCB, securing a 7-wicket win and maintaining a perfect record with two wins in two matches.
KKR has achieved a remarkable feat by emerging victorious in their away match, making them the first team to do so in the current IPL season. This victory adds another feather to their cap in what has been an exciting start for them. In addition, their winning streak in Bengaluru has been extended. Their unbeaten streak against RCB in Bengaluru dates back to 2015. The target of 182 seemed promising at one point, considering the sluggishness of the pitch. Surprisingly, the KKR batters silenced all the doubters within the first six overs. Sunil Narine dominated the RCB bowlers during the powerplay, greatly facilitating KKR’s task. KKR emerged victorious with a commanding performance against RCB.
Was Virat Kohli and his inning the reason for RCB’s loss against KKR?
There was a genuine feeling all over social media and among the fans that Virat Kohli’s inning was the main reason behind RCB’s loss. On a wicket like Bengaluru with short boundaries, you have to keep going right from the start. You don’t have any other option and can’t play quiet overs. Although, Virat Kohli’s 83 runs off 59 balls will look good on paper, it was not that impactful. If you play 59 deliveries and that’s close to 10 overs, you need to get your score over 100 atleast. Playing 60 balls with a strike rate of 140 is not what modern T20 cricket demands and that too on a wicket like Bengaluru, where no score is safe.
Moreover, Kohli slowed down in the overs between 14-18 where he failed to get his timing right against the slower balls. That was the difference of RCB reaching a score of 210+ and ending with a score of 182. Kohli’s strike rate in T20 cricket has been a concern off late. After the loss and the manner in which KKR chased the total down, Kohli’s innings and strike rate in this match is definitely in the firing line. If you play 10 overs and bat from start to the end and also play the powerplay, you need to bat with a strike rate of 170 in a pitch and ground like the Chinnaswamy.
