The IPL defender couldn't defend their first match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Eden Gardens. In a season opener that promised so much, the home side simply couldn’t pull together when it mattered most.

KKR’s captain Ajinkya Rahane stated, “We went well till the 13th over; 2-3 wickets changed momentum. We have to learn from our mistakes.” 

He expressed his dissatisfaction with today’s innings, “We thought 210-220 was par when Venky and I were batting, but we lost wickets. There was dew, but they had a very good powerplay. We couldn't get early wickets. We don't want to think too much about this game, we just want to improve as a unit.” 

Opting to bat first, KKR posted a total of 174/8 in their 20 overs. Royal Challengers Bengaluru chased down the target with ease, winning by 7 wickets in a game that exposed KKR’s inability to back up their big-name signings. 

For RCB, every run felt like a small celebration. Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 59 runs anchored the chase and highlighted his form early in the season. He not only guided his team to chase down the target but also etched a personal milestone by crossing his 1000-run mark against KKR.  

Ajinkya Rahane, leading KKR for the first time, scored a brisk 56 off 31 balls, while Sunil Narine contributed 44 off 26 balls. Fans had pinned their dreams on a spark from the mysterious Varun Chakravarthy, but his spell ended up being more of a fizzle than the fireworks everyone expected.

Liam Livingstone’s modest 15 might not have grabbed headlines, but it was the collective resolve, spearheaded by Kohli’s calm determination, that ultimately steered RCB to a 7-wicket win.