Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have started the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 with a bang as after their first victory over Mumbai Indians (MI) in the opener, they went on to defeat Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by 6 runs at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

With this victory, RCB go atop the points table. Harshal Patel is given the purple cap for his 7 wickets in two matches.

RCB managed only 149 for eight after being asked to bat first. In reply, SRH were stopped at 143 for nine. The game changed in RCB’s favour after Shahbaz Ahmed’s over.

Sunrisers Hyderabad skipper David Warner led from the front with a 37-ball 54 and was helped by Manish Pandey who contributed 38. The two added 83 runs for the second wicket, but the left-arm spinner snared three wickets – Jonny Bairstow, Manish Pandey and Abdul Samad – to change the complexion of the game.

For RCB, Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell top-scored with 59 off 41 balls, followed by Virat Kohli’s 33.

The SRH bowlers produced a disciplined performance and Rashid Khan returned with impressive figures of 2/18. However, the most successful bowler was Jason Holder who picked up 3/30.

RCB captain Kohli made 33 off 29 balls but his opening partner Devdutt Padikkal, could not do much after his return to the team after recovering from COVID-19.

More to follow…