IPL 2018, RCB vs KXIP: 5 talking points

#2 De Villiers keeps his cool during the run-chase

AB de Villiers played a sensible innings to see RCB through in the run chase

Despite AB De Villiers' prolific big-hitting prowess, an accusation that is levelled at the South African international often is that he fails to deliver when his side is chasing a target.

With Brendon McCullum and the chase-master Kohli heading back to the pavilion early on for RCB, the onus was on De Villiers to stand up and deliver, especially after his fellow international De Kock departed for 45 with the target still 69 runs away.

Sarfraz Khan's dismissal of the very next ball meant that the hosts were in real danger of a batting collapse but De Villiers, along with Mandeep Singh, averted that situation with a brilliant partnership.

As the senior batsman, De Villiers took control of the run-chase and reined in his aggressive instinct to keep the scoreboard ticking and ensured that his side got close to the target as much as possible.

With 41 required off the final four overs, De Villiers acted upon the necessity to go for the big shots and delivered, hitting the young Afghan spinner Mujeeb ur Rahman for two sixes that removed any doubt as to in which direction the match was heading.