IPL 2021: Russell dismisses AB de Villiers for a duck, Maxwell gets out cheaply; RCB in deep trouble

Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) decision to bat first didn't go in their favour as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals and none of Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Glenn Maxwell could offer much of note and the batting side was in major trouble in Match No 31 against the Kolkata Knight Riders.

Prasidh Krishna sent back Virat Kohli early, in just the second over of the innings on a good length delivery that nipped back in just a little and rapped him LBW. Debutant KS Bharat and Devdutt Padikkal then rebuilt the innings slowly and gradually and almost got them through the powerplay without any more wickets but Lockie Ferguson got Padikkal to edge it straight into the hands of wicket-keeper Dinesh Karthik.

After the powerplay, it was all KKR owing to Andre Russell and Varun Chakravarthy. Russell sent back Bharat, who played a scratchy knock of 16 runs off 19 balls and clean bowled AB De Villiers with a fabulous yorker for a duck in the same over and RCB were now 52/4.

Another BIG Wicket as @Russell12A strikes again and removes AB de Villiers for a duck.

Live - https://t.co/iUcKgUAEzT #KKRvRCB #VIVOIPL pic.twitter.com/H7jkWwnOhu

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) September 20, 2021

RCB needed Glenn Maxwell to stay till the end and help them get to a respectable total but after Russell, mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy decided to have some fun.

Chakravarthy first sent back Maxwell getting a ball going through his gate and then debutant Wanindu Hasaranga on consecutive deliveries as Virat Kohli and co were now reduced to 63/6.