Most memorable moments feat. RCB and KKR

When one thinks of games between the Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore, one cannot help but think back to Virat Kohli’s century at Eden Gardens, or the iconic arrival of Chris Gayle in 2011. We revisit 3 such instances in a blast from the past as we look forward to the fixture later in the day.

Virat Kohli, Kolkata, 2019

It was an innings of two asymmetric halves for Virat Kohli. By the end of the first 10 overs of the innings, RCB were going nowhere, as was Virat. 35 runs off 29 balls, struggling to time the ball, Virat’s innings was symbolic of RCB’s struggles on the day, the team itself trudging along at 7-an-over. But then something changed. Something clicked into place as if a missing cog had been positioned back into its rightful place, and the contrast between the two halves could not be more apparent. 

Alongside Moeen Ali, Virat started to gain confidence, his partner showing what counter-attacking cricket can do to one’s sluggish form. As if teleported into a new world of unlimited possibilities, Virat never looked back. By the end of the onslaught, Virat had scored his fifth IPL century, the second 29-ball half of his innings yielding a massive 65 runs. RCB had reached 213/4, 143 runs coming from the back 10 overs of the innings, a total which KKR fell short of by 10 runs.

Mandeep Singh, Bangalore, 2015

It was one of those days when RCB needed someone to put their hand up. Chasing 112 runs in a rain-affected 12 overs-a-side game, RCB had lost Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers while still 61 runs short of the target and 32 of the 60 balls left in the run-chase when Mandeep Singh walked in. Soon, Virat Kohli too fell leaving Mandeep and co. to bring the game home; 31 needed off 17 balls. That soon turned into 20 off 8 with some quality death bowling by Andre Russell and Umesh Yadav. 

First a scoop over the fine-leg fielder inside the circle, and then a fortunate edge to the third-man boundary reduced the equation to 12 off the last over. With 9 needed off 4, KKR were still the favorites, Mandeep Singh facing Andre Russell. A near-perfect yorker found itself soaring over backward point, landing just beyond the boundary triangles, Mandeep on one knee slicing the ball for a 6. When the next ball was pulled and just evaded the leap of the boundary rider at deep square-leg, Mandeep had pulled off a coup with an 18-ball 45.

Chris Gayle, Kolkata, 2011

The Universe boss announced himself with an innings worthy of the title. After he had found no suitors at the mega IPL auction, Chris Gayle was lazing about in the Caribbean when he got the phone call to come play for Bangalore; an injury to Dirk Nannes proving to be a blessing in disguise. When he walked out to bat, jet-lagged against his only former team, the Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens, RCB had not seen a win in 4 games and were now chasing 172 against a formidable KKR bowling lineup.

But, Chris Gayle was in the mood. An innings studded with 7 sixes and 10 fours, Gayle flayed the Kolkata bowling all around the Eden Gardens, some landing in the top tier, and single-handedly took RCB past the finish line with a century on debut. Those were the first 102 runs of the 3163 he would go on to score for Bangalore, the first of 5 centuries he would score in RCB colors, and the beginning of a special 7-year connection with RCB and a lifetime bond with RCB fans.