IPL 2023 RCB vs KKR: RCB Succumbs to an Immaculate spin attack led by Varun Chakravarthy as KKR thumps the visitors by 81 runs

IPL 2023 RCB vs KKR: Kolkata spun out Bangalore to register a fantastic win at home as they beat RCB by a massive 81 runs and it’s their spin trio of Varun, Narine and debutant Suyash who shared nine wickets among themselves with Varun picking a four-wicket haul and Suyash taking three.

A brilliant show from Shardul Thakur who blazed away with the joint-highest half-century to pull Kolkata from the doldrums and help the team post a daunting total on board. It was then the spinners who took charge as a meltdown saw RCB getting bowled out cheaply at the Eden Gardens. It’s a win to remember for new skipper Nitish Rana.

IPL 2023 RCB vs KKR: The shift of momentum in each inning made the perfect win possible

RCB had two different bowlers picking up two wickets in two balls. David Willey even converted that over into a maiden. KKR were 89 for 5 and their underwhelming top six was getting all kinds of unwanted attention.

Then out walked Shardul Thakur. He was nearly bowled off Karn Sharma’s hat-trick ball. And having gotten that piece of luck, he just went berserk, scoring 68 in just 29 balls to launch an eye-watering assault of the RCB bowlers.

Faf du Plessis’ side have been very poor at the death. Virat Kohli noted that in their last game as well, but that one they won. This one, they haven’t.

KKR started their defence nervously, leaking boundaries to RCB’s big name openers. Then on came Sunil Narine and everything changed.

Varun Charkravarthy found his old bite again, playing on a pitch that suits him to a T. He is best when the ball skids through off the pitch – not when its slow and turning. That’s Eden and like he predicted it’s become his happy place.

Then there was Suyash Sharma, a 19-year old playing his very first game of professional cricket, finished with 3 for 30 himself.

Varun Chakravarty bowls a perfect show-stopper

Varun Chakaravarthy took a stunning catch off his own bowling to Akash Deep (17), the last wicket of RCB innings. Varun finished with a four-for (4/15) to help KKR bowl out RCB for 123 in the 18th over. KKR returned home with a commanding win, their first of the new season.

Varun Chakaravarthy scalped four wickets while debutant Suyash Sharma and Sunil Narine took three and two wickets respectively.

An overview of KKR spinners
Varun Chakravarty 3.4-0-15-4; 13 dots out of 24 balls

Sunil Narine 4-0-16-2; 12 dots in 24 balls

Suyash Sharma 4-0-30-3; 11 dots in 24 balls
(in his very first game of professional cricket).

A Dream IPL Debut for 19-year-old Suyash Sharma

Not many had heard of Suyash Sharma until the leg-spinner made his debut in the Indian Premier League for Kolkata Knight Riders and claimed three wickets, paving the way for his team’s 81-run win against Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Before his first IPL rodeo, the youngster had only featured in age-group tournaments for and in Delhi, but coming in as an Impact Player, he teamed up with Varun Chakravarthy and spun a web around the RCB batters at the Eden Gardens on Thursday.

Suyash Sharma took three wickets vs RCB. Two of those came in the span of five deliveries when he took out Anuj Rawat and Dinesh Karthik in the 13th over. He removed Karn Sharma in the 15th over for his third scalp of the night. In his four overs, he conceded 30 runs.

Thnak you for reading.