IPL 2018, DD vs RCB: Hits and Misses 

In what was a game between the bottom two teams, Royal Challengers Bangalore won the toss and opted to field first. They were off to an excellent start as Yuzvendra Chahal dismissed both the openers and Delhi Daredevils were reduced to 16/2.

But a superb knock from Rishabh Pant (where he scored 61 off 34 deliveries) helped DD get back on track as the hosts reached the 100-run mark in the 12th over.

But, they lost Pant and skipper Shreyas Iyer in the span of 7 deliveries and it seemed DD would end up with an under-par total. But 17-year-old Abhishek Sharma struck a blistering 17-ball 45 to propel the score to 181.

In reply, RCB lost both their openers (Parthiv Patel and Moeen Ali) early and were reduced to 18/2. However, a fabulous 118-run stand between Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers resurrected the innings and put them on course for a win.

RCB did lose Mandeep Singh and Sarfaraz Khan after that partnership was broken but de Villiers saw the team through with an over to spare.

This win has kept RCB alive in the tournament, only just though.

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#5 Hit: Abhishek Sharma

Abhishek Sharma was brilliant on debut

IPL is a wonderful platform for the youngsters to showcase their talent and prove their worth. Abhishek Sharma certainly did that.

Abhishek Sharma is an Amritsar-born all-rounder who is just 17 years old and was a part of the Under-19 World Cup-winning squad that won earlier this year.

Playing his debut game, the 17-year-old took the cricketing (and IPL) world by storm. The first ball he faced he lofted it over mid-off for an elegant boundary.

But, Abhishek struggled in the next few deliveries and was also dropped by Mohammed Siraj when the former was on 6. And he made full use of the life as he went onto to register a magnificent 19-ball 46.

The two sixes he hit off Tim Southee were elegant and authoritative. It was his knock that gave DD a push at the death and helped them get to 181.

#4 Miss: RCB death bowling

Siraj did pick up the wicket of Shreyas Iyer but was RCB's most expensive bowler

Over the years, death bowling has been a major concern for RCB. Despite putting up big scores, they have failed to defend and win the game. This season started on with a similar worry as the bowlers leaked a lot of runs at the death.

In the last few games, they have been good. Mohammed Siraj and Tim Southee have bowled well at the death and have kept things relatively under control. But in this game, RCB were once again left scratching with their old problem.

Southee and Siraj leaked 56 runs in the last four overs which helped DD get to 181 in their 20 overs. It was debutant Abhishek Sharma who went after the bowling and was finding the boundary at regular intervals.

Southee conceded 29 runs in his last two overs while Siraj gave away 27. The execution wasn’t great as both bowlers missed the mark regularly.

#3 Hit: RCB spinners

Yuzvendra Chahal bowled an excellent first spell and picked up two early wickets

The RCB spinners haven’t quite been up to the mark this season. Yuzvendra Chahal had been a little off-color while Washington Sundar has been a big disappointment and Murugan Ashwin has played only two games.

However, the RCB spinners (Yuzvendra Chahal and Moeen Ali) were excellent in this game.

Chahal who opened the bowling was right on the money from the first over. He cleaned up Prithvi Shaw in the first over with the slider. And then in the next over, he went through Jason Roy and castled him with a superb wrong’un.

He had figures of 2-0-10-2 after his first spell. He did give 14 runs in his 3rd over but he came back well and conceded just 4 runs in his final over to end with figures of 2/28.

Moeen Ali had a decent debut game with the ball against SRH conceding just 19 runs in his 3 overs. However, in this game, he continued his good form as he gave away just 25 runs in his 4 overs and also picked up the key wicket of Rishabh Pant on the last ball of his spell.

Thus, it was a good outing for the RCB spinners as they had combined figures of 3/53 in 8 overs.

#2 Miss: Junior Dala

Junior Dala was quite expensive in his maiden outing

Junior Dala was mighty impressive in the 3-match T20I series against India in February. And an injury to countryman Chris Morris opened up an IPL opportunity for the Titans pacer.

However, he sat out for the most part of the season as DD preferred Liam Plunkett over him. But the latter’s poor show in the last few games and DD’s poor run meant that Dala got an opportunity. However, it was not the best of debuts for the 28-year-old fast bowler.

In his first over of his IPL career, Dala went for 17 runs as struck a couple of fours and a six. He then conceded 17 runs in his next two overs and failed to pick up a wicket.

#1 Hit: RCB’s star batsmen

Both Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers were exceptional in a must-win game

Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers have been carrying the batting line-up over the last two-three years now. And every time they delivered together, RCB more often than not did well.

However, that hasn’t happened this year as both have had their moments of individual flashes of brilliance but they haven’t fired in unison.

But, they finally came to the party together as they shared a magnificent 118-run stand after RCB were slipped to 18/2 in the third over.

It was Virat Kohli who dominated the partnership but it was a good return to form for AB de Villiers who fell for single-digit scores in the last couple of games.

Virat Kohli was once again brilliant in a run chase as he struck a 40-ball 70 putting RCB on course for their 4th win of the season. He dominated the DD bowling attack and hit 7 fours and 3 sixes.

On the other hand, de Villiers started slowly but found his flow once he was set. The South African star hit an unbeaten 72 and batted till the end taking RCB home with 6 balls to spare.