22:51

Hashish oil worth Rs 225 cr seized in Odisha's Koraput

22:25

Partition a planned conspiracy, say speakers at DU literary seminar

21:40

Officials conduct on-site probe into Andaman helicopter crash

21:30

Two arrested for attempting to run over police with car in Kerala

21:19

7 booked for offering namaaz in Malegaon civic office

20:46

U'khand engineers warn of mass resignations over tweak in appointment criteria

20:30

Textbook row: NCERT probes judgement lapse

20:03

200 judicial officers from J'khand, Odisha to reach Bengal for voter list revision

19:33

Gujarat ATS nabs man wanted in Punjab for smuggling heroin, weapons

19:11

Rupee dips 1 paisa to settle at 90.92 against US dollar

18:44

HC issues notice to Assam CM in PILs over 'hate speech'

18:38

BSE Sensex top losers today

IPL Updates: KKR thrash RCB by 81 runs

Thu, 06 April 2023

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23:11

KKR thrash RCB by 81 runs

RCB 123 all out (17.4 ovs) vs KKR 204-7 | Scorecard

Narine, who has one over in hand, is back into the attack. Willey clips the first ball through midwicket for two runs followed by three dot balls and then takes a single.

Akash swings hard but bottom edges the last ball which goes through the wicketkeeper's legs for a four.

In the next over, Willey slams Suyash back over his head for a four and then taps the third ball into the off-side for a single.

Akash uses his feet to swing the spinner over midwicket for a six before he hits the next down the ground for a single.

Chakravarthy back from the other end. Akash miscues the slog high on the leg side as Chakravarthy runs to his right and takes a superb catch, having to dive at the very end.

RCB are sent packing for 123 in 17.4 overs as KKR win by 81 runs.

Shardul single-handedly turned the contest in KKR's favour with his amazing knock with the bat, while also taking a wicket with the ball.

22:58

RCB 9 down; KKR set for big win

RCB 102-9 (15 ovs) vs KKR 204-7 | Scorecard

Thakur continues as Willey and Karn pick a single each before the former slaps the third ball through the covers for a four.

He slaps the next square on the off-side for two runs and keeps strike with one from the last ball.

Suyash is having a dream debut! Karn misses the sweep and is struck on the pads but the confident shout for leg before wicket is turned down.

Suyash is pretty confident as he convinces his captain Rana to take the review.

There is a clear spike on the UltraEdge and the ball has gone to Rana at slip which means the decision is overturned and Karn is given out caught in the slip.

Third wicket for debutant Suyash as RCB lose their ninth wicket.

Lastman Akash Deep has come out swinging. He miscues the heave first ball for a single and Willey picks one off the next.

Akash slog sweeps the last ball over midwicket for a four to take RCB past the 100-run mark, in the 15th over.

22:49

RCB collapse; KKR set for big win

RCB 86-8 (13 ovs) vs KKR 204-7 | Scorecard

Spinner Suyash bags a wicket on his debut. Rawat top edges the sweep and is caught at short thirdman for 1 to give Suyash his maiden IPL wicket.

A few balls later, Suyash strikes with the wicket of the experienced Karthik, who is caught on the off-side for nine.

Karthik looks to hit the spinner through the off-side but gets it off the thick outside edge with Chakravarthy taking an easy catch on the off-side.

Karthik is dismissed for nine as RCB slip to 86/8 in the 13th over.

Suyash nearly bags another wicket off the last ball as Karn Sharma is beaten off a sharp turning delivery.

22:41

Shardul strikes; RCB lose 6th wicket

RCB 84-6 (12 ovs) vs KKR 204-7 | Scorecard

Chakravarthy will also bowl his third over with KKR continuing to attack. A leg bye off the first ball before Dinesh Karthik slaps the next through the off-side for a single to get off the mark.

Some width from the spinner as Bracwell cuts it past point for a four to bring some cheer in the RCB camp and then takes one.

Karthik sweeps the last ball for another run to take RCB to 69/5 in 10 overs. They need another 136 from 10 overs for victory.

Debutant wrist spinner Suyash Sharma comes into the attack. He was brought in as the Impact Player in place of Venkatesh Iyer.

Mystery spinner Suyash is highly rated and he will relish bowling on this pitch offering some assistance to the spinners.

The first ball is slightly short as Karthik punches it through the covers for a single.

The third ball is a half-tracker as Bracewell rocks back to pull it over midwicket for a six.

Two singles as Suyash gives away nine runs in his first over in the IPL.

KKR's hero with the bat Shardul comes into the attack. He starts with a short ball which Karthik pulls for a four before he picks a single next ball.

It is turning out to be a dream game for Shardul, who strikes in his very first over with the wicket of Bracewell, who is caught at short fine leg for 19.

RCB introduce their Impact Player as Anuj Rawat replaces Mohammed Siraj, who gets off the mark with a single from the last ball.

22:22

Narine, Chakravarthy leave RCB in a mess

RCB 61-5 (9 ovs) vs KKR 204-7 | Scorecard

RCB were well-placed on 42/0 in four overs, but lost 4/14 in the next four overs to find themselves in a real mess in this huge run chase.

Narine continues as Bracewell clips the first ball on the leg side for a single.

Shahbaz misses the sweep off the next ball but even wicketkeeper Gurbaz is beaten to concede four byes.

The wickets keep tumbling for RCB. Shahbaz reverse sweeps Narine straight into the hands of Shardul at deep point to perish for one.

RCB reeling on 61/5 in the ninth over.

Strange to see Dinesh Karthik walking in at No 7 with RCB facing a near-impossible task.

22:15

KKR spinners leave RCB in a mess!

RCB 54-4 (8 ovs) vs KKR 204-7 | Scorecard

KKR's spin duo all over the RCB batters now. Maxwell and Bracewell opting to play with caution as Narine gives away just three singles in his second over.

Varun continues KKR's wicket ways. He strikes with another important wicket, as Maxwell is bowled for 5.

He didn't pick the googly as he looked to hit through the off-side but the ball spun in sharply to crash into the stumps.

This is strange tactics from RCB as Harshal Patel comes in ahead of Dinesh Karthik and Shahbaz Ahamad.

But the gamble fails big time as Harshal last just two balls before he inside edges Chakravarthy back on to his stumps to be bowled for a duck.

Just a single and two wickets in the over for Chakravarthy, who has superb figures of 3/6 in two overs.

22:09

Kohli, du Plessis perish; RCB 2 down

RCB 50-2 (6 ovs) vs KKR 204-7 | Scorecard

Spin from both ends as Varun Chakravarthy comes into the attack, to bowl the sixth over.

He also strikes in his first over, getting the key wicket of RCB captain du Plessis, who is bowled for 23 from 12 balls.

Du Plessis looks to drive the flighted delivery through the off-side but gets the inside edge which crashes into the stumps.

The two openers perish in the space of four deliveries are RCB are reduced to 46/2 in the sixth over.

Glenn Maxwell smashes the fifth delivery through the covers for a four to get off the mark in confident fashion before he nearly drags the last ball back on to his stumps.

RCB are 50/2 in six overs, needing another 155 from 14 overs for victory at an asking rate of 11.

22:01

Kohli out for 21; RCB lose 1st wicket

RCB 45-1 (5 ovs) vs KKR 204-7 | Scorecard

Kohli keen to break free as RCB chase a huge target. He chips down the track to loft Southee back over his head for a four. He uses his feet to clip the pacer through the gap at midwicket for three runs.

After a steady start, RCB are cutting loose. This time du Plessis smashes the length ball off his pads wide of long-on for a six.

Southee makes the mistake of giving width as the RCB captain carves it over the off-side for a four.

The next ball is again on the stumps as du Plessis plays the flick/whip shot over midwicket, timing it to perfection for the second six of the over.

Southee manages a dot off the last ball of the over but still ends up conceding 23 runs from the fourth over, as RCB race to 42 for no loss in four overs.

KKR introduce spinner Sunil Narine into the attack, to bowl the fifth over.

Kohli pushes the first ball on the off-side before he clips the next for a quick single and du Plessis picks another run off the next.

Narine gets the breakthrough for KKR with the wicket of Kohli, who looks to hit the spinner over the leg side but misses the ball completely and is bowled for 21. That was cleverly bowled from Narine as he give it a bit more flight and also got the line right, just outside the off-stump with Kohli missing the flick across the line.

Michael Bracewell promoted to No 3 and the left-hander gets off the mark with a single from the last ball.

21:51

RCB off to a good start vs KKR

RCB 19-0 (3 ovs) vs KKR 204-7 | Scorecard

The experienced pairing of Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis walk out to open the batting for RCB, while Umesh Yadav will bowl the first over.

Kohli off the mark in confident fashion. The first ball is a half-volley on the stumps as Kohli clips it through square leg for a four to get off the mark.

Kohli takes a single off the third ball before du Plessis takes one to get off the mark.

The last ball is short and wide as Kohli slaps it behind point for the second four of the over, to get 10 from the over.

Tim Southee from the other end. Du Plessis throws his bat at a wide delivery but is beaten before he picks a quick run off the next.

Kohli uses his feet but is beaten by the outswinger before he plays and misses a couple of balls later.

Just a single from the last ball as Southee makes a tidy start, giving away just two runs in his first over.

Umesh continues as Kohli mistimes the lofted shot but manages to clear mid-on for two runs and punches the fourth ball into the covers for a single.

Umesh bowls a wide half-volley which du Plessis smashes over the covers for a four and pushes the last ball into the covers.

21:24

Shardul's 29-ball 68 powers KKR to 204

KKR 204-7 (20 ovs) vs RCB | Scorecard

Siraj to bowl the final over. He starts with a wide full toss which Shardul drives over the off-side for a four and gets a single off the next.

Sunil Narine misses the pull to collect a leg bye as Shardul is back on strike.

Shardul swings hard but top edges the slower bouncer and Glenn Maxwell completes an easy catch running to his right at long-on.

Shardul walks back to a standing ovation after a sensational innings of 68 from 29 balls, having hit three sixes and nine fours.

Umesh Yadav wastes no time as he smashes the first ball he faces through the off-side for a four to take KKR past the 200-run mark. He miscues the next but the ball falls safely on the leg side for two runs.

KKR finish on a huge 204/7 in their 20 overs.

What a turnaround courtesy of Shardul, who smashed a career-best score of 68. KKR were struggling on 94/5 in 12 overs before Shardul's counter-attack revived the hosts, as they hit 110 runs from the last eight overs.

21:14

Shardul slams 20-ball fifty to rally KKR

KKR 192-6 (19 ovs) vs RCB | Scorecard

Siraj comes back into the attack, to bowl the 18th over. Rinku misses the clip as the ball strikes his pads and Shardul calls him over for a quick leg bye to retain the strike.

Siraj bowls a wide before Shardul hammers a length ball straight back past the bowler for a four to continue his attack.

Shardul mistimes the intended slog for a single before Rinku scoops the high full toss over the wicketkeeper for a six. To make matters worse, the umpire rules it a no-ball for a high full toss before RCB take the review.

The no-ball call stays as the ball was clearly above the waist level. Rinku can't make most of the free hit, as he swings it across the line but only for a single to deep midwicket.

Shardul swings and misses off the last ball as 15 runs come from the 18th over.

KKR in sight of the 200-run mark, as they reach 175/5 in 18 overs.

Rinku finally breaking free after a scratchy start. Harshal starts off with a yorker as Rinku inside edges it on to his pads and Shardul who backs away a long way before he is sent back is lucky that the bowler misses the direct hit.

Rinku steps down the track and slams the bowler back over his head for a four.

Harshal follows it up with a full toss which Rinku swings over midwicket for a six followed by a wide.

Rinku comes down the track to pull the pacer over the leg side for a six to raise the 100-run stand from 45 balls to turn the innings on it's head.

The duo have rallied KKR from a difficult 89/5 in the 12th over to a commanding 192/6 in the 19th over.

Rinku misses out on his fifty as he is caught behind after a good hand of 46 from 33 balls. He looks to pull the short ball but is beaten by the change of pace, as the ball strikes his gloves and wicketkeeper Karthik takes an easy catch.

21:03

Shardul slams 20-ball fifty to rally KKR

KKR 160-5 (17 ovs) vs RCB | Scorecard

RCB bring back Willey as they look for a breakthrough to check KKR's charge.

No stopping Shardul as he hammers the second ball straight, narrowly missing his partner at the other end, for a boundary past mid-off. He shuffles across and tries to ramp the next ball but is beaten.

He slices the fourth ball over the off-side as he ends up miscuing it but the ball falls safely to get him a single.

Willey bowls a high bouncer which is ruled a wide and Rinku keeps strike with one from the last ball.

Seven runs from the over as Willey finishes with splendid figures of 2/16 from his four overs.

Harshal back into the attack. Rinku takes one off the first ball before Shardul pulls the next over midwicket for a four to race to his maiden IPL fifty from just 20 balls.

Shardul miscues the pull shot next ball as he bags a single and Rinku happy to turn the strike over with another run.

Harshal gifts Shardul a full toss which he hammers through square leg for a four and a mishit full toss falls safely between two fielders on the leg side for two runs.

Courtesy of Shardul's attack, KKR have hit 66 runs from the last five overs to bounce back in fine style.

20:49

Shardul's attack rallies KKR

KKR 140-5 (15 ovs) vs RCB | Scorecard

Off-spinner Bracewell is back into the attack. Shardul continues to bat positively as he hits the Kiwi spinner for back to back sixes. He swings Bracewell with the spin over midwicket for a huge six and then comes down to launch the next over the same region for another maximum, to race the 50-run stand for the sixth wicket from just 50 balls.

Shardul has smashed 42 from 15 balls to rally KKR to 140/5 in 15 overs, with 46 coming from the last three.

20:46

Karn's double strikes cripples KKR

KKR 124-5 (14 ovs) vs RCB | Scorecard

Pacer Akash Deep comes back into the attack. The first ball is on the wrong line as Shardul manages to glance it fine for a four. The next ball is full and wide and this time Shardul smashes it over the off-side for another boundary and then taps the third ball for a quick single.

Rinku pulls a short ball for one before Shardul cuts the short ball over the off-side for another run.

Akash Deep has overstepped to concede his second no-ball and a much-needed free hit for KKR.

Shardul makes most of the free hit delivery, hitting the full delivery off his pads over long-on for a six, to get 19 from the 13th over.

Karn continues as Rinku clips the first ball off his pads for two runs and then takes a single.

Shardul hits the spinner inside out over the covers for a couple followed by a single down to long-off followed by another run.

Shardul continues to counter-attack as he slogs the last ball across the line over midwicket for a four.

20:33

Karn's double strikes cripples KKR

KKR 94-5 (12 ovs) vs RCB | Scorecard

Karn strikes with the key wicket of the well-set Gurbaz after a good innings of 57 from 44 balls. The opener attempts the reverse sweep but ends up hitting it uppishly and Akash Deep takes a good sharp catch at short thirdman.

RCB keep chipping away at the wickets to leave KKR in trouble on 89/4, in the 12th over.

Karn leaves KKR in a big mess with the wicket of the dangerous Andre Russell off the very next ball.

Russell plays a loose shot first ball, lofting the flighted delivery straight to the fielder at long-off to perish for a first-ball duck.

Karn on a hat-trick!

Nearly a hat-trick as Shardul Thakur inside edges the top spinner, going for a forceful shot through the off-side, and gets a boundary fine on the leg side.

20:27

Gurbaz slams fifty to revive KKR

KKR 87-3 (11 ovs) vs RCB | Scorecard

Veteran leg-spinner Karn Sharma comes into the attack. Gurbaz blocks the first ball before he sweeps the next over fine leg for a six to race to his half-century from 38 balls.

Gurbaz taps the fourth ball on the off-side for a single and Rinku turns the strike over with another run.

Gurbaz is beaten off the last ball as KKR reach 79/3 in 10 overs, with Gurbaz on 54 and Rinku on five.

Harshal Patel comes into the attack. He starts with a slower delivery which keeps low as Rinku is beaten trying to hit it through the off-side before he clips the next through the leg side for two runs.

Rinku drives Harshal straight down the ground as Siraj makes a good stop at mid-off to keep it down to a single and Gurbaz gets one off the next.

The last ball is down the leg side as Rinku whips it over short fine leg for a four.

20:18

Gurbaz rallies KKR after early wickets!

KKR 71-3 (9 ovs) vs RCB | Scorecard

Kiwi off-spinner Michael Bracewell comes into the attack. Rana attempts the reverse sweep first ball but misses as the ball goes off the pads or gloves through to wicketkeeper Karthik.

The umpire turns down the appeal for the catch before RCB take the review.

And the replay shows that the ball clearly went off the gloves before Karthik took the catch as KKR suffer another big blow.

KKR in a spot of bother on 47/3 in the seventh over. Rana walks back for one as he suffers his second failure in two matches.

Some sharp turn for Bracewell as new batter Rinku Singh defends the next two balls. He drives the fourth ball down to long-on for a single to get off the mark.

Gurbaz clips the off-spinner with the turn perfectly in the gap through square leg for a couple of runs to take KKR past 50 and pushes the last ball for one.

Left-arm spinner Shahbaz Ahmed comes into the attack. He strikes first ball as Gurbaz misses the sweep and is given out leg before wicket.

He immediately takes the review which saves him as the ball went off the gloves as Gurbaz (30) survives.

Gurbaz takes a single to long-off and Rinku picks one through square leg before the former sweeps the fifth ball for a four.

Gurbaz attacking the spinners as he looks to revive KKR after a few early wickets. This time the Afghanistan right-hander swings Bracewell over midwicket for a six.

Singles from the next two balls before Gurbaz swings the fifth over the leg side for a four and picks one from the last ball.

14 runs from the over as KKR recover to 71/3 in nine overs, with Gurbaz stroking 47 from 36 balls.

20:03

Willey's double strike rattles KKR!

KKR 47-2 (6 ovs) vs RCB | Scorecard

Pacer Akash Deep comes into the attack in place of Siraj. The second ball is short but down the leg side as Gurbaz pulls it over fine leg for a six. To make matters worse, it is ruled a no-ball giving KKR a free hit.

Gurbaz swings hard but can only manage two runs off the free hit delivery to midwicket.

Gurbaz comes down and has a big swing but is a long way away from the stumps. He misses the glance off the next but the ball goes fine off the pads for four leg byes.

Akash Deep bowls high bounce which is ruled a wide before Gurbaz keeps strike with one from the last ball.

Willey gets his third over in the Powerplay. Gurbaz pulls the third ball over midwicket for a four before he takes a single off the next.

Rana taps the fifth ball to point for a single before the last ball comes in sharply and strikes Gurbaz high on the pads.

KKR have lost two early wickets but have maintained a good run rate to reach 47/2 in six overs.

Gurbaz has provided the momentum, hitting 27 from 25 balls. Willey has been the wrecker-in-chief with the new ball, taking 2/9 in three overs.

19:54

Willey's double strike rattles KKR!

KKR 26-2 (4 ovs) vs RCB | Scorecard

Siraj continues as Venkatesh taps the second ball on the leg side for a single. Gurbaz keen to break free as he throws his bat at a wide delivery, slashing it square on the off-side for a four.

The next ball jags in sharply as the right-hander is beaten all ends up. Infact, the ball bounces over the stumps and wicketkeeper Karthik is also unable to react in time to the late swing, with the ball going through for four byes.

Gurbaz takes a couple of steps down before he steers a wide delivery past short thirdman for a four.

An angry Siraj responds with a quick bouncer which goes high over the batter is called a wide.

14 runs from Siraj's second over as KKR race to 26 for no loss in three overs.

Willey gets the first breakthrough for RCB as he bowls Venkatesh with a ripper! The length ball swings in sharply as Venkatesh is bowled through the gate for three.

Willey strikes again with his next ball. Mandeep Singh is bowled for a first ball duck! The full delivery swings away late with Mandeep playing inside the line and is beaten all ends up.

KKR in early trouble on 26/2 in the fourth over!

Willey on a hat-trick! Nitish Rana carefully blocks the first ball he faces and leaves the next followed by another block.

A double wicket-maiden for Willey, who has excellent figures of 2-1-3-2.

19:40

KKR off to a quiet start vs RCB

KKR 12-0 (2 ovs) vs RCB | Scorecard

Gurbaz and Venkatesh are the two openers for KKR, while Mohammed Siraj will open the bowling for the visitors.

He starts with a cracking delivery, extra bounce and away movement as Gurbaz is beaten by a long way. The next ball stays quite low as Gurbaz leaves before Siraj bowls a horror delivery which goes a big way down the leg side, giving wicketkeeper Karthik no chance for five wides.

Gurbaz leaves another one away from the stumps before he pushes the fourth ball towards point.

Some width from Siraj as Gurbaz cuts it past point for a four to get off the mark, with David Willey letting it go through.

An interesting first over as Siraj concedes nine, including five wides and five dots.

Left-arm pacer David Willey from the other end. He starts with a full delivery on the stumps which left-hander Venkatesh defends and he taps the next on the leg side for a quick single.

Gurbaz comes down and swings the pacer over the leg side but only for a single to the fielder at deep square leg.

Venkatesh gets a thick outside edge as the ball goes past point for one as Willey makes a tidy start, giving just three in his first over.

19:35

RCB, KKR make one change each!

RCB boast of a strong line-up boasting of many match-winners like Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, Faf du Plessis, Mohammed Siraj and Dinesh Karthik.

On the other hand, KKR have been handicapped by the injury to their captain Shreyas Iyer, who has been ruled out of IPL, with their hopes resting largely on match-winner Andre Russell.

Some confusion as Rana named debutant Suyash Sharma in the playing XI but he is not part of the official team sheet. It looks like he will come in as the Impact Player when KKR bowl.

Check out the playing XIs of the two teams:

Kolkata Knight Riders: Nitish Rana (captain), Mandeep Singh, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (w/k), Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Shardul Thakur, Sunil Narine, Tim Southee, Umesh Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy.

Substitutes: Suyash Sharma, Anukul Roy, Vaibhav Arora, N Jagadeesan, David Wiese.

Royal Challengers Bangalore: Faf du Plessis (captain), Virat Kohli, Dinesh Karthik (w/k), Glenn Maxwell, Michael Bracewell, Shahbaz Ahmed, David Willey, Karn Sharma, Harshal Patel, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj.

Substitutes: Finn Allen, Sonu Yadav, Mahipal Lomror, Suyash Prabhudessai, Anuj Rawat.

19:05

RCB win toss; elect to bowl vs KKR

Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Faf du Plessis has won the toss and elected to bowl against Kolkata Knight Riders on Thursday.

RCB have made one change as the injured Reece Topley is replaced by David Willey.

"Even I would have elected to bowl first as there is the dew factor. In the previous match played at this venue, we have seen some dew," said KKR captain Rana.

KKR have also made one change as Suyash Sharma comes in for Anukul Roy.

KKR will be keen to bounce back after they went down to Punjab Kings by seven runs via the Duckworth-Lewis method in their rain-hit opening match.

On the other hand, RCB registered an emphatic eight-wicket win against Mumbai Indians in their first game.

18:57

Happy memories Kohli at Eden

Eden Gardens brings back some happy memories for RCB's batting star Virat Kohli.

He stroked his first international century at Eden Gardens, when he made 107 in an ODI against Sri Lanka in December 2009.

Kohli has since go on to dominate the 50-overs format, hitting 46 centuries and 65 fifties in 274 ODIs, for a massive tally of 12898 runs in 274 matches.

Infact, in his last match at this venue, Kohli had smashed 100 from 58 balls against Kolkata Knight Riders in April 2019 to guide RCB to a 10-run win.

18:33

Depleted KKR seek home comfort vs RCB

The Eden Gardens stadium in Kolkata.

Welcome to the coverage of the IPL 2023 match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Thursday.

Hit by injuries and unavailability of key players, two-time champions KKR will seek home comfort and look to return to winning ways when they face a star-studded RCB.

Having started their campaign with a seven-run defeat via Duckworth-Lewis method against Punjab Kings at Mohali, KKR suffered twin blows.

First Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan pulled out of the tournament because of family reasons and international commitments and, the next day, regular skipper Shreyas Iyer, who is also their batting mainstay, was ruled out of the entire IPL as he will undergo a surgery to treat his back injury.

KKR had made Nitish Rana their stand-in skipper, assuming that their regular skipper would be back in the second half of the season but with Iyer ruled out completely, the Chandrakant Pandit-coached side may face a leadership crisis.

The buzz is that KKR's owner Shah Rukh Khan will be in the house when they return to the Eden Gardens after 1,438 days. They last played at Eden Gardens on April 28, 2019 -- a 34-run win over Mumbai Indians before COVID-19 hit the world.

The excitement will be at an all-time high for both teams, with crowd-puller Virat Kohli in the visitors' dug out.

KKR looked a shadow of their past in their season-opener, which was interrupted by a floodlight glitch before the skies opened up.

Iyer's absence has made the batting feeble. A quick-fire fifty-run partnership between Andre Russell and Venkatesh Iyer, who was promoted to No. 4, was the highlight of their batting against Punjab.

On the bowling front, the likes of Tim Southee and Sunil Narine leaked runs, something they will have to address.

Narine looked to have lost his mystery ball as the Punjab batters took him to the cleaners.

KKR's attack will be put to test against the likes of Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli, who looked in imperious touch in an unbeaten 82 in their eight-wicket win over Mumbai Indians.

RCB's pace trio of Mohammed Siraj, Harshal Patel and Akash Deep will also look to make it count on a seaming-friendly Eden.

IPL Updates: KKR thrash RCB by 81 runs

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