RCB chase 193 as Kohli’s 105 sinks KKR

Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 6 wickets with five balls to spare in Match 57 of the Indian Premier League, powered by a superb Virat Kohli 105 off 60 balls. In a chase of 193, Kohli anchored and accelerated in equal measure, turning a high-pressure contest into another significant RCB win in their late-season push.

KKR’s 192/4 was a strong T20 total, built on substance rather than a single burst. Ajinkya Rahane struck 19 off 13 and Finn Allen blasted 18 off 8 to give them early momentum, but the innings was really shaped by Angkrish Raghuvanshi’s 71 off 46 and Rinku Singh’s unbeaten 49 off 29. Cameron Green added 32 off 24 in between, and those middle-overs contributions ensured KKR never lost their scoring rate for long.

Raghuvanshi was especially important. He mixed placement with clean boundary-hitting, striking seven fours and three sixes, and his stand through the middle overs gave KKR the platform to target the finish. Rinku then supplied the late thrust, finishing with three fours and two sixes in a hand that lifted KKR close to 200.

For RCB, the wicket-taking figures were spread rather than dominant. Bhuvneshwar Kumar returned 1/34 from his four overs, Josh Hazlewood took 1/35, and Rasikh Salam also claimed 1/35. Krunal Pandya went wicketless but kept KKR from completely breaking loose for long stretches, while Jacob Duffy’s 0/48 was the most expensive spell in the innings.

Even so, 193 was only half the story. RCB’s chase was defined by Kohli’s command. Jacob Bethell made 15 off 12 before the innings settled around Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal, whose 39 off 27 proved a crucial supporting hand. Padikkal found seven fours and helped keep the required rate under control while Kohli moved seamlessly from accumulation to attack.

That partnership was the chase’s stabilising force. KKR did create openings through Kartik Tyagi, who was the standout bowler with 3/32 from four overs, and Sunil Narine chipped in with 1/31. But neither side of those wickets could KKR fully dislodge Kohli’s grip on the match. Rajat Patidar added 11 off 8, Tim David fell for 2, and Jitesh Sharma’s 8 off 5 helped finish the job, but the chase always revolved around Kohli’s tempo and clarity.

Kohli’s hundred came at a strike rate of 175.00 and included 11 fours and three sixes, a knock that blended control with authority. On a night when RCB needed one batter to go deep, he did exactly that. KKR’s attack had little margin for error once Vaibhav Arora went for 48 in four overs and Anukul Roy conceded 36 in three. Cameron Green’s two overs also disappeared for 22, leaving Tyagi to carry too much of the defensive load.

This result extends RCB’s strong run in the tournament. They had already won Match 54 by 2 wickets with no balls to spare, and this was another chase under pressure delivered successfully. Earlier in the season, RCB had also beaten opponents in Matches 1, 11, 20, 23, 34 and 39, and this latest victory keeps their momentum intact entering the closing stretch of the league phase.

For KKR, it was a frustrating reversal after wins in Matches 45 and 51, and after their dramatic Super Over success in Match 38. They posted enough runs to expect a serious defence, but Kohli’s innings overrode an otherwise competitive all-round batting effort led by Raghuvanshi and Rinku.

With Match 57 now complete, the IPL league phase moves on quickly. Next up is Punjab Kings vs Mumbai Indians on Thursday, May 14, before KKR return to face Gujarat Titans on Saturday, May 16. RCB’s next fixture is against Punjab Kings on Sunday, May 17, followed by Sunrisers Hyderabad on Friday, May 22.

Key performers

Virat Kohli (RCB): 105 off 60 balls, 11 fours, 3 sixes

Angkrish Raghuvanshi (KKR): 71 off 46 balls, 7 fours, 3 sixes

Rinku Singh (KKR): 49 off 29 balls, 3 fours, 2 sixes

Devdutt Padikkal (RCB): 39 off 27 balls, 7 fours

Kartik Tyagi (KKR): 3/32 in 4 overs

NerdSports Stat: Virat Kohli scored 54.12% of RCB’s runs in the chase, and his 105 was the only fifty-plus score of the innings despite RCB overhauling 192 with five balls still unused.

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