In the eighth game of IPL 2018, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) clinched a four-wicket victory against Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium (Bengaluru) on Friday night.

The hosts RCB won the toss and decided to field first. KXIP bowled out for 155 runs in 19.2 overs. In reply, RCB chased down that target in 19.3 overs after losing 6 wickets.

Now, we will briefly talk about some important reasons for KXIP’s defeat.

The 4^th over of KXIP innings – Flying Umesh Yadav

It was the game-changing and most impactful over of the match. KXIP just got a good opening start as they were 32/0 at the end 3 overs and suddenly the game changed as the same team went on 36/3 in 4 overs.

It was Umesh Yadav’s second over where he picked up three wickets. After dismissing Mayank Agarwal and Aaron Finch in the first two balls of that over, Umesh bowled Yuvraj Singh in the final ball of that over. That over forced the visitors to not put a good total on the board.

Also read: Turning Point of the Match

Lower middle-order failed to give a positive partnership

After the sudden fourth over the collapse, KL Rahul and Karun Nair regained that innings with an important 58-runs partnership for the fourth wicket. But after their partnership broken, no such sustainable partnership build up in that innings. Though, skipper Ravichandran Ashwin added some useful runs at the end but he couldn’t get help from the other lower-order batsmen.

Expensive Mohit Sharma

KXIP pacer Mohit Sharma was too expensive in this game. He had the bowling figure of 3.3-0-45-0. His inconsistent line and length bowling went too costly for the team. His bowling was never looking positive.

Also read: Match 8 (RCB vs KXIP) – Hits and Flops

Not going for the sixth bowler

When they were struggling to take a wicket in the crucial stages, KXIP skipper Ashwin should go for the sixth bowler as they had Marcus Stoinis and Yuvraj Singh in the playing XI. Sticking with the five bowlers not helped the visiting team, especially in Mohit Sharma case.

While the fifth bowler Mohit conceded 16 runs in his opening over, KXIP skipper could look for the other option.

Failed to take regular wickets

Though KXIP was able to take some double wickets in quick successions, they failed to make the process in regular interval. In result, RCB built up two 50+ innings in the middle of the game which set the game for them.

The 17^th over of RCB innings – should have an experienced bowler rather than young Mujeeb

The 17-year-old Afghanistan off-spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman was superb in his first three overs he dismissed Virat Kohli and conceded only 10 runs with 11 dot balls.

But his bowling in the 17^th over changed the game where he conceded 19 runs as the world-class batsman AB de Villiers hit him for two sixes. KXIP should have an experienced bowler for that crucial period who could put a fight against Mr. 360.