RCB vs PBKS Match Highlights IPL 2021
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RCB vs PBKS Match Highlights IPL 2021

Harpreet Brar’s three priceless wickets steered Punjab Kings to a 34-run victory over RCB

Harpreet Brar, the left-arm orthodox spinner from Punjab who had an experience of playing only 20 Twenty20 matches and 4 List ‘A’ matches turned out the hero of the 26th match in the ongoing IPL held at Ahmadabad on Friday night. Harpreet’s magnificent figure of 4 overs 19 runs and 3 wickets at a superb economy rate of 4.75 forced Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to concede a 34-run defeat at the hands of Punjab Kings. More importantly, Harpreet’s three priceless victims were Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, and Glen Maxwell which played a major role in restricting RCB to finish at 145 in 20 overs after losing 8 wickets in reply to Punjab Kings' 179 for the loss of 5 wickets in 20 overs. Apart from Kohli’s 35 off 34 deliveries, Rajat Patidar and Harshal Patel were successful run-getters as they both scored 31. Harpreet apart, Ravi Bosnoi also showed eye-catching performance scalping 2 for 17 in 4 overs at an economy rate of 4.25. 


However, Royal Challengers Bangalore which shrugged off last week's defeat against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and bounced back with a one run-victory against Delhi Capitals, made only one change on the day against Punjab Kings. The left-arm spinner Shahbaz Ahmed came in for Washington Sundar while Punjab Kings made three changes. Moises Henriques, Arshdeep Singh missed out along with Mayank Agarwal who also has missed the game following an injury. Harpreet Brar got into the team, making his debut in the IPL this season. Along with him Prabhsimran Singh and Riley Meredith also have been included in the squad. 

However, RCB won the toss and decided to bowl first, probably keeping Ahmadabad's slow track in mind that generally favors the spinners.  Punjab Kings set a formidable target for the opposition, scoring 179 in 20 overs having lost 5 wickets. The key attraction in Punjab innings today was Chris Gayle who returned to runs after the team’s opening match, scoring a 24-ball 46 at a Gayle-like strike rate of 191.66, hitting 6 fours and 2 huge sixes. Although the captain K.L. Rahul anchored the innings, being unbeaten 91 off 57 deliveries, hitting 7 fours and 5 sixes, Gayle was the man who accelerated the run rate after Punjab lost its first wicket at 19 in the very 4th over. Harpreet Brar, making his debut in the League this season, also was impressed with an unbeaten 25 off 17 deliveries. Kyle Jamieson was successful by scalping 2 wickets at the cost of 32 runs in his 3 overs while Shahbaz Ahmed and Daniel Sams managed to get one wicket each.