Royal Challengers Bangalore

While Lucknow beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by five wickets in their last game, Bangalore were given a 81-run thrashing at the hands of Kolkata Knight Riders. In the head-to-head record, Bangalore lead Lucknow 2-0. After winning the toss, Rahul said pacer Mark Wood comes in for Romario Shepherd, with Yash Thakur too missing out.

The fans had turned in huge numbers to watch the home team return to winning ways after suffering an eight-wicket defeat in their opening match to RCB. But it seems they will have to wait for some more matches to see that the score looks difficult to defend unless CSK make a hash of this easy chase.

With his fiery knock of 68 runs off just 29 deliveries, the right-handed batter helped KKR post a massive total of 204 for 7 in 20 overs. The Mumbaikar hammered nine fours and three sixes in his blistering knock and revived KKR from a precarious situation with Rinku Singh. Shardul - who is given a title of 'Lord Shardul' from his fans - bossed his way in the game to add another glorious chapter in the iconic rivalry between these two teams.

But Thakur slammed 68 off 29 balls, with nine fours and three sixes at a strike-rate of 234.48 and grabbed the record for the joint-fastest fifty of the season along with Jos Buttler in 20 balls. He also shared an important 103-run stand off just 47 balls with Rinku Singh, who struggled but opened up to hit 46 off 33 balls.

After Shardul Thakur slammed the joint-fastest fifty of the season while Rahmanullah Gurbaz hit a stroke-filled half-century and Rinku Singh chipped in with a vital 46 to propel KKR to a mammoth 204/7, Kolkata's three mystery spinners bamboozled the RCB batters to bowl them out for 123 in 17.4 overs.

At 89/5 in 11.3 overs, Thakur walked in to face the hat-trick ball and nearly got out first ball as the inside edge went past leg-stump. But from there, he produced some sensational hitting to make 68 off 28 balls, including reaching his fifty in 20 balls. He also shared an important 103-run partnership off just 47 balls with Rinku, who struggled initially but opened up later to hit 46 off 33 balls.

The match, which Kolkata are playing a home game for the first time after 2019, also marks Sunil Narine's 150th IPL game, with Andre Russell completing a century of appearances in the tournament. Kolkata come into their first home game of IPL 2023 on the back of a seven-run loss to Punjab Kings in a rain-hit game, while Bangalore arrive after beating Mumbai Indians by eight wickets.

RCB were recently hoping that the 29-year-old batter, who didn't take part in the team's first match, would be available to play for them at some stage this season but he has now been ruled out from the tournament. The franchise has opted to not name a replacement for now. The likes of Anuj Rawat, Suyash Prabhudessai and Mahipal Lomror are some of the Indian options RCB have in the squad to fill the void.

Former India left-arm pacer Irfan Pathan called Kohli's unbeaten knock to be a piece of great news for RCB, who are in a quest for their maiden IPL trophy. "Virat Kohli is the biggest superstar of TATA IPL. He's shining brightly like a full moon and Indian fans can't be happier. He's started this season on a positive note."

Virat Kohli's masterful knock along with captain Faf du Plessis and their third century stand in IPL ensured RCB didn't have to break much sweat and claimed an emphatic 8-wicket win over Mumbai Indians.