Karn Sharma, who began the season with a bang by picking three wickets against Mumbai Indians was once again penetrative through the middle phase. He removed the well-set Rahmanullah Gurbaz and then consigned Russell to a first-baller in the IPL encounter between RCB and KKR.
Gurbaz held fort scoring a crucial 57 off 44 balls at the top of the order for Kolkata Knight Riders but wickets tumbled around him, with David Willey kicking off the procession in style for Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Eden Gardens.
A like-for-like replacement for Reece Topley – who has now been ruled out of the season due to a dislocated shoulder – he bowled a double-wicket maiden early to leave KKR waist deep in trouble. He returned an exceptional spell of 2 for 16, dismissing Venkatesh Iyer and Mandeep Singh.
Just as KKR were staring at an inadequate total, up stepped Shardul Thakur to change the complexion of the game with an emphatic 68 off just 29 balls. Chasing the steep target of 205, RCB endured an equally poor start.
ICYMI – What a fine over that from Karn Sharma.
Picks up two big wickets of Gurbaz and Andre Russell.
Live – https://t.co/V0OS7tFZTB #TATAIPL #KKRvRCB #IPL2023 pic.twitter.com/kKsnZjPjxI
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 6, 2023
