IPL 2018, KXIP vs RCB: 4 Unnoticed things from the game

Hosts Kings XI Punjab locked horns against the Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Holkar Stadium in Indore. RCB skipper Kohli won the important toss and without any hesitation opted to chase on a small ground.

The Punjab openers gave the hosts a wonderful start and RCB were found wanting as they put down a couple of catches. Kohli gave Umesh Yadav an extra over upfront and what transpired thereafter was simply outstanding.

The Vidarbha express dismissed KL Rahul and Gayle in the space of three balls. Once both openers fell, Punjab committed harakiri as wickets kept tumbling and eventually they were bundled out for a paltry 88 inside 16 overs.

Chasing a meagre 89, Kohli decided to open the innings as NRR was on his mind. He and Parthiv began positively and soon the boundaries began to flow. Parthiv with his pick up shots delighted the crowd while Kohli's crisp drives brought out the loud cheers. Both openers remained unscathed as RCB romped home inside 9 overs.

Let's take a look at some of the things which you may have unnoticed.

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#1 Both KXIP openers get a reprieve

On a good batting strip and against an in-form batting pair of Gayle and KL Rahul, RCB knew they had their task cut out. Bangalore started well and gave away just seven runs in the first two overs but the Punjab openers quickly found their straps and the runs began to flow.

What was interesting to see was RCB's below-par fielding. In Yadav's first over, he found the edge of Gayle but Parthiv couldn't hold on as the tall Jamaican got a reprieve. Rahul too got a lifeline as De Villiers put down a half chance. Both drops did not prove costly as Gayle and Rahul fell in the fifth over in the space of three balls.

#2 All seam attack by RCB in the power play overs

Kohli won the toss and put the hosts into bat. The Punjab openers were in form and RCB were aware of that. Gayle and Rahul gave Punjab a solid start and raced to 36 inside 5 overs. Kohli could have turned to spin but he persisted with his seam bowlers and that worked brilliantly for the visitors.

Umesh Yadav bounced out Rahul and followed it up with a similar delivery to Gayle, who found the fielder in the deep. Siraj bowled the sixth and final over of the powerplay and picked up Nair’s wicket to dent Punjab's innings even further. At the end of the powerplay overs, Punjab's score read 47 for 3 as RCB came back strongly.

#3 Deja Vu for Umesh Yadav against KXIP

How often do you see a bowler end up with identical figures against the same opposition? Not very often. RCB's seam bowler, Umesh Yadav ended up with identical figures of 3 for 23 off his 4 overs against Kings XI Punjab on both occasions.

Earlier in the tournament, Umesh bagged the wickets of Mayank, Finch and Yuvraj as his 3 for 23 dismantled Punjab for 155 at the Chinnaswamy which RCB chased down. Come 14th May and Umesh delivered the same punch as he finished with 3 for 23 again to help his side bundle out Punjab for just 88 which again RCB chased it down. Deja Vu for Umesh!

#4 KXIP record their joint lowest score against RCB

In a must-win game for both teams, as fans waited for a closely contested match, what followed was just one-way traffic. After a good start, KXIP slipped from 36 for no loss to 88 all-out. It was their joint lowest against RCB and second joint lowest in the IPL.

In 2015, while chasing a massive 227, Punjab was bundled out for 88 with Starc and Aravind the wrecker-in-chiefs with 4 wickets apiece. This time around, while batting first KXIP were skittled out for 88 as RCB romped home to their third 10-wicket win in the IPL which happens to be the most by any side.