Having been part of the first match of an IPL season on four occasions in IPL 2008, 2017, 2019 and 2021, RCB registered their first victory in a season opener against Mumbai Indians recently. IPL 2008 Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kolkata Knight Riders In the inaugural edition of the IPL in 2008, Royal Challengers Bangalore came up against Kolkata Knight Riders. It is a match well documented due to the blitz from Brendon McCullum who remained unbeaten on 158 off 73 balls at a strike rate of 216.44 to set the IPL ball rolling. Kolkata Knight Riders posted 222 runs for the loss of just 3 wickets from their 20 overs. Royal Challengers Bangalore were bowled out for 82 in reply with only one batsman managing a score in double digits. Kolkata Knight Riders won the match by 140 runs. IPL 2017 Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Royal Challengers Bangalore Royal Challengers Bangalore came up against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the opening match of IPL 2017. Hyderabad, on the back of brilliant knocks from ShikharDhawan, Moises Henriques and Yuvraj Singh, scored 207 for four from their 20 overs. Royal Challengers Bangalore in reply tried to compete but were bowled out for 172. Chris Gayle, with 32 off 21 balls, was their top scorer. IPL 2019 Chennai Super Kings vs Royal Challengers Bangalore In 2019, Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore played the first match of the IPL. RCB were bowled out for just 70 in the match with only Parthiv Patel managing any score of note with 29 off 35 deliveries. Chennai Super Kings chased down the total quite comfortably to win by 7 wickets as Bangalore suffered another defeat in an IPL season opener. IPL 2021 Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bangalore Lady luck finally smiled at Royal Challengers Bangalore in the season opener of 2021 when they succeeded in beating Mumbai Indians by two wickets on the final ball of the match in what turned out to be a thriller. Mumbai Indians batted first and scored 159 on the back of a 35-ball 49 from Chris Lynn. Royal Challengers Bangalore then stumbled after being well placed at 98 for two in the 13th over but were successful in just about pulling it back with AB de Villiers starring with a 27-ball 48. Cheers to new beginnings.
