IPL 2024: What Happened When Virat Kohli-Famed RCB Met KKR?

Kohli celebrating a shot off Narine's bowling (AP Photo)Kohli celebrating a shot off Narine's bowling (AP Photo)

It's Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) versus Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at Eden Gardens on Sunday. Ever since Brendon McCullum's unforgettable 158 not out helped KKR secure a comfortable victory over RCB in the first-ever IPL match, encounters between these two teams have consistently provided thrilling drama.

In the last match between Kolkata and Bengaluru at Chinnaswamy Stadium this season, RCB suffered a crushing defeat on their home turf. 

Kolkata Knight Riders, led by their mentor Gautam Gambhir, arrived in Bengaluru with a challenge to reignite the rivalry, and they emerged victorious in spectacular fashion.


KKR dominance over RCB

KKR has maintained a winning streak against RCB in their recent IPL encounters, triumphing in their last three meetings. In their most recent clash, KKR secured a convincing seven-wicket victory over RCB with 19 balls to spare while chasing a target of 183 runs.

KKR thoroughly outplayed RCB, giving them no breathing space. Despite Virat Kohli's gritty 83 off 59 balls, his innings drew criticism for its slow tempo, particularly given the batting paradise of Chinnaswamy Stadium. Dinesh Karthik's late flourish saved RCB, taking them to a total of 180+ runs.

In return batting, KKR came out strong right from the start against RCB. Narine and Salt attacked RCB's bowlers from the beginning, forming an impressive 86-run opening partnership in just 6.3 overs. 

Narine scored 47 runs off 22 balls, while Salt made 30 runs off 20 balls. After the openers were dismissed, Venkatesh Iyer and Shreyas Iyer comfortably finished the chase for KKR.

At the Eden Gardens, known for its batting-friendly conditions, RCB's bowlers will face the challenge of containing the in-form KKR batters, particularly Narine, who showcased his game class with a century against RR.