MI vs RCB, IPL 2021: Phenomenal Innings From AB de Villiers Helps RCB Secure Nail-Biting IPL Opener In Chennai

Mumbai Indians (MI), who were invited to bat first after losing the toss, scored 159 runs after losing 9 wickets against  Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).

(Image: PTI)

MI vs RCB, IPL 2021: After Mumbai Indians took quick wickets in form of Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell and Shahbaz Ahmed, a phenomenal counterattack innings from AB de Villiers ( 27 runs off 48 balls) powered Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to a thrilling two-wicket win over defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI) in IPL 2021 opener in Chennai. 

Earlier, Mumbai Indians (MI), who were invited to bat first after losing the toss, scored 159 runs after losing 9 wickets against  Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).

Apart from Chris Lynn's 49-run knock, no other MI batter  was able to score big. Making his comeback at RCB, Harshal Patel wreaked havoc with his medium pace and restricted MI from scoring a big score. The young talented speedster bagged 5 wickets in his 4 overs, including 3 wickets in the last over.

Mumbai Indians have lost their first IPL match in the ninth consecutive season.  On the other hand, RCB had earlier played season openers in 2008, 2017 and 2019 too, but it has today won IPL opener for the first time.

Kohli started the innings with Washington Sundar (10).  Both added 36 runs for the first wicket.  Bangalore lost the wicket of Rajat Patidar (8) for 46 runs, but after that the captain Kohli and Maxwell took the score closer to 100.  However, Kohli was dismissed for 33.

Maxwell was later also dismissed after hitting three fours and two sixes in 28 balls.

In the final three overs, Bangalore needed 38 runs.  De Villiers hit four fours and two sixes in 27 balls to take his team closer to victory.  For Mumbai, Marco Jenson and Jaspreet Bumrah took two wickets each.