It was the opening game in IPL 2018 for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at Eden Gardens (Kolkata) where KKR secured a victory by 4 wickets with 7 balls to spare.

The hosts chose to bowl first after winning the toss. RCB put a total of 176 runs (176/7) on the board which was successfully chased down by KKR in 18.5 overs after losing 6 wickets.

Brief Scores: RCB – 176/7 in 20 overs (AB de Villiers 44, Brendon McCullum 43, Nitish Rana 2/11)

KKR – 177/6 in 18.5 overs (Sunil Narine 50, Dinesh Karthik 35*, Chris Woakes 3/36)

Result – KKR won by 4 wickets

Here are some of the statistical highlights of the match:

i) RCB skipper Virat Kohli played 150^th IPL match and all for RCB.

• First IPL player to play 150 matches for one team.

ii) KKR cricketer Robin Uthappa also played his 150^th IPL match.

• Most IPL matches played as non-captain. He surpassed Yusuf Pathan’s 149 IPL matches as non-captain.

iii) At the end of the match, Bangalore batsman AB de Villiers has hit total 162 sixes in IPL career

• Fourth most number of IPL sixes by a batsman.

Most number of sixes in IPL career

(updated till April 8, 2018)

iv) RCB scored 176/7 after batted first.

• The second highest total in IPL history for RCB against KKR when they batted first. The record is 185/7 (20 overs) at Bangalore on May 2, 2016.

v) KKR opener Sunil Narine completed his half-century in just 17 balls.

• Third fastest IPL half-century by a KKR batsman. The record holders are Sunil Narine and Yusuf Pathan who had once completed half-century in just 15 balls.
• First IPL batsman to hit more than one half-century in less than 20-ball. In the last season, Sunil Narine had completed a half-century in just 15 balls against RCB at Bengaluru (May 7, 2017).

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vi) KKR successfully chased down the 177 runs (177/6) target.

• The second highest successful IPL chase for KKR against RCB in IPL history. The record chase is 186 runs (189/5) at Bengaluru on May 2, 2016.

vii) KKR won this match by 4 wickets with 7 balls to spare.

• The second largest IPL victory (by balls remaining in the second innings) for KKR against RCB. The record one is winning by 29 balls to spare at Bengaluru on May 7, 2017.