Top Three performances: RCB vs KKR

It was a welcome sight for the RCB fans as they opened their IPL account with a thrilling win against the Kolkata Knight Riders. If their opener was a crackling illustration of individual brilliance, today’s tale was of collective supremacy for the Challengers.

The bowlers started the game on a crackling note with a clinical display that left the Knights wobbling woefully against an invasive mix of pace and spin. Akash Deep dealt them an early double-whammy that turned into a full-blown assault as Hasaranga and Harshal Patel took over the reins from there.

If the bowlers were the prelude to madness, a calculated finish from Dinesh Karthik and Harshal Patel that came on the back of a herculean knock from Sherfane Rutherford, David Willey, and Shahbaz Ahmed in the middle was the perfect crescendo.

In a flurry of impressive performances, it was hard to pick the best as almost the entire team of Royal Challengers came together to win this important battle that would help them take a giant leap in winning the war. From Akash Deep’s 3-wicket haul to David Willey’s important 17, it was tough to pick the best performances for the night. Add to it the controlled bout of belligerence from Dinesh Karthik who played the perfect finisher for RCB on the bounce.

As we dabble more into the heroic displays of the night, let us take a quick look at the three best performers for RCB against KKR.

Wanindu Hasaranga – 4/20

The Sri Lankan leg-spinner’s purchase at the auction was vehemently criticized by experts and fans alike. However, it was the Lankan all-rounder who completely changed the complexion of the game. The opening over of Hasaranga saw KKR captain, Shreyas Iyer falling for his pace while Sunil Narine’s resort to the aerial route landed in the safe arms of Akash Deep. Sheldon Jackson returned for a golden duck as the leggie managed to pitch the cherry in the good length area with the ball clattering onto the stumps. His final scalp of the night was Tim Southee as the Kiwi batter was totally baffled by the sudden turn that felt like an approaching catastrophe.

Harshal Patel – 2/11

If the aforementioned figures are a burning ode to his cricketing brilliance, the impact that he created is what makes him worthy of every single penny. He was brought to the attack in the 11th over and he returned Sam Billings to the pavilion in the opening over that didn’t produce a single run. He followed it up with another maiden over that featured four dot balls before he bagged the golden wicket of a dangerous-looking Russell and followed it up with another dot to pen history, becoming the first bowler in IPL antiquity to produce two consecutive wicket-maidens.

Sherfane Rutherford – 28 (40)

The numbers here may be a blatant illusion, especially in the T20 ranks, but had it not been for this crazy knock, RCB could have been staring at a nosedive into pandemonium. He dropped the all-important anchor, weathering the drifting storm confidently as it allowed David Willey and Shahbaz Ahmed to bring out the heavy artillery. He ensured the fact that no matter what happens, he would stay till the end to take care of the chase. Despite falling short of the finishing line, he ensured that RCB had the platform for the finishers to deal the coup de grace that would seal their opening points of the season.