After a disappointing start to their IPL 2020 campaign against the Delhi Capitals, Kings XI Punjab bounced back with a crunching 97-run win over RCB, last night.
Skipper KL Rahul ran-riot with a scintillating knock of 132 off just 69 deliveries, smacking the RCB bowlers, all over the park at the Dubai International Stadium.
RCB bowlers, notably Yuzvendra Chahal, came up with an impressive showing in their successful defence of 164 runs against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Monday.
Former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen believes that RCB’s bowling line-up will be under further scrutiny, given their performance against Kings XI Punjab.
RCB skipper Virat Kohli dropped two catches in as many overs before KL Rahul registered the first ton of IPL 2020.
It was a horror-show from the RCB bowlers as KXIP scored 70+ runs in the final four overs, including 23 from the last over, which was bowled by Shivam Dube.
“There are going to be questions throughout. There’s going to be questions again leading into the next game and then the next game about RCB’s bowling attack. Unfortunately, what we have seen tonight, it’s going to lend itself to those questions coming back again,” Kevin Pietersen said during a post-match interaction with Star Sports.
“Yes, and that’s why, leading up to their first game, I know it has started with us, but the questions are always about RCB’s bowling attack. Can they deliver? Because for that many times, since the inception of the tournament, it’s been RCB’s bowlers (under the pump).
They have had the batters, they have had all the batters, even I batted ages ago, got to the semi-final or final and then it never ever materialised.”
Pietersen further pointed out that the RCB bowlers made it easy for KL Rahul to bat by giving him easy deliveries to set himself.
“It was very special. He was composed. He got really nice deliveries to get himself off the mark,” Pietersen said.