RCB vs CSK, IPL 2021: Virat Kohli & Devdutt Padikkal bring up 111-run opening stand – Virat Kohli has relished the opening batter’s role in IPL 2021. If the 181-run stand with Devdutt Padikkal against Rajasthan Royals was anything to go by, against Chennai Super Kings, RCB skipper partnered youngster Padikkal once again to smash around CSK bowlers at Sharjah on Friday to bring up RCB’s only second 100-run opening stand of IPL 2021.
In the powerplay, Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal smashed 55 runs to RCB on top early in the match. Before this match, RCB have struggled with their opening pair failing to fire in tandem. On Friday, both of them brought up their half-centuries after MS Dhoni put RCB into bat.
IPL 2021: Virat Kohli & Devdutt Padikkal stellar show puts up first 100-run opening stand against CSK since 2013
RCB vs CSK: Apart from the Rajasthan Royals match where Devdutt Padikkal smashed his maiden IPL century and Kohli mentoring him from the onset, RCB have had a poor record in the opening. That in return had put up pressure on the middle-order. Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers have all struggled due to the same reason. Had it not been for rescuing act from Maxwell or De Villiers, RCB would have been staring at a lowly place on IPL 2021’s points table.
RCB opening partnerships in IPL 2021
vs Mumbai Indians: Washington Sundar & Virat Kohli: 36
vs Sunrisers Hyderabad: Kohli & Padikkal: 19
vs Kolkata Knight Riders: Kohli & Padikkal: 6
vs Rajasthan Royals: Virat Kohli & Devdutt Padikkal: 181*
vs Chennai Super Kings: Kohli & Padikkal: 44
vs Delhi Capitals: Kohli & Padikkal: 30
vs Punjab Kings: Kohli & Padikkal: 19
vs Kolkata Knight Riders: Kohli & Padikkal: 10
vs Chennai Super Kings: Kohli & Padikkal: 111 – Today
IPL 2021: Virat Kohli & Devdutt Padikkal stellar show puts up first 100-run opening stand against CSK since 2013
RCB vs CSK: As for some additional trivia, it was RCB’s first opening stand against Chennai Super Kings since 2013 when Chris Gayle and Kohli put up a 67-run stand.
