RCB's NRR is above two after just one game. The defending champions will travel to Guwahati to face RR, RCB will travel to Chennai to play CSK. Do check out the report, analysis from this game. Hope to see you for the double header tomorrow. For now, it's goodbye from me Ekanth, Ashish Pant who was also on comms, and our scorers, Ranjith P and Venkat Raghav.
Krunal Pandya, POTM: I just wanted to narrow down my focus upon returning in the 11th over. Glad I was able to deliver. You have to go with the flow, right now batters can hit sixes consistently, so you have to find ways to up your game. So, I wanted to bowl quick, changes of pace were useful too. Jitesh knows I can do anything, bowl a wide yorker or bouncer, so he's aware. You have to use what you have in your arsenal. Once I got into the team, I got to know about the madness. Even when I was playing domestic cricket in Bangalore, there were RCB chants. It's been a great feeling in the last ten days with the team.
Rajat Patidar, RCB captain: There was pressure, of course, but it was a good day for me. Hope for more such days. (Bringing back Suyash for the fourth over) It was clear we wanted Russell's wicket, him conceding runs didn't matter. He is our strike bowler, we backed him. All credit goes to Krunal and Suyash, they were 130 off, the bowlers showed courage and determination. Feels great to captain Kohli, he supports a lot, great opportunity to learn from one of the best. (On the shot on 14.6 - a lifted square drive off a length ball) It was a pre-determined shot, I wanted to go over cover.
Phil Salt: Kohli and I haven't batted together much, to put on a partnership like that was key. It's a ground I know, had a simple game plan coming in. Wanted to go on longer, but not to be. Batting second here makes a bit of difference, you have to hit through the line.
Ajinkya Rahane, KKR captain: We went well till the 13th over, 2-3 wickets changed momentum. We have to learn from our mistakes,. We thought 210-220 was par when Venky and I were batting but we lost wickets. There was dew but they had a very good powerplay. We couldn't get early wickets. We don't want to think too much about this game, just want to improve as a unit.
Saty: "Supporting RCB is an emotional rollercoaster--one day it's 'we will never improve,' the next it's 'this is our year!' The struggle is real!"
10:47pm: A comprehensive win for RCB. They were behind 10 overs into the game, but Krunal Pandya helped them stage a comeback with the ball. With the bat, Phil Salt blew the hosts out of the water with powerplay power-hitting. Kohli's sixes off Johnson in the fifth over were great too. Ten fours and four sixes, 80 for 0 in six overs, that was way too big an advantage on a pitch that was batter-friendly. There was a slight slowdown with the first two wickets but Patidar batted like an artist, caressing and whacking the ball with sheer effortlessness. Kohli stayed on till the end, and the visitors completed the win with 22 balls to spare.