AB de Villiers and Glenn Maxwell make it three out of three for RCB
A number of KKR batsmen got off to starts but no one stayed long enough in a chase of 205
A number of KKR batsmen got off to starts but no one stayed long enough in a chase of 205
Scorer: Chandan Duorah | Commentator: Deivarayan Muthu
7.40pm That's a wrap of this game. Thanks for your company and comments. This is Deivarayan Muthu signing off for Chandan Duorah. You can catch ball-by-ball coverage of the Delhi Capitals-Punjab Kings match here. Stay safe and cheers
AB, Player of the Match: I did play well and had a lot of fun. Maxi made it easier and it's difficult coming into a game on a pitch that has been slower. It was a bit of both. It wasn't a 200-wicket; maybe 170 was about par today. The most important thing is I'm enjoying myself and my cricket - my family is here.
Kohli: Especially Siraj's over to Russell [was good] - he has had some history against Russell. He's a different bowler after the Australia tour and he shut the game out. Harshal has so much clarity in the end and I think Jamieson also bowled well. That's the reason why we have three out of three. To be fair, on a pitch like Chennai, you probably have a bit more space to make an error on the longer boundary. It has to be on the off side and not on side. Siraj did miss on the full-toss, but he has two men on the boundary. The execution was spot-on. We played in Wankhede, Kolkata and Ahmedabad where the margin of error keeps getting smaller. Well, I said at the halfway mark we have 200 because of two genius innings back-to-back. Maxwell was outstanding and AB to follow. When he gets in with that kind of form and flow, it's impossible to stop him. We got 40 extra runs on that pitch which slowed down. Maxi has taken to this team like duck to water. AB loves the team and they were the difference today. There are areas we can work on. We're not getting ahead of ourselves and not getting over-excited.
7.11pm RCB end their Chennai leg with a hat-trick of wins. These are still early days in the tournament, but Kohli's men consolidate their position at the top of the points table. It was set up by powerful half-centuries from Maxwell and de Villiers on a different Chepauk pitch where the ball came onto the bat nicely in the early exchanges. KKR then started well in the chase, but they ran out of steam in the middle and slog overs. We'll bring you the presentation shortly.
Morgan: Certainly RCB's day with the bat on a rocket-hot afternoon game. It [The Chennai pitch] certainly has stumped me, and I can't gauge the wicket. Everyone who batted on this wicket felt it played better but RCB played better. Probably not to be honest [should you have given Varun another over in the powerplay?] Maxwell is a fine player, but to bowl to AB you need to have that [option]. Yeah, yeah, we struggled to kick on and got us into a position where only Andre could do it. Different wicket [in Mumbai], dew, and we have been watching those games."
Chahal: Amazing feeling to get wickets and bowling well. I was just trying to get Russell out. I got it wider, because the other side was shorter. I mostly looked to bowl dot balls and restrict the batsmen. We will be going to Mumbai. I played a couple of matches here; it had good turn. I'll try my best in Mumbai.
Shekhar Bandaru: "After all the criticism, looks like Kohli is more determined than ever to win the IPL this year. "
Vinay: "Harshal Patel didn't give away a single boundary and he bowled against the likes of Morgan, Shakib and Russell. Excellent stuff!"
RajatMaheshwari: "RCB is really relishing not playing at home. Might be a blessing in disguise for them as they had a poor record at their home. Team is clicking well with Maxwell at the forefront of it. Hope to see them continuing the same!"
Shishir s: "That 19th over will hurt KKR later in the season in terms of NRR. "
Sudharshan Kuma: "Can't believe as an RCB fan since inception. How our death bowling has evolved "
Rohith: "the way Siraj has improved through the years is just amazing. That's what hard work and dedication is all about. Wow!!"
AD Russell b Patel 31 (27m 20b 3x4 2x6) SR: 155.00
What's changed for Maxwell, and are the Knight Riders wasting Shakib?
A number of KKR batsmen got off to starts but no one stayed long enough in a chase of 205
Discussions have already begun, and the two are set to catch up again during the IPL
Updates, colour and analysis with ESPNcricinfo's match-day blog
de Villiers reveals details of the discussions he had with his RCB skipper during a phone call recently