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Kolkata orchestrates a stunning comeback, dismissing a star-studded RCB batting line-up for a mere 49 runs
The Eden Gardens witnessed a spectacle unlike any other on April 23rd, 2017. A night that began with promise for Royal Challengers Bangalore, boasting a batting line-up that sent shivers down the spines of bowlers, ended in a humiliating collapse. This is the story of how a modest total by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) was not only defended but transformed into a crushing 82-run victory.
Chasing a target of 132 runs might seem like a walk in the park for any team, let alone one with the firepower of RCB. Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli, and AB de Villiers—these names inspired fear in bowlers across the league. However, on this night, the script went awry in spectacular fashion.
Earlier, KKR themselves had a shaky start, getting bundled out for a meagre 131 runs. Sunil Narine, the enigmatic all-rounder, tried his best to single-handedly lift his team's spirits. His 17-ball blitz of 34 runs kicked off the innings, launching boundaries with disdain and reminding everyone of his sheer power. But a middle-order collapse saw wickets fall in clusters, leaving KKR with a score that looked far from defendable.
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Suryakumar Yadav and Manish Pandey celebrating a RCB’s dismissal
Despite their underwhelming total, KKR skipper Gautam Gambhir displayed nerves of steel. Understanding the threat RCB posed, he opted for an aggressive bowling strategy, a bold move considering the small boundaries of the Eden Gardens. Raw pace became the name of the game, with Nathan Coulter-Nile leading the charge.
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Coulter-Nile dismissed Kohli
The drama began with a scripting error for RCB. The usually prolific Virat Kohli, the heart and soul of their batting line-up, was dismissed for a golden duck. This early setback sent shockwaves through the RCB camp and set the tone for the carnage to follow. Coulter-Nile continued his rampage, dismissing AB de Villiers and Kedar Jadhav in quick succession, leaving RCB reeling at 18/3.
RCB, with their batting depth, might have banked on their spinners, Yuzvendra Chahal and Samuel Badree, to bail them out. They had successfully restricted KKR's batsmen earlier. However, Gambhir had other plans. He held back his spinners, opting for the relentless pace attack of Coulter-Nile, Chris Woakes, and Colin de Grandhomme. This was a gamble, but Gambhir knew his bowlers were on fire, and their pace would expose the RCB batsmen's vulnerabilities against swing and seam.
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Chris Woakes too had a wonderful night on the field
Chris Woakes, brought into the attack, showcased exceptional control. He exploited the early swing on offer and denied Gayle any room to maneuver. The Universe Boss, known for his brutal strokeplay, was forced to curb his natural instincts.
The pressure mounted with each dot ball, and eventually Gayle succumbed, caught at wide mid-off, attempting a big shot against the bowling he clearly wasn't comfortable facing. This dismissal effectively extinguished any remaining hope for the RCB.
KKR vs RCB 49 run all out#IPL #viralreels #foryou #viralpost #cricket#IPLDraft #KKRvsRCB #unfreezmypage #viralreelsfb #IPL2024#viratkholi_we_stand_with_you_challenge pic.twitter.com/aQenp8LQjr
— iamahmedu (@itsmeahmed155) March 28, 2024
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The remaining RCB batsmen lacked the composure to counter the KKR onslaught. The psychological blow of losing their star players early was compounded by the relentless pace of the of the attack.
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de Grandhome took three wickets along with the other two pacers
Wickets fell like dominoes, and soon RCB was bundled out for a mere 49 runs, the lowest score in IPL history. This night belonged to the bowlers, with Coulter-Nile, Woakes, and de Grandhomme claiming three wickets apiece.
