Knight Riders crush Royal Challengers in emphatic IPL return

Kolkata Knight Riders returned to Indian Premier League action with an emphatic performance, securing a third win in a hurry.

 
 

Varun Chakravarthy and Andre Russell claimed three wickets apiece to set up an emphatic victory for Kolkata Knight Riders over Royal Challengers Bangalore on Monday.

Spinner Chakravarthy collected two wickets in as many balls in the 11th over - including the dismissal of Glenn Maxwell (10) ? while Russell bowled AB de Villiers for a first-ball duck as the Royal Challengers were skittled for just 92.

Opener Devdutt Padikkal (22) offered brief hope but after he fell with the score at 41-2, Virat Kohli's side collapsed and lost eight wickets for 51 runs to be dismissed in 19 overs.

Venkatesh Iyer and Shubman Gill led KKR's charge in reply, reaching 56 at the conclusion of the powerplay as the latter raced to 48 before being dismissed by Yuzvendra Chahal.

Number three Russell did not even get to face a ball as Iyer (41 not out) smashed back-to-back fours to seal the triumph before the 10th over and secure a third win of the season for Kolkata.

As for Bangalore, their losing streak in the competition in the United Arab Emirates is extended to six games. The 2021 season is concluding outside of India due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

RCB experience fails to deliver

Kohli, who became the fifth player to 200 IPL appearances but the first to reach the milestone while representing just one team, struggled as he was trapped lbw by Prasidh Krishna for just five.

De Villiers was sent packing first ball by Russell before Maxwell needlessly got bowled swiping at Chakravarthy with a shot that typified Bangalore's batting woes.

Morgan's bowlers run riot to get back on track

Chakravarthy and Russell were backed up impressively by Lockie Ferguson (2-24), Krishna (1-24) and Sunil Narine (0-20), as all of Morgan's bowlers delivered.

Between his five-man attack, they produced 62 dot balls in comparison to RCB's 24 as Kohli's side were well beaten a day after it was confirmed he is to stand down as captain at the end of the campaign.