IPL 9, Match 30: RCB v KKR - 5 Talking Points

RCB’s misery continue as they succumbed to yet another loss, this time to a two-men show under the lights of Chinnaswamy. With 185 on board, and the opposition needing around 13 runs an over going into the second half of the innings, RCB and Virat Kohli might have heavily fancied their chances.

However, Yusuf Pathan took up this match to mark his arrival in this IPL season. A knock which started off rather slowly, ended with such ferocity that the once 13+ required run-rate was reduced to just 1 run being needed from the last over. And not to forget Russell’s assault which started it all. While Gambhir was extremely pumped up with a coming-from-the-brink victory, Kohli’s numb reaction summed up the RCB mentality after losing yet another match in spite of scoring big.

1. Gayle disappoints, Rahul sizzles:

Chris Gayle, the latest to take up the mantle of fatherhood, made a long-awaited return to IPL after missing a few matches for RCB. The Bengaluru crowd, however, were left unsatisfied after the southpaw was dismissed cheaply by Morne Morkel. But KL Rahul more than made up for it, by continuing his imperious form and scoring yet another half century. The Bengaluru native was severe against spinners, with the highlight of his inning being his majestic six off Narine over deep backward square leg boundary. However, the innings was cut short by a mistimed drive to sweeper cover off Piyush Chawla, and KKR dugout breathed a sigh of relief.

2. Kohli shines once again but KKR bowlers choke RCB:

Virat Kohli has asserted his dominance over the shortest format over the past 6 months, and he continued his impervious form even today against KKR. Playing the role of a second fiddle during his partnership with Rahul, Kohli upped his ante after the latter’s dismissal. Though boundaries were hard to come by in accordance to Chinnaswamy’s standards, primarily thanks to some exceptional bowling from Piyush Chawla and Morne Morkel, Kohli was as efficient as ever; picking up his quick singles and converting the ones into twos. Kohli notched up yet another fifty, albeit a slower one, but perished trying to increase the score-rate. With AB already back into the hut overs ago after failing to spot a peach of a flipper, RCB were left with just 131 on board after 17 overs.

3. Binny, Baby smash Umesh Yadav; RCB set a defendable target:

When things are going well for Umesh Yadav, he is an unstoppable beast. But on the flipside, he can get really wayward on an off day. And that’s exactly what the RCB needed in the final junctures of their innings. Two successive above-the-waist no-balls(which surprisingly did not involve Yadav being taken off from bowling) completely derailed Yadav’s rhythm, and Baby took full advantage of it by scoring 14 off the last 3 of 18th over. To  add woes to Yadav’s misery, Stuart Binny came out of nowhere to score 16 off the pacer in just 4 balls. Yadav’s miserable day with the ball ended with figures of 1/56, and RCB ended up with a competitive 185 on board.

4. KKR’s chase marred with constant loss of wickets:

On a small ground with pitch definitely assisting the batsmen, KKR would have thought that this match was right into their bags, if played sensibly. However, thanks to some exceptional bowling from RCB bowlers, KKR’s chase was slowly derailed by constant loss of wickets. While Binny bagged Uthappa’s wicket with a perfect outswinger, Lynn fell to a gem of a leggie. Even Gambhir, who was holding together KKR’s chase, was unlucky to be dismissed to an exceptional yorker length delivery from Aravind. Manish Pandey fell trying to accelerate the innings, and KKR’s chase looked done and dusted, with the run-rate creeping upto 14 runs per over. However, Pathan and Russell had other ideas.

5. Pathan, Russell dismantle RCB:

Yusuf Pathan and Andre Russell may not be the most consistent of the lot with the bat, but once they get going, they roll on like a juggernaut. A few mis-hits and KL Rahul’s miserable day behind the stumps aside, Pathan and Russell absolutely smashed the hapless RCB bowlers on a pitch which had certainly lost its initial grip. While Russell started off the assault, Pathan was the one to finish it, who showed glimpses of his true destructive prowess with the willow. A target which once looked way beyond reach was hunted down with 5 balls to spare, and all Kohli could do was watch the carnage.