Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and India star batsman Virat Kohli gifted Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and India’s rising middle-order batsman Rinku Singh a bat after his side’s loss to two-time champions at their home arena of M Chinnnaswamy Stadium on Friday. KKR also posted a photo of them on their official X handle and tweeted, “The band we love!: @RCBTweets.” After Virat’s gesture, Rinku posted an Instagram story, thanking Virat for “advice” and the bat.
The band we love to see! ????❤️
????: @RCBTweets pic.twitter.com/LacYaiSVPd
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) March 30, 2024
Virat is an absolute star of the game, having scored 26,733 runs in 522 matches at an average of 54.11, with 80 centuries and 139 fifties. For many, he is the successor to Indian batting great Sachin Tendulkar. The 35-year-old also tops the all-time IPL scoring charts with 7,444 runs in 240 matches with seven centuries and 52 fifties. Although he has won the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup and the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy with Team India, his side is yet to get their hands on an IPL trophy.
Rinku, on the other hand, is a domestic cricket star from Uttar Pradesh, who shot to fame last year by smashing Yash Dayal of Gujarat Titans for five consecutive sixes in the final to complete a thrilling 200-plus chase.
The 2023 IPL season was a breakthrough for him, with 474 runs in 14 matches at an average of 59.25 and a strike rate of almost 150. He scored four half-centuries. This season he has played two matches and has scored 23 and 5* so far.
His IPL statistics are: 753 runs in 33 matches at an average of 35.86 and a strike rate of 142.08, with four fifties. His best score is 67*. He signed with KKR in 2018 after spending time on the sidelines with Punjab Kings (PBKS) in 2017.
Rinku has turned his brilliant IPL form into good performances for India, scoring 356 runs in 15 matches and 11 innings at an average of 89.00 and a strike rate of over 176, with two fifties. His best score is 69*. He also scored 55 runs in two ODIs for India. With strong first-class figures for UP, 3,173 runs in 47 matches at an average of 54.70, with seven tons and 20 fifties, Rinku could be India’s next big all-format star after Virat and Rohit Sharma, alongside the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill.
After KKR won the toss, they opted to field. After losing skipper Faf early, Virat Kohli had a 65-run partnership with Cameron Green (33 in 21 balls, with four boundaries and two sixes) and a 42-run stand with Glenn Maxwell (28 in 19 balls, with three fours and a six). Virat hit an unbeaten one in 59 balls, with four boundaries and four sixes to take RCB to 182/6 along with Dinesh Karthik (20* in eight balls, with three sixes) in their 20 overs.
Andre Russell (2/29) and Harshit Rana (2/39) were the choice of bowlers for KKR.
In the run chase, Phil Salt (30 in 20 balls, with two fours and two sixes) and Sunil Narine (47 in 22 balls, with two fours and five sixes) got KKR off to a fine start with a quick stand-in from 86 runs. 39 balls. After Vyshak and Mayank Dagar (1/23 each) dismissed the openers, Venkatesh Iyer (50* in 30 balls, with three fours and four sixes) and skipper Shreyas Iyer (39 in 24 balls, with two fours and two sixes) led the way. KKR to a seven-wicket win with 19 balls to go.
Sunil won ‘Player of the Match’ in his 500th match for his knock of 47 and one wicket.
RCB are sixth in the points table with one win and two losses. They only have two points. KKR are second with two wins in two matches, with four points.
(This story has not been edited by WhatsNew2Day staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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