KKR bowlers failed to defend a total of 192 runs against RCB.
Invited to bat first, KKR posted a competitive 192/4 in their 20 overs. Wicketkeeper-batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi led the charge with a career-best 71 off 46 balls, supported by Rinku Singh’s unbeaten 49 off 29 balls.
In reply, RCB reached home in 19.1 overs. Virat Kohli anchored the chase with an unbeaten knock of 105 in 60 balls, sharing a match-defining 92-run partnership for the second wicket with Devdutt Padikkal, who contributed 27-ball 39.
Speaking during the post-match press conference, KKR head coach Abhishek Nayar rued giving a lifeline to Kohli early in his innings. The RCB stalwart, dropped on 21 by Rovman Powell, went on to smash his record-extending ninth century in the Indian Premier League.
"When you drop Virat Kohli, especially in a chase, it becomes very difficult," Nayar told reporters.
According to Nayar, KKR had enough runs on the board and small mistakes cost them dearly in this game.
"As I said earlier, the score was fine on this pitch. There are a lot of things that could have been better. Virat's catch was a very tough one. The Angkrish catch, you would expect him to take," he added.
Nayar mentioned that the absence of mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy due to a toe injury was another factor in the defeat.
"At the end of the day, cricket works like that. If we had another 10-15 runs, maybe the game changes. If those catches are taken, maybe the game changes. If Varun Chakaravarthy plays, maybe the game changes," he stated.
Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine bowling in tandem is deemed crucial to KKR’s success, and Nayar admitted to that.
"It is an open secret that we have done really well with the Sunny-Varun combination. It is unfortunate that we have missed him a lot this season," Nayar said. "This is the second time he has had a fracture, which is unfortunate for him. You will always miss a Varun Chakravarthy."
Despite the loss, the KKR coach praised his batting unit for posting a competitive total on the board.
"I was very impressed with the way he (Raghuvanshi) batted because the ball was really nipping around early on. Hazlewood and Bhuvi are world-class bowlers. At no point did he look uncomfortable. He looked like he belonged there," Nayar remarked.
(With PTI Inputs)