Kohli and Salt Sparkle at the Top on Glitzy Opening Night at Eden

Nine out of 10 times Varun Chakravarthy would give you a decent, if not a highly economical, Powerplay over, especially at Eden Gardens.

- Somshuvra Laha

KOLKATA:

The 10th time is probably what Phil Salt did to him on Saturday. Chakravarthy had been pushed to long-on by Virat Kohli for a single before Salt beautifully flicked him between backward square leg and short fine leg for two runs as the Royal Challengers Bengaluru openers warmed up.

Next shot was borderline freakish though, Salt using his wrists to cream Chakravarthy over long-off for four. A straight six, a four mowed through mid-on before Salt went squarer with another boundary, and Kolkata Knight Riders' 174 suddenly started looking too meagre.

Chakravarthy leaked 21 runs that over. Once Kohli crunched two straight sixes off Spencer Johnson in the next over, it was fair to wonder whether the chase would be wrapped up with a few overs to spare. The trajectory at least suggested so. Fifty in 22 balls, 100 in 59 balls—these are the kind of milestones that can't go to waste in a relatively easy chase. KKR were in a similar position, but they didn't have Kohli. Which is what the RCB bench must have been telling themselves throughout the chase.

RCB wrapped it up by seven wickets, reaching 177 in reply to KKR's 174/8. Victory was wrapped up with 22 balls to spare with Kohli remaining unbeaten on 59, leaving defending champions KKR much to ponder.