Royal Challengers Bangalore routed Kolkata Knight Riders in the 39th match in Abu Dhabi on October 21 piggyriding on Mohammed Siraj’s brilliant spell of three wickets for the loss of 8 runs. Kolkata could make only 84 for 8, the lowest total of the season, despite winning the toss and batting first. Bangalore easily chased the target at the loss of two wickets.

Right-arm pacer Siraj who replaced Shahbaz Ahmed in the team took three wickets in consecutive overs. He dismissed Rahul Tripathi and Nitish Rana in his first over and then Tom Banton in his second. He also had two consecutive maiden overs, thus creating a history in the IPL.

This was followed by leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal’s onslaught destroying Kolkata batting line-up beyond repair. Washington Sundar (1 for 14) and Chahal (2 for 15) destroyed KKR middle order.

Captain Eoin Morgan (30 runs off 34 balls) alone made a valiant attempt to save the innings for KKR.

Bangalore’s chase was aided by Devdutt Padikkal (25 off 17). Virat Kohli (18 off 17) and Gurkeerat Singh Mann (21 off 26) remained unbeaten to ensure an easy 8-wicket win for RCB with 39 balls to spare.

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Sunrisers Hyderabad suffered a 10-run defeat to Royal Challengers Bangalore in their first Indian Premier League match on September 21 at the Dubai Cricket Stadium.

Chasing 164, Sunrisers – who won the toss and decided to bowl – looked comfortable with Jonny Bairstow in superb form and batting on 61 (6 fours and 2 sixes) after the initial setback of losing opener David Warner (6) to a second-over run-out. Sunrisers looked all set with 121-2 in the 16th over but when Bairstow decided to attack a delivery from Yuzvendra Chahal (3-18), he became the first of eight wickets lost in 26 balls.

Vijay Shankar fell for a duck from the next delivery while the wickets of Priyam Garg (12) , Abhishek Sharma (7) and Rashid Khan (6) fell quickly soon after. An injured Mitchell Marsh demoted down the batting line-up led to the collapse of the lower order and RCB romped home in the IPL opener. RCB’s win was achieved in the final over when Sandeep Sharma (9) was caught in the deep by skipper Virat Kohli off Dale Steyn (1-33).

Devdutt Padikkal (56) and AB de Villiers (51) helped RCB shore up 163-5 in their 20 overs.

RCB’s maiden victory in IPL 2020 could signify that their jinx in the IPL is over and that they can hope for the title for the first time.

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