RCB returned to winning ways with a comprehensive 23-run victory over DC.
Riding on Virat Kohli’s 34-ball 50, RCB posted 174/6 on the board. Apart from Kohli, none of the RCB batters could score big as the team kept losing wickets at crucial junctures against a disciplined DC bowling attack.
Defending the total, however, RCB bowlers did well as a unit. Vijaykumar Vyshak (3-20), Mohammed Siraj (2-23), and Wayne Parnell (1-28) returned with economical spells and shared six scalps among them to restrict the Capitals to 151/9.
Speaking after the game, RCB skipper Faf du Plessis heaped praise on his team’s bowlers, saying he is proud of their effort.
"We unfortunately have had to defend a few games in a row now at the Chinnaswamy and it's not always easy so I'm very proud of the bowlers tonight. It's difficult because it's the first day game of the season and also with the new rule now with the extra batter, you always feel like you need to get more,” Du Plessis said at the post-match presentation ceremony.
The RCB captain had words of praise for pace spearhead Mohammed Siraj, who got rid of Yash Dhull and Aman Hakim Khan.
“So even at halfway stage, 175 in a day game usually feels like a really good score but it's just that unknown factor with the extra batter but it proved to be the right score. The way we bowled in that first six overs, not only today but so far in all the games, Siraj is bowling beautifully,” he stated.
Du Plessis also hailed the RCB bowlers for pushing the DC batting line-up on the backfoot by taking four wickets in the powerplay.
“In a game where it's a bit slower the wicket, generally the first six overs is the most important with the bat. You want to try to play positive and get ahead of the rate but the way we bowled was just unbelievable. So huge credit to our seamers in the first six," he remarked.
Royal Challengers Bangalore will next face Chennai Super Kings at Chinnaswamy Stadium on April 17.