Match 31: KKR vs RCB: Top 5 Performers

Kolkata Knight Riders steam rolled RCB to register their 3^rd win of IPL 2021. Earlier Virat Kohli won the toss and elect to bat as RCB sported a blue jersey as a tribute to the frontline workers in the battle against COVID-19.

RCB brought in IPL debutants Srikar Bharat and Wanindu Hasaranga while KKR drafted debutant Venkatesh Iyer in their playing 11.

Here are the Top 5 performers in the KKR vs RCB match:

Varun Chakravarthy – 3 wickets, 1 run out and 1 catch

They mystery spinner wrecked RCB with 2 wickets in 2 balls getting rid of allrounders Glenn Maxwell (bowled out for 10) and Wanindu Hasaranga (0) – reducing RCB to 63-6. The very next over he picked the wicket of Sachin Baby to push RCB to 66-7 followed by a run out of his own bowling to get rid of Kyle Jamieson.

Varun Chakravarthy ended with bowling figures of 4-0-13-3 with 15 dot balls to his name.

Andre Russell – 3 wickets

Dre Russ announced himself on the IPL Phase 2 scene when he picked 2 wickets in 1 over – that of Srikar Bharat and AB de Villiers. He yorked out ABD for a golden duck to the dismay of RCB supporters.

Russell cleaned up RCB innings for 92 in 19 overs. He ended with bowling figures of 3-0-9-3 with 10 dot balls.

Lockie Ferguson – 2 wickets

Ferguson got the wicket of RCB’s top scorer Devdutt Padikkal for 22 off the last ball of Powerplay (41-2) giving KKR advantage. Ferguson returned in end overs to bowl out Harshal Patel for 12 reducing RCB to 83-9 in 16.3 overs.

Lockie finished with bowling spell of 4-0-24-2.

Shubman Gill – 48 runs

Needing 93 runs to win in 20 overs – Shubman Gill opened the innings with debutant Venkatesh Iyer. Shubman looked in sublime touch as he scored 48 runs in 34 ball with the help of 6 fours and 1 six at a strike rate of 141.18.

Gill was dismissed by Chahal just 2 runs away from half century but he put KKR close to win at 82-1 in 9.1 overs.

Venkatesh Iyer – 41*

Debutant Venkatesh Iyer showed he belonged in IPL. The left handed batsman and right arm medium pacer opened for KKR in his debut match a struck a unbeaten 41 in 27 balls in 7 fours and 1 six.

Iyer hit the winning runs for KKR as they reached the target in just 10 overs.

KKR vs RCB Match Summary:

Royal Challengers Bangalore: 91 all out in 19 overs

Devdutt Padikkal 22 (20)

Srikar Bharat 16 (19)

Varun Chakravarthy 4-0-13-3

Andre Russell 3-0-9-3

Kolkata Knight Riders 94-1 in 10 overs

Shubman Gill 48 (34)

Venkatesh Iyer 41*(27)

Yuzvendra Chahal 1-23

KKR won by 9 wickets

Man of Match: Varun Chakravarthy