Zaheer Khan with the new ball for RCB.

Dravid and Rahane will open for the Rajasthan Royals.

Players are out in the centre....

Vettori, Gayle, AB De Villiers and Muralitharan are the foreign players for RCB.

Owais Shah, Hogg, Hodge and Johan Botha are the foreign players for Rajasthan

Sreenath Arvind and Mohammad Kaif come in for RCB.

The only change for Rajasthan is, Pankaj Singh comes in for Ankeet Chavan.

Dravid is playing in front of his home crowd though he's captaining the other Royals team. There was a huge cheer from the crowd when he was at the toss.

Dravid: " It's an away home match for me. It's a great venue and I have great memories at this ground. We will bat and the pitch looks slightly dry and hopefully we'll put some runs on the board. Kevon Cooper is not playing as he's still injured."

Vettori: "The wicket looks dry and hopefully it will stay good through the entire course of the game. Gayle is playing tonight."

7.32pm It's toss time. Dravid calls tails, it's come down tails, and Rajasthan Royals will bat first.

What a match it turned out to be at the Eden Gardens between the hosts and Kings XI Punjab. Punjab sneak home by 2 runs off the last ball!

In their last match, Royal Challengers suffered a freak loss at the hands of Albie Morkel and would be looking to turn things around on their home turf.On the other hand, Rajasthan Royals did not muster enough runs against the Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens.

7.21pm Hello everyone and a warm welcome to our coverage of the 18th of a gazillion of IPL matches. It's a battle of the Royals at the Chinnaswamy stadium. It may be called a Royal-derby as it'd please a couple of non-cricket guys too! Royal Challengers Bangalore are hosting Rajasthan Royals, the Royals from the western part of India.

I'm Abhishek N and will be keeping you occupied for the next 40 overs.

0.1

Khan to Dravid, no run, good length on the middle and off, Dravid stays in the crease and turns it away to short midwicket

0.2

Khan to Dravid, no run, low bounce off the pitch, looks to drive through the covers but misses, straight to the keeper

0.3

Khan to Dravid, 2 runs, Dravid gets a big inside edge and the ball goes to the fine leg boundary but Murali shows his football skills and stops it

0.4

Khan to Dravid, no run, keeps low again, Dravid shows the full face of the bat and blocks it back to the bowler

0.5

Khan to Dravid, no run, good length and angling away, looks to poke it but lets it go to the keeper

0.6

Khan to Dravid, no run, on the good length, Dravid comes forward but is cramped for room and defends it to the right of Zaheer for no run

1.1

Aravind to Rahane, FOUR, wide outside off, Rahane smears it through the gap between backward point and point, top shot!

1.2

Aravind to Rahane, no run, width offered and angling away, watches it carefully and lets it go to the keeper

1.3

Aravind to Rahane, no run, slightly short outside off, bouncing off the seam, Rahane chops it onto the pitch for no run

1.4

Aravind to Rahane, FOUR, leaning over the ball, Rahane pierces the gap between backward point and square cover, superb placement

1.5

Aravind to Rahane, 1 run, width offered, slices it to the left of Kohli at point who dives and saves 3 runs for his team

1.6

Aravind to Dravid, no run, back of a length, Dravid stays in the crease and pushes it to mid-off

2.1

Khan to Rahane, no run, good length from Zaheer, Rahane bends and dabs it to the off side for no run

2.2

Khan to Rahane, no run, outside off, Rahane looks to cut it past point but the ball falls just short of Kohli at point

2.3

Khan to Rahane, no run, good length again, Rahane defends it solidly on to the off side

2.4

Khan to Rahane, no run, Rahane bunts it to Kohli at point and takes off but gets back to the crease on time

2.5

Khan to Rahane, no run, short of a length, looks to heave over midwicket but misses it and the keeper collects it cleanly

2.6

Khan to Rahane, no run, back of a length, Rahane comes a bit forward and turns it to short midwicket, that was a maiden from Zaheer!

That was just the 5th maiden of this year's IPL...

3.1

Aravind to Dravid, FOUR, short outside leg, Dravid goes deep into his crease and helps it on his way to the fine leg fence

3.2

Aravind to Dravid, no run, pitched on a good length, Dravid defends it to cover for a dot

3.3

Aravind to Dravid, 1 run, Dravid goes back and tries to slap it past midwicket but gets an underedge and the ball goes to deep square leg

3.4

Aravind to Rahane, SIX, that has been savagely dealt with, gives the charge and carts it high over long-on for a six, into the crowd this time

3.5

Aravind to Rahane, FOUR, off the back foot, this time he smacks it high over mid wicket for a one bounce boundary, not timed well but will still get a four

3.6

Aravind to Rahane, no run, good length, gets forward and defends it to cover for no run

4.1

Khan to Dravid, no run, pitched on a good length, Dravid leans back and jams it to covers for a dot

4.2

Khan to Dravid, no run, Dravid goes back in his crease and crams it to covers, no run again, 10 dots on the bounce for Zaheer

4.3

Khan to Dravid, no run, make that 11, pitched on a good length, Dravid defends it back to the bowler

4.4

Khan to Dravid, 1 run, Dravid comes down the track and drives it to mid-off and gets to the other end, he'd be relieved!

4.5

Khan to Rahane, SIX, short of a length, Rahane gives the charge and takes the top edge and the ball goes sailing over the deep square leg boundary

4.6

Khan to Rahane, 1 run, outside off, bunts it to the off side and the batsmen scurry for a single

5.1

Vinay Kumar to Rahane, 1 run, on the full, on the toes, turned away to backward square leg for an easy single

5.2

Vinay Kumar to Dravid, FOUR, magnificent shot! Dravid puts his foot forward and drives it through covers for a four, Elegance written all over the shot

5.3

Vinay Kumar to Dravid, 1 run, angling into the batsman, skips down the track and turns it away to mid-on and sneak a single

5.4

Vinay Kumar to Rahane, 1 run, pitched outside off, Rahane watches it cautiously and guides it to third man for a run

5.5

Vinay Kumar to Dravid, 1 run, Dravid comes down the track, tries to pull it over midwicket, gets an inside edge onto his pads and the ball rolls on to the off side

5.6

Vinay Kumar to Rahane, 1 run, width offered, Rahane stays in the crease and runs it to third man for an easy single

6.1

Vettori to Rahane, 1 run, on good length, turns it away with soft hands to short midwicket for a run

6.2

Vettori to Dravid, no run, that's a ripper, Dravid gives room but the ball turns the other way

6.3

Vettori to Dravid, 1 run, on the full, Dravid slams it through covers to long-off

6.4

Vettori to Rahane, 1 run, pushed through the air, turned away to midwicket for an easy single

6.5

Vettori to Dravid, no run, on the full, Dravid looks to drive it through covers but misses it

6.6

Vettori to Dravid, 1 run, tossed up, Dravid loops the ball into the air between extra cover and long-off and go through for a run

7.1

Muralitharan to Dravid, no run, skidder, goes back and pushes it to short cover

7.2

Muralitharan to Dravid, 2 runs, goes back again and sweeps it to deep square and sneak a two

7.3

Muralitharan to Dravid, 1 run, tossed up, bends his knee and chips it straight to wide of long-on

7.4

Muralitharan to Rahane, 1 run, tossed up, turned away to backward square leg for a single

7.5

Muralitharan to Dravid, 1 run, outside off, lets it come to him and slaps it to sweeper cover

7.6

Muralitharan to Rahane, no run, spinning away, watches it carefully and dabs it to wide of Gayle at slip

8.1

Vettori to Dravid, no run, wide outside off, looks to sweep it over midwicket and misses by a huge margin

8.2

Vettori to Dravid, 1 run, spinning into Dravid, gets an inside edge on to the pads and the ball goes to the leg side

8.3

Vettori to Rahane, 1 run, quicker one, slashes it but doesnt get past Gayle at backward point

8.4

Vettori to Dravid, 1 run, yorker, Dravid makes room and drives it to sweeper cover

8.5

Vettori to Rahane, 1 run, quicker one on to the pads, Rahane punches it to long-on for a single

8.6

Vettori to Dravid, 1 run, tossed up on the legs, Dravid whips it to backward square leg for a single

Rahul: "This is a classical stuff, imagine Rahane and Dravid playing in a Test, although not possible anymore, but even the imagination is classical textbook and poetic."

Time-out taken....

9.1

Muralitharan to Dravid, 1 run, doosra, Dravid makes room and loops that into the air to sweeper cover

9.2

Muralitharan to Rahane, no run, quicker one, Rahane chops it back to the bowler

9.3

Muralitharan to Rahane, 1 run, tossed up, punches down to wide of long-off

9.4

Muralitharan to Dravid, 1 run, spinning into the batsman, makes room and crunches it to sweeper for a single

9.5

Muralitharan to Rahane, no run, Rahane plays it to point off his backfoot

9.6

Muralitharan to Rahane, 1 run, tossed up, Rahane punches it down the ground to long-on for an easy single

10.1

Vettori to Rahane, 1 run, full outside off, bends and slaps it to sweeper cover for just a single

10.2

Vettori to Dravid, OUT, Stumped! flatter delivery, Vettori pushes it through as he sees Dravid coming down the track, misses it by a big margin and the rest is cleaned up by AB De Villers behind the stumps

R Dravid st †de Villiers b Vettori 25 (40m 32b 2x4 0x6) SR: 78.12

10.3

Vettori to Shah, 1 run, tossed up, Shah makes room and dabs it to backward square leg and takes an easy single

10.4

Vettori to Rahane, 1 run, quicker one, turned away to long-on for an easy run

10.5

Vettori to Shah, 1 run, Shah charges down but gets a thick inside edge and the ball rolls down the ground to long-on

10.6

Vettori to Rahane, 1 run, flighted delivery, Rahane runs it down the ground to long-on for an easy single

11.1

Muralitharan to Rahane, SIX, Rahane does it again! skips down the track and clobbers it well over long-on for a massive six

11.2

Muralitharan to Rahane, no run, quicker one, pushes it back to the bowler

11.3

Muralitharan to Rahane, 1 run, outside off, turned away to short midwicket for a single

11.4

Muralitharan to Shah, 1 run, Shah comes down the track but manages to push the quicker one to sweeper cover

11.5

Muralitharan to Rahane, no run, quicker one, stays in the crease and nudges it to the right of Murali

11.6

Muralitharan to Rahane, 1 run, pushed through again, Rahane watches it as it spins into him and works it away to fine leg for an easy run

12.1

Vinay Kumar to Rahane, no run, pitches on good length straight away, Rahane defends it back to the bowler

12.2

Vinay Kumar to Rahane, no run, slightly short, Rahane uses his feet as he skips down the track and tries to slap it over covers but misses completely

12.3

Vinay Kumar to Rahane, 1 run, outside off, Rahane waits and uses the pace of the ball as he runs it to third man for a single

12.4

Vinay Kumar to Shah, no run, width offered, Shah stays in his crease and pulls it straight to the man at midwicket

12.5

Vinay Kumar to Shah, SIX, Shah stays in his crease and tries to go over midwicket but takes a top edge and the ball loops into the air and off it goes sailing over fine leg fence

12.6

Vinay Kumar to Shah, no run, good length, Shah pushes it to cover but Rahane wanted one but sent back in the nick of time

13.1

Aravind to Rahane, FOUR, Rahane shows the full face of the bat and slaps it past the bowler for a four, brilliant timing!

13.2

Aravind to Rahane, FOUR, 2 in 2, exact replica of the previous shot but slightly straighter this time, punches it past the bowler

13.3

Aravind to Rahane, FOUR, short, Rahane bends and scoops it high over behind the keeper and gets a boundary for that, top shot!

13.4

Aravind to Rahane, FOUR, slower ball, Rahane pulls it over midwicket and off it goes racing away to the boundary off one bounce, 4 in 4!

13.5

Aravind to Rahane, FOUR, full toss, Rahane makes that 5 fours on the trot, cover drives it elegantly

13.6

Aravind to Rahane, FOUR, 6 fours off that over, this time he waits till the ball gets to him and guides it to the third man boundary, what an over that turned out to be!

14.1

Vettori to Shah, FOUR, full toss, Shah gets into the act this time and he smacks it high over the bowler's head, Shah doesnt want to be left behind

14.2

Vettori to Shah, no run, pushes it through the air, Shah looks to pull it over midwicket but misses

14.3

Vettori to Shah, 1 run, outside off, goes back and pushes it to cover

14.4

Vettori to Rahane, no run, yorker on the middle, Rahane makes room and tries to punch it through cover but misses

14.5

Vettori to Rahane, 1 run, on the money again, Rahane takes it on the full and whips it to deep midwicket

14.6

Vettori to Shah, 1 leg bye, makes room to swipe it across the line, misses and the ball rolls to short cover after it hits Shah's pads

Strategic Time-out and a much needed one for RCB....

15.1

Gayle to Shah, SIX, tossed up and that's smacked, he's greeted him with a six, clubs it over wide of long-on for a six, Humongous shot

15.2

Gayle to Shah, 1 run, slower one, Shah drills it to deep midwicket for an easy single

15.3

Gayle to Rahane, 1 run, takes it on the full and hoicks it to deep midwicket for a single

15.4

Gayle to Shah, SIX, short and flat, that's been clobbered high over midwicket into the second tier, that was a crowd killer!

15.5

Gayle to Shah, 2 runs, on the pads, flicked to backward square leg for an easy two

15.6

Gayle to Shah, 1 wide, tossed up on the leg side, quite wide and easy call for the umpire

15.6

Gayle to Shah, FOUR, floating length, that's been dismissed from his presence into the gap between midwicket and long-on, one bounce over the boundary, 21 runs off that Gayle over!

16.1

Vinay Kumar to Rahane, SIX, slower one outside off, Rahane picks the length quickly and mauls it over midwicket for a mammoth one, 15 rows back into the crowd, Rahane is in the mood here!

16.2

Vinay Kumar to Rahane, 1 run, slower one, yorker length, Rahane squeezes it to point and go through for an easy single

16.3

Vinay Kumar to Shah, SIX, Shah has hammered that! picks the slower one and smokes it high over the deep midwicket for a homer, see-ya!

16.4

Vinay Kumar to Shah, SIX, it's raining sixes here! picks it and smacks it over the bowler's head, that has come off the meat of the bat, stupendous shot!

16.5

Vinay Kumar to Shah, FOUR, full toss outside off, stays in the crease and slaps it past the diving fielder at cover

16.6

Vinay Kumar to Shah, 1 run, that's Shah's 50, slower one outside off, delicately pats it to point for a single

17.1

Muralitharan to Shah, FOUR, quicker one outside off, Shah makes room and gets a bottom edge and the ball races away to the fence behind the keeper

17.2

Muralitharan to Shah, 1 run, on the off, Shah slams it past the the bowler to long-off

17.3

Muralitharan to Rahane, SIX, Rahane walks down the track and plays an inside out shot over wide of long-off, flat bats it

17.4

Muralitharan to Rahane, FOUR, tossed up, Rahane picks it and hammers it over the bowler's head for another boundary, he's smoking it here!

17.5

Muralitharan to Rahane, 1 run, quicker one, stays back and drives to cover for a run

17.6

Muralitharan to Shah, 1 run, doosra, that has been cut to cover for a run, 17 runs off the over!

18.1

Khan to Shah, no run, slower one that kept low, Shah looks to push ti to cover but misses

18.2

Khan to Shah, FOUR, on the money, Shah digs it out and squeezes it over backward point to the fence

18.3

Khan to Shah, 4 byes, keeps low and the keeper misses that, piling agony for RCB

18.4

Khan to Shah, OUT, Caught at long-on, finally Shah departs but he has done enough damage! looks to hoick a slower delivery but doesnt get the timing right and off it goes straight down the throat of Vinay Kumar, almost went for a six

OA Shah c Vinay Kumar b Khan 60 (37m 26b 5x4 5x6) SR: 230.76

18.5

Khan to Rahane, 1 run, slow and outside off, leans into it and pushes it cover for a single

18.6

Khan to Hodge, no run, good length, hits Hodge's pads as he looks to turn it away on to the leg side

Rahane is on 93..

19.1

Vinay Kumar to Rahane, FOUR, comes down the track and smashes the slower one past the bowler for a four, Rahane is on 97 now

19.2

Vinay Kumar to Rahane, no run, slower one and quite slow i should say, Rahane waits and waits as he looks to nudge it but misses

19.3

Vinay Kumar to Rahane, FOUR, thats the first ton of IPL 2012! comes charging down and slaps a short delivery over to long-on, Kohli overruns and misses the catch, the balls runs into the boundary picking up puff of dust with it

19.4

Vinay Kumar to Rahane, 1 run, yorker, Rahane digs it out to cover for a single

19.5

Vinay Kumar to Hodge, 1 run, slower and short outside off, Hodge pulls it over to wide of long-on for a single

19.6

Vinay Kumar to Rahane, 1 run, pitched outside off, Rahane comes forward and punches it over the bowler to long-off and the batsman go through for a single

I'm off to catch my breath. Join me in a bit for the chase....

What a spectacular innings we have witnessed from Ajinkya Rahane here. Last 7 overs produced an whopping 113 runs thanks to the belligerent hitting by Rahane and Owais Shah. This pitch is still good and with Gayle force in reckoning, it's still anybody's match.