RCB vs KKR: Varun Chakaravarthy's 3-wicket spell helped KKR to hammer down RCB by 21 runs after Jason Roy's brilliance with the bat

Kolkata Knight Riders defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore by 21 runs in Match 36 of IPL 2023, at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Wednesday. Chasing a target of 201 runs, RCB only managed to reach 179/8 in 20 overs, despite a half-century from Virat Kohli (54). Varun Chakravarthy was in very good form for KKR's bowling department and took three wickets, Andre Russell and Suyash Sharma scalped two wickets each. A quick fifty by Jason Roy helped KKR reach 200/5 in 20 overs as the English opener slammed 56 runs off 29 balls, packed with four fours and five sixes. Wanindu Hasaranga and Vyshak Vijay Kumar bagged two wickets each. Read the match report of the RCB vs KKR clash and share your thoughts in the comments.

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RCB vs KKR: IPL 2023 Match Report

Jason Roy's blistering inning helped KKR to get off to a brilliant start

Royal Challengers Bangalore won the toss & decided to bowl first. Roy started off brilliantly by hitting boundaries while Jagadeesan kept his calm and relied on singles & doubles. Jason Roy has been brilliant in his 2 matches for KKR this season and he once again proved himself on the big occasion in front of the RCB crowd. Jagadeesan hasn't been consistent for Kolkata but Roy is performing his best. Jason Roy scored 61 runs in just 26 deliveries in the last match against the mighty Chennai Super Kings. He also played a crucial knock of 43 runs against Delhi Capitals on his first appearance this season. On the other side, Jagadeesan was coming into the match after scoring only 7 runs in 3 matches. Roy was in red-hot form during the Powerplay overs as he unleashed massive sixes to help KKR finish Powerplay with 66/0.

Nitish Rana & Venkatesh Iyer helped KKR reach a huge total

Jagadeesan got dismissed for 27 runs after facing 29 deliveries as he failed to boost his inning. Vijay Kumar broke the 83 runs partnership. He also dismissed Roy in the same over. Jason Roy scored 56 runs in just 29 deliveries with 4 fours & 5 sixes. Nitish Rana & Venkatesh Iyer then took responsibility to take Kolkata to a big total. Skipper Nitish Rana contributed with a quick 48 runs inning in just 21 deliveries while Venky Iyer also added 31 runs to the total. Rana slammed 3 fours and 4 sixes to get there but couldn't reach his half-century as Hasaranga struck twice in the 18th over. He also sent Iyer home and ended his spell with two wickets and 24 runs.

Andre Russell once again failed to add anything to the total. His run drought continues but Rinku Singh (18*) & David Wiese (12*) played cameos to help KKR reach the huge total of 200/5 after the end of 20 overs.

Read Also: Lowest total defended by each team in IPL history

RCB vs KKR: IPL 2023 Match Report

A hot & cold start from RCB in the powerplay

Virat Kohli & Faf du Plessis started the proceedings during the chase. Faf came as an impact player as he is not fielding in some matches but he has done his job brilliantly with the bat. RCB started off brilliantly with plenty number of boundaries in the powerplay. Du Plessis smashed 2 sixes in the second over as RCB reached 30 runs. Suyash Drew the first blood after coming in as an impact player. He dismissed the dangerous batsman Faf du Plessis for 17 runs as RCB lose their first wicket. The run flow didn't stop there as Kohli took charge against the bowlers. Suyash gave another blow in his second over by dismissing Shahbaz Ahmed. Varun Chakaravarthy then picked up the wicket of another dangerous inform batsman Glenn Maxwell before the end of the powerplay.

Lomror came into the crease to help Kohli and they had a brilliant partnership to revive RCB from a critical situation. He smashed his first six in Rana's over and RCB slowly progressed toward a better condition. RCB reached the 96-run mark in 10 overs after losing three crucial wickets in the powerplay. Virat Kohli completed his half-century but then got dismissed by Andre Russell. He got furious with himself after the dismissal as he failed to extend his inning from there.

Varun Chakaravarthy led the KKR bowling department as they picked up wickets in regular intervals

Varun Chakaravarthy dismissed Lomror in 12 the over after he scored 34 runs in just 18 balls. He was looking good but eventually, Kolkata brought themselves back into the game. After the departures of set batsmen, KKR took full control as it became so easy for them. Dinesh Karthik scored 22 runs but that wasn't enough to bring back RCB into the match. Varun Chakaravarthy ended his spell with 3 crucial wickets. No other batsmen could stand against the opposition bowlers and KKR managed to register the double over RCB this season. They won the match by 21 runs as RCB only gathered 179 runs after the end of 20 overs.