RCB vs KKR: Hits and Flops as Siraj shines in Kolkata slaughter
Not the likeliest of the matches for the Kolkata Knight Riders where they, even without getting all out, could only make 84 runs off their 20 overs. But on the same wicket, their opponents Royal Challengers Bangalore scored those runs in just 13.3 overs with eight wickets in hand.
Mohammed Siraj was the breakthrough star of the Bengaluru team in this match, picking up three crucial wickets. But it wasn’t Siraj alone as Chris Morris and spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Washington Sundar too played their part brilliantly.
For Knight Riders, there was no one apart from their captain Eoin Morgan at the start and fast bowler Lockie Ferguson at the end, who provided some resistance to the scathing attack from the red and gold.
On that note, let’s have a look at the Hits and Flops from the game.
Hits
#1 Mohammed Siraj
Mohammed Siraj was given the new ball on a pitch that was as green as it gets in limited-overs cricket. The opportunity was grabbed Siraj with both hands as he not only took wickets with some brilliant display of swing bowling but also made history in the IPL by bowling two maiden overs in a row, becoming the only bowler in the 13-year-old league to have ever done such a thing. He got the wickets of opener Rahul Tripathi, getting him caught behind the stumps, while it took an amazing in swinger to castle Nitish Rana, the two wickets coming off consecutive deliveries.
By the end of the first innings, his figures were 4-2-8-3, a dream for many bowlers practicing the trade in the entire world. He was rightfully adjudged Man of the Match.
#2 Chris Morris
Morris could not pick up any wicket but that does not rule out the fact that he was just brilliant in his spell. It wouldn't be unfair to say that the credit for Siraj's wickets must be given to Morris too as with his brilliant bowling was able to put pressure on the batsmen, the advantage of which was taken by Siraj and his swing as in frustration, the batsmen targeted him and thus gave away the wickets. Morris finished the game with figures of 0-16 in his four overs.
#3 Yuzvendra Chahal
The fast bowlers were getting assistance no doubt. But for a spinner to get the kind of purchase that Chahal and Washington Sundar were getting on the same wicket was something unusual. Just as a partnership was developing between current and former captains in the form of Eoin Morgan and Dinesh Karthik, Chahal with his deadly googly, got rid of Karthik.
In the match, the leggie got two wickets and gave away just 15 runs from his four overs.
Flops
#1 Shubman Gill
Gill who had a brilliant start to this year’s IPL seems to be throwing it away as has been done by many before him. While most of the batsmen got out to some brilliant unplayable deliveries, what Gill got out to was a shot to bail himself out, which instead plundered him further. It is the reason, why he is on this list. His scores in the last three games have been 1, 36, and 23, but in all these innings, his strike rate has been dismal.
But Gill should realise that he is in the team, not for his strike rate, but for his ability to anchor the innings.
#2 Dinesh Karthik
Karthik, having played 14 balls already and scored just four runs off it, he got out to a spinner, something unusual for a subcontinental batsman. He has made it a habit this IPL to get out to legspinners, who have dismissed him five times in seven innings. It was also the breaking up of that partnership that opened the sluice gates for the KKR batting line up and they surrendered without putting up a fight.
The Knight Riders would now be playing their 11th game against Delhi Capitals on October 24 in a must-win game, while RCB will take on Chennai Super Kings which could be a dangerous proposition as the yellow brigade is already out of the tournament and hence could spoil the parties of the rest of the teams.
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