IPL 2018: KKR vs RCB: 5 talking points

IPL 2018 is up and running with the first weekend done and dusted, and the fans have been feasted to ample entertainment in the first three matches of the tournament thus far.

The opener between defending Champions Mumbai Indians and, the returning Chennai Super Kings turned out to be a cliffhanger, while KL Rahul's 16-ball 51 was the highlight of the first of Sunday's doubleheader between Delhi Daredevils and Kings XI Punjab.

The second match on Sunday saw Kolkata Knight Riders take on Royal Challengers Bangalore, at Eden Gardens, and it was the hosts who triumphed as they beat Virat Kohli's side by four wickets to get their tournament off to the perfect start.

Here are the 5 major talking points from the match.

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#5 DRS comes to De Villiers' rescue

One of the major factors that makes IPL 2018 different from the previous editions, is the usage of the DRS system. The BCCI finally gave the go-ahead to the modern technology going into the second decade of the IPL.

The kind of impact this decision would have was amply certified in today's match when, the DRS came to AB de Villiers' rescue after he was adjudged, caught behind off Mitchell Johnson's bowling, while he was batting on 23.

De Villiers referred the call right away, and replays proved that the ball had knicked the South African's right pad and not the bat on the way to Dinesh Karthik's gloves.

With the impact of the ball outside the off-stump, the LBW call was also out of the question and thus, De Villiers continued his innings adding another 21 runs before he was dismissed by Nitish Rana for 44.

#4 Dinesh Karthik's IPL captaincy debut

Dinesh Karthik got off to a winning start on his captaincy debut with KKR

With Gautam Gambhir moving back to Delhi Daredevils after seven successful seasons with KKR, the Kolkata-based franchise roped in Dinesh Karthik into their side at the 2018 IPL auctions.

The wicketkeeper-batsman was also made the captain of the franchise - a decision that was met with mixed responses from the cricket fanatics.

The match against RCB was Karthik's first game as KKR skipper and the 32-year-old had the perfect start as he led his side to a winning start in IPL 2018.

Karthik used as many as seven bowlers to try and arrest the RCB scoring, and his decision to throw the ball to Nitish Rana in the 15th over, proved to be a masterstroke, as he got rid of AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli off successive deliveries, thereby turning the course of the match.

Karthik would be hoping to make better use of his pace bowlers next time around, especially bringing in someone like Mitchell Johnson into the attack much earlier. The way he rotated the bowlers also meant that Andre Russell only bowled two overs, despite conceding just 10 runs.

Karthik also played his part with the bat playing composed innings and remained unbeaten on 35 off 29 balls as he calmly led his side to victory despite the loss of wickets towards the end.

#3 Same old RCB

Bowling continues to be the worry for RCB

Royal Challengers Bangalore have always banked on their batting strength in the IPL, and it is not a strategy that has worked out well on the whole for the Virat Kohli-led side, as they still await their maiden IPL triumph.

Splashing the cash on the big-hitting batsmen does leave short of strength in the bowling department, and if today's result is anything to go by, the trend is only set to continue.

Despite scoring a competitive total of 176, RCB were never really in the game after Sunil Narine got KKR off to a flying start with his aggressive batting.

Even after Narine's dismissal, RCB never looked like being able to claw their way back into the contest, as KKR were well in control of the run-chase, pacing their innings superbly, leaving Kohli helpless as skipper.

Yet, Kohli needs to take some of the blame as the way he handled the bowlers at his disposal was questionable. Yuuzvendra Chahal is perhaps RCB's best bowler, but after being used in the first over itself, he was held back and only brought back with the match already slipping away from RCB's grasp.

None of the RCB bowlers, apart from former KKR pacer Umesh Yadav, had a good day out in the middle on Sunday and it is something the RCB management will have to sort out soon to prevent yet another disappointing season for the franchise.

#2 Sunil Narine's pinch-hitter role

Narine brought up his fifty off just 18 balls

The mystery spinner from West Indies, Sunil Narine, headed into IPL 2018 on the back of having to rework his bowling action yet again, after the latest instance of the legality of his action being thrown into question.

Not only did he do a fantastic job with the ball, conceding just 30 runs from his 4 overs, while also picking up the key wicket of Brendon McCullum, Narine proved the perfect pinch-hitter for KKR just like he did so many times during IPL 2017.

He scored 224 runs during the tenth edition of the IPL, at a strike rate of 172.30, with the highlight being his 17-ball 54 against the RCB, at Bengaluru, which helped his side chase down a target of 159 with nearly 5 overs to spare.

RCB was at the receiving end yet again on Sunday as Narine, having lost out his fastest IPL fifty record to KL Rahul earlier in the day, nearly reclaimed the record as he hammered the opposition to all parts of the ground.

He reached his fifty off just 18 balls, before being bowled by former KKR teammate Umesh Yadav, and his knock proved crucial in KKR's victory.

The leadership may have changed at KKR but there is unlikely to be any change in where Narine bats for the rest of the IPL as well.

#1 Nitish Rana proves his worth

Rana was priced away from Mumbai Indians by KKR after an impressive outing in IPL 2017

Nitish Rana had a stellar IPL 2017, with Mumbai Indians, and KKR splashed the cash for the 24-year-old, getting the Delhi batsman for Rs 3.4 crore, after an intense bidding war with his former side and Rajasthan Royals, saw him price increase way above his base price of Rs 20 lakh.

Rana proved his worth right away for his new side, playing a crucial role in their victory over RCB on Sunday with a brilliant all-around performance.

Dinesh Karthik's decision to throw the ball to Rana in the 15th over of the RCB innings, with Kohli and De Villiers in full flow was questionable, but it turned out to be a masterstroke as he got rid of both batsmen of successive deliveries to derail the RCB innings.

Rana chipped in with the bat as well, scoring 34 runs off 25 balls to help his side achieve the target of 177 and thereby get the tournament off to a winning start for KKR in IPL 2018.