In a thrilling match at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) made history by becoming the first team to secure an away victory in the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL), defeating the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) by seven wickets.
KKR’s scintillating batting performance set the tone early in the game, with opener Philip Salt leading the charge by smashing boundaries and sixes right from the second ball of the innings. Mohammed Siraj bore the brunt of Salt’s onslaught, conceding 18 runs in the opening over. Salt, along with Sunil Narine, laid a solid foundation with an opening partnership of 86 runs.
After the dismissals of Salt and Narine, Venkatesh Iyer and skipper Shreyas Iyer took charge, guiding KKR towards the target with exceptional stroke play. Venkatesh Iyer impressed with a quickfire 50, while Shreyas Iyer and Rinku Singh ensured victory for KKR with more than three overs to spare.
READ:IPL: Sunrisers Hyderabad and Mumbai Indians Engage in Record-breaking Slugfest
Earlier in the innings, RCB’s stalwart batter Virat Kohli showcased his class with an unbeaten 83 runs off just 59 deliveries, featuring four boundaries and four sixes. Kohli’s innings saw him surpass former Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni’s tally of IPL sixes, making him the fourth-highest six-hitter in IPL history.
Kohli’s remarkable display also earned him the distinction of having the most sixes for RCB in IPL history, surpassing the legendary Chris Gayle. With this victory, KKR moves up the IPL 2024 points table, while RCB faces the challenge of bouncing back in the upcoming matches.
Brief Score:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: 182/6 in 20 overs (Virat Kohli 83*, Cameron Green 33; Andre Russell 2/29)
Kolkata Knight Riders: 186/3 in 17 overs (Venkatesh Iyer 50, Sunil Narine 47; Shreyas Iyer 39*; Vijaykumar Vyshak 1-23)
