Krunal, Kohli guide RCB to win over DC; go top of table

The duo hits fifties to seal a six-wicket win to go top of the IPL table, after restricting Delhi Capitals on a slow Kotla pitch

- Samreen Razzaqui

NEW DELHI: Royal Challengers Bengaluru have found a quiet, unsung hero driving their success in away matches. And once again, in their sixth away win of the season, he stepped up. Krunal Pandya, who had made his mark with the ball in the other wins, turned up with the bat this time against Delhi Capitals, scoring a brilliant unbeaten 73 off 47 balls to guide RCB to the top of the points table with a six-wicket win on Sunday.

Supporting Pandya at the other end was Virat Kohli, who ensured the victory on his home turf. It helped that the Kotla pitch resembled the old days, sticky and forcing the batters to mistime and chop on deliveries.

RCB's player identification manager and spin coach Malolan Rangarajan had clarified Kohli's much-talked about anchor role within the set-up on match eve saying, "Every time there's an opportunity for him to step on the pedal, he does it."