The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) continued their dominance at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, defeating the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by a comfortable margin and propelling themselves to the second spot in the IPL 2024 Points Table. This victory marks another chapter in KKR’s unbeaten run at this iconic venue, a streak stretching back to 2015.
RCB Posts Decent Total Despite Spin Woes
Opting to bat first after winning the toss, RCB managed a respectable score of 182/6 on a wicket that appeared to favour slower bowlers. Virat Kohli once again led the charge for the hosts with a well-paced 83. He began aggressively in the powerplay, consolidated during the middle overs, and accelerated again towards the death. While Faf du Plessis departed early, contributions from Cameron Green, Glenn Maxwell, and a late cameo from Dinesh Karthik (20* off 8) provided crucial support to Kohli’s anchoring knock.
However, RCB’s scoring rate dipped significantly after the powerplay, struggling against the guile of the KKR spinners. The likes of Sunil Narine and Harshit Rana utilized their cutters effectively, restricting the flow of boundaries and creating pressure on the batsmen. Despite fielding lapses that saw dropped catches for Maxwell and Mitchell Starc proving expensive, KKR managed to contain RCB to a total that could be chased on a turning track.
Narine and Salt Blitz Takes the Game Away from RCB
Chasing a modest target, KKR openers Sunil Narine and Phil Salt tore into the RCB bowling attack from the outset. The duo adopted an aggressive approach, amassing a dominant 85-run partnership within the powerplay overs. Narine fell three runs short of his fifty (47 off 22 balls), while Salt continued the onslaught with a brisk 30 off 20 deliveries. Their explosive batting display effectively put the game out of RCB’s reach.
Venkatesh Iyer walked out to the crease with the foundation firmly laid by the openers. He continued the momentum, registering a quickfire fifty (50 off 30 balls) to completely shut the door on any potential RCB fightback. With the chase completed comfortably, KKR’s bowling attack, despite some early struggles, ensured RCB never really threatened to stage a comeback.
Shifting Gears in the Points Table
This emphatic victory by KKR has significantly impacted the IPL 2024 Points Table. With two wins from two matches, KKR has climbed two spots to occupy the second position with a net run rate of 1.047.
Meanwhile, RCB remains in the sixth position despite the setback, highlighting the competitive nature of the tournament at this early stage. The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) currently hold the top spot with a perfect record and the best net run rate in the league.
IPL 2024 Points Table: Updated After RCB vs KKR Match 10
| Rank | Team | Matches | Wins | Losses | Points | NRR |
| 1 | Chennai Super Kings | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | +1.979 |
| 2 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | +1.047 |
| 3 | Rajasthan Royals | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | +0.800 |
| 4 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +0.675 |
| 5 | Punjab Kings | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | +0.025 |
| 6 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -0.711 |
| 7 | Gujarat Titans | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1.425 |
| 8 | Delhi Capitals | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -0.528 |
| 9 | Mumbai Indians | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -0.925 |
| 10 | Lucknow Super Giants | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -1.000 |
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