IPL 2023, RCB vs KKR: Varun, Suyash shine as KKR thrash RCB twice in season; RCB at 4th place

IPL 2023, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) vs Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Top Performances: Venkatesh Iyer-Nitish Rana's 88-run stand, Suyash Sharma-Varun Chakravarthy's 5-57, and Virat Kohli-Lomror’s 58-run stand are the top performances. KKR beat RCB by 21 runs to move to 7th place in points table.

Varun Chakravarthy took 3-27 against RCB (Images: ©IPL/Twitter)

Brief Scores: KKR 200/5 (Roy 56, Rana 48, Wanindu 2/24) beat RCB 179/8 (Kohli 54, Lomror 34, Varun 3/27 by 21 runs.

Player Of The Match: Varun Chakravarthy (3-27)

Another high scoring awaited us when the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) take on the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore. RCB lost their 3rd game of the season at home by 21 runs and KKR end their 4 match-losing streak here at Bangalore.

Kolkata's victory over Bangalore is hailed as a strategic masterclass and wins the hearts of many

After being put into bat, KKR had a great day with the bat in this IPL match. Jason Roy, playing as an opener, got the team off to a fantastic start with 66 runs in the power play. His partner, Narayan Jagadeesan, struggled a bit but scored 27 runs off 29 balls. Roy continued his good form from the last game and scored another half-century, this time 56 off 29 balls. Both openers were dismissed in the same over by fast bowler Vyshak. However, Venkatesh Iyer and Nitish Rana then built on the good start provided by Roy with an 80-run partnership in just 44 balls. Cameos from Rinku Singh and David Wiese helped KKR reach the 200-run mark, despite an economical spell from Wanidu Hasaranga, who finished with figures of 2/24.

To chase down a daunting 201 target set by KKR, RCB's top order, led by Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis, got off to a fiery start scoring 58 runs in the first 6 overs. However, KKR's bowlers took 3 important wickets, including those of Faf and Glenn Maxwell. RCB's Mahipal Lomror, who had a disappointing season until this point, finally found his form and played a crucial role in a 55-run partnership with Kohli for the 4th wicket. But his dismissal opened the door for KKR to make further inroads, as Kohli and the rest of the RCB batting lineup struggled to keep up with the required run rate. In the end, RCB fell short, finishing at 179/8 and losing by 21 runs.

Read More: IPL 2023, DC vs KKR: Warner, Axar guide DC to maiden win of the season; KKR remain at 8th place

Talking Points RCB vs KKR

The major talking point has to be RCB’s worry about some middle order who failed to step up when top-order batters Faf and Maxwell endured a rare failure this season. Karthik couldn’t take the team home after a start while Prabhudesai, Shahbaz, and Wanindu contributed little. Only Lomror played an inning of some substance in RCB’s yet another home loss this season.

Let us scan the key performances of the RCB vs KKR game of IPL 2023

Rana- Iyer added 80 off 44 balls for 3rd wicket (Images: ©IPL/Twitter)

Venkatesh Iyer-Nitish Rana partnership propels Kolkata to a massive total

When the two left-handers strode at the crease, KKR were already in a good spot with openers making 88 runs in the first 10 overs. This time the KKR top-order batsman didn’t let the good start slip as the duo of Venkatesh Iyer and Nitish Rana, especially the skipper played proactively for his 21-ball 48 which included 4 sixes. Iyer gave him good company as they brought their 50-run stand in only 34 balls, and this laid a great launching pad for the lower-order to capitalize on. KKR eventually reached 200 runs in their 20 overs.

Read More: IPL 2023: Venkatesh Iyer: Man on a Mission playing an aggressive brand of cricket

Spinners Suyash and Varun Chakravarthy keep a lid on RCB’s batting

KKR’s spinners put on quite a show at the Chinnaswamy on a surface that is traditionally tough for the spinners to bowl, especially in the night games. First, introducing Suyash Sharma saw his snapping Faf who was looking in rollicking form while Varun sent back the dangerous Maxwell for not much. Suyash picked up 2 while Varun took 1 wicket in his tight bowling display in the power plays.

Varun also picked the important scalp of Lomror was threatening to take the game away from KKR at one stage and then gave the killer blow by dismissing last batting hope Dinesh Karthik for 22. The duo eventually took 5 wickets between them in 8 overs giving away only 57 runs.

Read More: IPL 2023, RCB vs RR: Maxwell, du Plessis & Harshal shine for Bangalore; RR still at top

Kohli-Lomror added 55 off 34 for 4th wicket (Images: ©IPL/Twitter)

Kohli-Lomror stand gives RCB a move on in this tall chase

RCB had a great start with the bat to keep their run rate at check scoring 58 runs in the 1st 6 overs but lost 3 wickets, 2 of them were of inform Faf and Maxwell. At that point, RCB looked like going nowhere in the chase and were in danger of folding out rather badly. But Lomror who didn’t play to his potential season looked in great tough scoring a quick-fire 34 and along with Virat Kohli, the pair brought life into the match. However, both their dismissal back-to-back dented RCB’s badly.

What’s Next and Points Table

RCB now stands at the 5th spot with 4 wins and as many losses and they next take on Lucknow at Ekana Stadium on May 1 while KKR hosts defending champions Gujarat on 29th April.

Read More: IPL 2023, PBKS vs RCB: Siraj wins away game for RCB with figures of 4-21

IPL 2023 Points Table

IPL 2023 Points Table

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