In what turned out to be a one-sided entertainment, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) suffered a heavy 97-run defeat in Match 6 of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) against Kings XI Punjab (KXIP). The match was highlighted by KXIP skipper KL Rahul's flamboyant innings.
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Match report: Winning the toss, RCB skipper Virat Kohli invited KXIP to bat first, as the decision backfired. The openers were off to a fine start, adding 57 runs initially. Following the fall of the first wicket, it was fellow opener Rahul who decided to make it his day, as he smashed the RCB bowlers all around and scored an unbeaten 132 off just 69 deliveries, while they posted a mammoth total of 2063.
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In reply, the RCB just couldn't handle the pressure from the opening over itself and lost their opening three wickets within the first three overs, which more-or-less sealed their fate. With hardly any partnerships building, the RCB batsmen had just given up, as only three batsmen could score 20s, while Ravi Bishnoi and Murugan Ashwin claimed three wickets each to press the sull-stop button for RCB. Meanwhile, a number of records were scripted in the process.
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Rahul third-fastest to 2,000 runs: Rahul had the best of his performance in the IPL today, both as a player and the captain. His prolific batting today allowed him to reach 2,000 runs in the tournament, as he became the third-fastest to reach there, in 60 innings. He is led by Shaun Marsh (52) and Chris Gayle (48).
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RCB script an unwanted: Following Rahul's century, RCB became the join-most team to have been scored a century against, along with Kolkata Kight Riders (KKR), on eight occasions.
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Rahul scripts further record with his ton: As for Rahul's fertile innings of an unbeaten 132, he registered the fourth-best individual innings in the tournament. He is led by AB de Villiers (133*), Brendon McCullum (158*), and Chris Gayle (175*). In fact, he also became the best Indian with a top score in the tournament, along with the best knock by a skipper in the same. He is also the second joint-most Indian to score two tons in the IPL.
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Rahul shows no remorse: Rahul's spree continued, as he smashed the second-most runs in the final two overs of the IPL, scoring 42 off nine deliveries. He is led by Kohli at the top, who scored 44 off 10 deliveries.
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Third instance of an Indian outscoring an opponent: Rahul entered one of the unique record books, as he became the third Indian batsman in the tournament to outscore the opponent. The list includes Kohli, scoring 109 against Gujarat Lions (104), and Rahul Dravid, scoring 66 against Rajasthan Royals (56).
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