Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli and teammate Dan Christian shared a good laugh after AB de Villiers pulled off a brilliant boundary off Jasprit Bumrah in the 19th over of what has been a brilliant start to IPL 2021. Bangalore had the last laugh starting the tournament on the winning ways snatching the victory by two wickets.
Chasing a moderate total of 160 runs, Bangalore got off to a steady start with Virat Kohli leading the charge alongside Washington Sundar. While Kohli looked in his strides from the first ball, Sundar looked in discomfort before getting out scoring 10 runs off 16 deliveries.
In walked the debutant Rajat Patidar, who failed to make an impact after taking giant strides in the practice games. However, the promotion of all-rounder Glenn Maxwell ahead of AB de Villiers did wonder for the side as the Aussie cricketer broke the six-hitting drought hitting some spectacular shots during his 28-ball 39 runs stay.
Virat Kohli also played a fine knock to keep Bangalore in the hunt but Jasprit Bumrah being Bumrah brought his side back in the fray with a couple of quick wickets in the middle overs. But it was AB de Villiers, who was the difference between both the sides. The Proteas cricketer took on Bumrah in the 19th which swung the game in favour of Kohli & Co. He took 12 runs in that over which included two boundaries to almost seal the tie in favour of his side.
Virat Kohli, Dan Christian in joy after AB de Villiers boundary
Meanwhile, the second boundary from AB de Villiers brought out a hilarious reaction from Virat Kohli and Dan Christian. It was a pretty filthy delivery, back of a length and just outside off, and not the smartest of thinking either with the third man inside the circle. De Villiers bent his body back and upper-cuts the ball and gets it over for a boundary. Kohli was seen already celebrating the four in the dugout with Christian.
Watch the video here:
https://twitter.com/QuickWristSpin/status/1380578239903494146?s=20
Meanwhile, Royal Challengers Bangalore were in a spot of bother after losing AB De Villiers in the last over, but man of the match Harshal Patel took his side home to give Bangalore two crucial points.
Earlier in the day, Mumbai Indians were 86 for 1 in 10 overs and Suryakumar Yadav was looking dangerous. The Royal Challengers managed to squeeze a side like Mumbai for 73 for 8 in the last 10 overs which speaks volumes about their bowling. Harshal Patel stole the show recording his best IPL figures of 5 for 27.