This is not how Royal Challengers Bangalore would have wanted to begin the 12th edition of the Indian Premier League as the Virat Kohli led RCB registered the lowest score in any opening IPL match. RCB were bundled out for a sorry total of 70 by defending champions Chennai Super Kings in the IPL opener in Chepauk. (CSK vs RCB, Match 1 IPL 2019 Live Score)
This is also their joint-second lowest score in IPL history (70 v RR, Abu Dhabi, 2014) and have the record of registering the lowest score in IPL - 49 vs KKR in 2017.
They also have the dubious distinction of being the only side to register two totals under 100 in any IPL opener.
The lowest totals for RCB in IPL -
- 49 vs Kolkata Knight Riders in Kolkata, 2017
- 70 vs Rajasthan Royals, Abu Dhabi, 2014
- 70 vs Chennai Super Kings, 2019
- 82 vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Bengaluru, 2008
In the 2019 IPL opener, 10 RCB batsmen registered single number scores as it was only Parthiv Patel that hit 29.
Harbhajan Singh rocked the top-order with a three-wicket burst as Chennai Super Kings shot out Royal Challengers Bangalore for a paltry 70 in 17.1 overs in the opening encounter of the Indian Premier League on Saturday.
On a slow Chepauk turner, the senior off-spinner opening the bowling, rolled back years with figures of 3/20 in his four-over spell that deflated Virat Kohli's men completely.
Once Harbhajan had wreaked havoc, Imran Tahir (3/9 in 3 overs) tormented RCB even more with his traditional leg-breaks to kill the contest in the first half. With so much assistance for spinners, Ravindra Jadeja wasn't going to be left behind, finishing with 2/15 in 4 overs.
Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni's inspired move to open with Harbhajan paid brilliant dividends as he removed rival skipper Kohli (6) in the fourth over and RCB never recovered from that early blow.
It was the perfect platform for Tahir and Jadeja, who looked unplayable with the pitch offering reasonable turn and the lower-order's confidence shot to pieces.
