KKR vs RCB: Statistical Analysis of Match Between KKR and RCB IPL 2023, Shardul Thakur Brings The Fire On The Ground

A sensational 68-run-knock from Shardul Thakur along with brilliant 46 run cameo from Rinku Singh and all round contributions from bowlers handed KKR a thumping 81 -run win over RCB in the ninth match of Indian Premier League 2023 at the historic Eden Gardens.

Speaking about the game, Faf & co won the toss and opted to field first. David Willey drew the first blood in the fourth over as he struck twice in two balls, cleaning up both Venkatesh Iyer and Mandeep Singh with peach of deliveries.

Immediately after the powerplay Michael Bracewell sent skipper Nitish Rana back to hut, KKR was left unsettled at 47/3 in the 7^th over. However, Rahmanullah Gurbaz kept the setting going along with Rinku Singh as the duo added 42 runs for the fourth wicket.

Gurbaz amassed 57 runs that included six fours and three maximums. Karn Sharma then removed Gurbaz and Andre Russel in his successive deliveries leaving them in trouble at 89/5 in 12^th over.

Then entered Shardul Thakur, who along with Rinku Singh took the game away from RCB, the duo together took the bowlers to the cleaners, smacking them all round the ground with 103 runs partnership from just 45 deliveries, helping KKR post a massive total of 204/7 in 20 overs.

Thakur amassed 68 runs from just 29 deliveries that included 12 boundaries, he also registered the joint fastest fifty of Indian Premier League 2023 along with Jos Buttler. In response to 205, RCB openers started the chase with the bang as they toyed Tim Southee all round the ground, scoring 23 runs of his over.

When the opening partnership looked threatening at 44/0 in 4.4, it was Sunil Narine who delivered a classic offbreak to clean up Kohli. In the very next over, Tamil Nadu sensation Varun Chakaravarthy knocked out Faf with another beauty of delivery.

From thereon KKR went berserk against the pity RCB as they piled up wickets at regular interval leaving them clueless.  Spinners together picked up nine wickets to help KKR beat RCB by huge margin of 81 runs.

Meanwhile let us look at the stats and numbers from game between KKR vs RCB

2 -Andre Russel became the second batter after Chris Gayle to be dismissed for duck in his 100^th IPL game.

1 -Shardul Thakur scored the joint fastest fifty of 20 balls in IPL 2023, along with Jos Buttler, who recorded the same against SRH.

1 -Sunil Narine became the first player to represent KKR in 150 IPL games.

2 -Shardul Thakur registered the joint-second highest score while batting at number 7 position along with Dwayne Bravo. Russel tops the list with 88*against CSK at Chennai in 2018.

4 -Shardul Thakur and Rinku Singh became the fourth pair to record century partnerships for sixth wicket or below.

12 – Spinners have taken a total of 12 wickets in this game, this is the most number of wickets taken by spinners in a IPL game. Previous 11 was the most wickets recorded by spinners in a IPL game.

Most wickets taken by spinners in an IPL Match

12 – KKR vs RCB at Eden Gardens 2023

11 – KKR vs PBKS at Eden Gardens 2012

11 – KKR vs DC at Eden gardens 2018

11 – CSK vs DC at Chennai 2019

9 -KKR spinners took nine wickets in their innings, this is the most number of wickets taken by spinners in an IPL innings.

Most wickets by spinners in an IPL innings:

9 -KKR vs RCB at Eden Gardens in 2023
8 -CSK vs Deccan Chargers at Visakhapatnam in 2012
8 -CSK vs RCB at Chennai in 2019

103 -Shardul Thakur and Rinku Singh (103) registered the highest 6^th wicket partnership at Eden Gardens, bettering the previous best of 73 between Sourav Ganguly and Angelo Matthews against KKR.