RCB vs KKR: Narine-Venkatesh's lightning knocks dampen Virat Kohli's exploits as KKR demolish RCB at their own fort again

Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) struggles against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the IPL continued following their seven-wicket defeat at the M Chinnaswamy stadium on March 29. KKR extended their dominance in this head-to-head, securing a comfortable victory while chasing a target of 183. Notably, RCB haven't won a single match against KKR at their home venue, Chinnaswamy, after 2015. RCB rode on Virat Kohli's impressive 83 off 59 to post a challenging total of 182/6. KKR chased down the challenging target with 19 balls to spare, thanks to Sunil Narine and Venkatesh Iyer's super knocks.

Openers Sunil Narine (47) and Phil Salt (30) laid a strong foundation with an 86-run partnership. Venkatesh Iyer then ensured a smooth chase with a well-compiled fifty. RCB's fielding also didn't help their cause, as dropped catches offered additional advantage to KKR.

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KKR Cruise to Victory, Extend Dominance over RCB

KKR continued their winning streak in the IPL 2024, comfortably chasing down a target of 183 runs in 16.5 overs. Notably, they defeated SRH in their campaign opener on March 23. Captain Shreyas Iyer himself smashed the winning runs, further solidifying KKR's dominance over RCB in recent encounters. The chase was a smooth affair for the visitors. They reached the target in just 16.5 overs, with Venkatesh Iyer leading the charge with a well-compiled 50. Iyer remained unbeaten on a brisk 39 off 24 balls, including two fours and two sixes. Rinku Singh provided valuable support at the other end. KKR got off to a flying start thanks to their openers, Sunil Narine and Phil Salt. The duo stitched together a crucial 86-run partnership that laid the foundation for the chase. While Salt departed after contributing 30 runs in 20 balls, Narine, celebrating his 500th T20 appearance, played a vital knock of 47 runs off just 22 balls. His knock included two fours and a whopping five sixes. Despite picking up a wicket each, RCB bowlers Yash Dayal, Mayank Dagar, and Vijaykumar Vyshak were unable to contain the KKR onslaught. The narrative around the KKR versus RCB rivalry has completely shifted at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Since 2016, KKR have dominated, winning a staggering six matches in a row. This is a stark contrast to the period between 2008 and 2015, where RCB enjoyed home advantage, winning four out of six encounters.

Looking at the broader head-to-head record, KKR have found their winning touch in recent times. They've emerged victorious in five of their last six matches against RCB, a significant turnaround from their previous string of four consecutive defeats.

Virat Kohli's efforts go in vain

Virat Kohli's masterful unbeaten knock of 83 runs (59 balls, 4 fours, 4 sixes) anchored Royal Challengers Bangalore to a respectable total of 182/6.

Batting first on a sluggish track, RCB's innings unfolded in two halves. Kohli and Cameron Green (33 off 21 balls) stitched together a crucial 65-run partnership for the second wicket within the powerplay (42 balls), laying the foundation for the score. This was the only substantial partnership of the innings. A trademark cameo from Dinesh Karthik (20 off 8 balls, 3 sixes) towards the end added some valuable late-innings flourish to the RCB total.

While captain Faf du Plessis departed early, Kohli and Green provided much-needed stability. Their partnership ensured RCB reached a decent position of 61/1 at the end of the powerplay. Kohli showcased a diverse range of strokes, including drives, lofted shots over cover (a new addition to his repertoire), sweeps, and slog-sweeps. However, the highlight of his innings was a powerful swat-flick off Mitchell Starc that sailed over the boundary for a six.

This swat-flick perfectly exemplifies Kohli's constant pursuit of innovation. With a flick of his wrists and the power generated from his strong bottom hand, he transforms a traditionally gentle shot into a weapon for scoring boundaries.

While Kohli reached his fifty in just 36 balls, other RCB batsmen, besides Green, struggled to find fluency and timing throughout their innings.

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While Kohli displayed a masterclass in controlled aggression, his partner Cameron Green took a completely different approach at the other end. Green relied on raw power, particularly against Sunil Narine in his 500th T20 match. He hammered Narine for 15 runs in the first over, including a sequence of four, four, and six – showcasing his powerful sweep, cover drive, and long-on hoick. However, Green's impressive innings was short-lived. He misjudged an Andre Russell pull shot, and the low ball crashed onto his stumps, breaking the budding partnership. Glenn Maxwell, who received two reprieves at the crease (11 and 21), failed to capitalize on his luck against Narine later on. A miscued slash found Rinku Singh at deep point, ending his 19-ball cameo with 28 runs. This dismissal also marked the end of a 42-run partnership with Kohli. Rajat Patidar, seemingly lacking confidence after his struggles in the Test series against England, contributed a disappointing 3 runs off 4 balls. He wasn't able to overcome his slump and support Kohli at the crease. Despite the struggles of his partners, Kohli remained a constant force. He countered the KKR bowlers' effective pace-off strategy with his own calculated aggression, keeping the scoreboard ticking over.

Now, RCB will next face Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on April 2 while KKR will lock horns with Delhi Capitals on April 3.

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