Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bangalore Ball by Ball Commentary

FOUR! Khan hits the winning runs! What a partnership this was! Fullish and on off. Khan muscles it past the bowler and to long off for a boundary. Punjab win by 5 wickets.

A yorker, around off. Khan shuffles across and digs it out back to Patel.

Full and wide, Shahrukh Khan looks to cover drive but the balls sneaks under the willow.

SIX! Easy pickings! An off cutter, full and on off. Khan waits,waits and waits as he thumps it over long off for a biggie.

Bangs a bouncer and on middle. Khan misses his pull.

Wide! Yet another extra! This is on a length and outside off. Another wide.

Fuller ball, on off, slower. Khan pushes it to deep covers for a couple of runs.

SIX! It is his power, just sheer power! Short ball, on off. Smith rides the bounce and tonks it well over long off for a maximum. 11 runs needed in 12 balls.

Leg bye! Full and angling on the pads. Khan misses his heave. A leg bye as it goes off the pads to point.

Faf du Plessis seems out of sorts here and is having a discussion with the bowler after every single ball. The fielders are being chopped and changed and they are trying to work out a plan to save the boundary.

Shorter and on off. Smith thumps it to long off for a run.

SIX! Smith showing his power! This is on a length and outside off. Smith hangs back and again shows his power over covers for a biggie.

FOUR! A length ball, angling on the pads. Smith wrists it to square leg and beats the fielder there for a boundary. 11 run off the first three balls.

Wide! Too many extras from Bangalore! Full ball, way outside off, over the tramline. Smith swings and misses.

SIX! Perfect start! A length ball, outside off. Smith powers it flat and over sweeper cover for a biggie.

This is full and on off. Khan tries to go over long off but does not power it much. David Willey is in two minds, to catch it on a bounce or go for it. He takes it on a bounce and keeps it down to two. An eventful over from Harshal Patel.

Mohammed Siraj (3-0-35-2) to bowl out here.

Wide! Full ball, way outside off. Khan leaves it.

A full toss, outside off. Khan hits it straight to covers. Smith wanted a single and he committed himself. Khan says no. He rushed back and a sloppy throw just help him to get back with a dive.

Wide! Way outside off. A wide given.

DROPPED! Anuj Rawat the culprit! A length ball, outside off. Smith powers it to deep cover but Anuj Rawat is stationed there, he runs to his right and drops a regulation catch. Will this prove costly?

Fullish and on off. Khan squeezes it out to deep cover for a single. Singles won't do for Punjab.

A full toss, outside off. Khan swings in the air and connects thin air.

Wide! Keeps it away from the arc, over the tramline. Left alone.

A pace off delivery, fuller and on off. Smith pushes it to mid off for a single.

Tossed up, on off, pushed back to Hasaranga.

SIX! Much needed! A full ball on off. Khan gets low and hammers it to long off for a biggie.

Shorter and quicker and around off. Khan guides it to point. Superb from Hasaranga.

Tossed up, full and on off. Khan leans and keeps it out.

Fuller this time, on middle. Khan defends it out.

A googly, short and outside off. Khan chops it to point.

Full, around off. Smith can't get it through the cover region. 50 needed now off 30 balls.

Odean Smith is the new batter in.

OUT! TAKEN! Anuj Rawat with another catch in the match and his efforts in the field are making a difference here. Full and wide, Liam Livingstone throws his hands at it. Livingstone carves it towards the cover-point fence. Rawat races in from the fence and dives in front to take a magnificent catch. Akash Deep gets the last laugh and Livingstone has to depart, leaving the game in the balance once more.

Brilliant fielding in the deep from Anuj Rawat and he saves a certain boundary. This is banged in short and outside off. Livingstone hits it tennis-ball style and the ball seems to be racing towards the fence but it is cut off. Just the two taken.

SIX! Smoked! Full and straight, Livingstone goes flat downtown and gets it over the ropes for a biggie.

Short and wide, slapped away in front of square on the off side for a couple of runs.

Pitched up, on off. This is driven down to long off for a single.

Strategic Time-Out! Two wickets in the last over have just helped Bangalore get back into the game. Still, 61 runs needed in 36 balls and Punjab have a job in hand. Liam Livingstone and Shahrukh Khan need to make sure they take the team home. Also, Akash Deep is back into the attack.

Full and straight, squeezed off the inner half of the bat towards short fine leg for a run.

Back of a length, around off. Livingstone works it through mid-wicket for a single.

WIDE! A third wide in the over from Siraj. Slower one, pushed beyond the tramline. Livingstone leaves it alone.

Very full, on the pads. Livingstone looks to flick it fine but gets it off the pads. DK does well to dive to his left and make the stop.

Pitched up, on off. This is pushed down the ground for a single.

WIDE! This is fuller and angled way down the leg side. Another wide and the adrenaline is pumping now for Mohammed Siraj, he needs to just calm down a bit.

WIDE! Banged in short and down the leg side. Khan looks to hook it away but misses. Wide signalled.

Shahrukh Khan comes in.

OUT! LBW! Two in two for Mohammed Siraj and Raj Bawa marks his Indian T20 League debut with a golden duck. Siraj bowls a low full toss, curving into the pads and that's not an easy delivery to put away first ball. Bawa misses the flick and gets pinged on the pads. Siraj appeals and the finger is raised. Punjab lose another wicket and Siraj is on a hat-trick. What a quick turn of events this has been!

Raj Bawa comes out.

OUT! TAKEN! Mohammed Siraj was having a poor outing with the ball up until now but he might have just turned the game on its head. Siraj goes cross seam, outside off. Bhanuka Rajapaksa hangs back and looks to cut but does so uppishly and straight into the bread basket of the fielder at point. Shahbaz Ahmed takes a comfortable catch and Rajapaksa has to depart after a blistering knock. Can Bangalore now capitalize?

On leg stump, swept away to deep square leg for a single. 67 needed now off 42 balls.

SIX! Bhanuka Rajapaksa making it look easy out there. Flighted delivery, around leg. Rajapaksa shimmies down the track and lifts it over the mid-wicket fence for a biggie.

TWO WIDES! Wanindu Hasaranga under pressure here. Goes quicker and fuller but spills it beyond the tramline. The ball goes off the keeper's pads towards short third man and they scamper through as well.

This is pushed through on off. Blocked.

SIX! Monster hit from Liam Livingstone. Tossed up, on off. Livingstone dances down the track and launches it way, way over the long off fence for a biggie.

On a lengthy, around leg. Rajapaksa looks to turn it leg side but gets an outside edge towards short third man. They get one.

Flatter delivery, on off. This is punched down to long off for a single by Livingstone.

Dot ball to end a top over from Harshal Patel. Slower again, fuller and going across the left-hander. Rajapaksa is left bamboozled as he looks to cut.

Slower one, on a length and around leg stump. Rajapaksa walks down the track but gets beaten on the inside edge.

WIDE! Attempted slower bouncer now, over head height and well outside off. Wide called.

Length, angling into middle and leg. Rajapaksa wistfully flicks it towards deep backward square leg for a brace.

On off, nudged out towards covers for a quick single.

Liam Livingstone is in next.

OUT! TAKEN! Harshal Patel comes back into the attack and its the slower delivery that has done the trick. Pitched up, around off. Shikhar Dhawan makes room and advances looking to go inside out over extra cover. He is undone by the lack of pace and ends up pushing it uppishly towards the man at extra cover. Anuj Rawat takes a simple catch and Bangalore have the crucial breakthrough. 88 needed now off 52 balls.

Just short! Shikhar Dhawan dances down the track and Patel angles it into the body. Dhawan goes through with the shot and lifts it towards the backward square leg region for a couple of runs.

SIX! Bhanuka Rajapaksa is on fire here! On the hips, lifted high and handsome, clearing the backward square leg fence for yet another maximum. 19 off the over and Punjab keeping up with the required run rate.

Excellent effort in the deep from Harshal Patel and he saves a couple of runs for his side. Length, outside off. Rajapaksa slices it high and towards the third man fence. Patel runs in from the backward point fence and puts in a courageous dive for the catch. He doesn't quite get there but shows great presence of mind to save the boundary.

Nicely bowled! Slower one, banged in around off. Rajapaksa looks to pull but gets undone by the lack of pace.

FOUR! The boundaries are flowing at the moment for Punjab. Fullish in length, outside off. Rajapaksa hangs back and carves it through point for a boundary.

Shorter this time, on middle. Dhawan gets inside the line again and pulls it on the bounce to the fielder at fine leg for a single.

SIX! Full and on the pads, Shikhar Dhawan walks across his stumps and whips it off his legs. He gets it over the fine leg fence for a maximum. The 100 is up for Punjab.

Another googly, on the pads. Rajapaksa leans to defend but gets beaten there.

A googly, on the pads, swept to deep square leg for one more.

Flighted in the air, on middle, eased to long on for one.

FOUR! Rajapaksa is taking on Wanindu Hasaranga! Full, quicker and on middle. Rajapaksa slog-sweeps it to square leg for a boundary.

SIX! Hammered! A tossed up delivery, around leg. Rajapaksa reaches to the pitch of the ball and heaves it all the way over mid-wicket for a biggie.

Very full and on off. Dhawan uses his feet and smashes it to long off for a single.

Slower one, on a length, angling outside off. Rajapaksa steers it to short third man.

Patel misses his yorker and serves a full toss, on middle, nudged to mid-wicket for a single.

On a length, on middle. Rajapaksa plays with soft hands to the leg side and takes a quick single.

SIX! A length ball, on off. Rajapaksa pulls it, not quite of the middle but hits it to the shorter side at square leg for a biggie.

A full ball, on middle at 110 clicks. Dhawan bunts it to deep square leg for a single.

A length ball angling from around the wicket on off. Dhawan knocks it to covers.

A flighted ball, on a length and on middle. Rajapaksa tucks it to deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs.

On off. Blocked out.

This is on a length and just outside off. Rajapaksa looks to play it to third man but misses.

A quicker ball, on middle. Dhawan works it to square leg and the batters get a single.

Tossed up, on the pads, flicked to deep square leg for a single.

Wanindu Hasaranga is brought into the attack now.

Bhanuka Rajapaksa walks in at number 3.

OUT! TAKEN! What a start from Wanindu Hasaranga! He is a match-winner, truly! Slightly short and on middle. Agarwal gets low to pull and he hits it flat to Shahbaz Ahmed who is standing inside the ring at square leg, takes a sharp catch. Finally, Bangalore find the breakthrough.

Punjab are off to a flier here and Bangalore are in desperate need of wickets. Who will be the bowler who steps up though?

In the air and falls safely! Short of a length, good pace there, around off. Agarwal looks to pull but gets a top edge and it falls safe at mid off. A single.

Angles across a length ball, around off. Dhawan steers it to third man for a single.

FOUR! Beats the fielder! Short ball again, down the leg side. Dhawan pulls it late to fine leg and the fielder there puts a dive to his left but his body touched the ropes.

Short of a length, on middle, pulled away to deep square leg for a single.

On the pads this time, it is flicked to mid-wicket for a single.

A length ball, outside off. Dhawan guides it to point.

Strategic Time-Out! Punjab needed a really strong start and Mayank Agarwal and Shikhar Dhawan have given them just that. The wicket is a belter but the bowling has been ordinary from Bangalore, especially given the likes of David Willey and Mohammed Siraj being experienced campaigners. Punjab need more than a strong start to win and Bangalore will feel that a couple of wickets will bring down the scoring rate quite a fair bit. Also, Akash Deep comes into the attack now.

Follows Mayank on the leg side with a flatter ball. Agarwal cuts it straight to point.

Shorter and angling on off, Agarwal punches it to covers. Dhawan wanted a single but was sent back wisely.

On middle, swept to short fine leg for a single.

A flatter ball, angling down, was slower through the air. Dhawan looks to sweep it but gets a leading edge just around the corner and to square leg. Dinesh Karthik charges there and puts a dive but fails to hold onto it, was a hard one though.

FOUR! Good start to the over! A full ball, on off. Dhawan skips down and tonks it towards long on for a boundary. The boundary just landed inches before the ropes and hence a boundary.

Very full and on off, drilled down to long on for a single.

FOUR! A short ball, outside off. Shikhar Dhawan makes room and slices it over point for another boundary.

Half a chance for stumping but Dinesh Karthik spills it. Willey hits the length hard and bowls it around off. Shikhar Dhawan advances but misses the ball. The ball bounces a bit extra and DK has almost no time to react.

Just a touch fuller, on off. The ball skids on and Dhawan keeps it out.

FOUR! Cheeky from Shikhar Dhawan and the fifty is up for Punjab in no time. A length ball, well outside off. Dhawan shuffles, gets down on one knee and ramps it over the keeper for a boundary.

On middle, worked onto the leg side for a single.

SIX! This is banged in short and outside off. Mayank Agarwal goes for the uppercut and manages to clear the point fence with ease. He looks in solid form here.

On off and angling in. Agarwal bunts it out towards mid on for one. 14 off Siraj's second over.

FOUR! Mohammed Siraj is being taken to the cleaners here. Around the hips, Agarwal half-pulls it over backward square leg for another boundary.

Around the top of off at 142.7 kph. Agarwal hangs back to defend.

SIX! Clean strike from Mayank Agarwal! Right in the slot on off stump. Agarwal smokes it right back over the bowler's head for a biggie.

Siraj goes full and on middle and leg. Mayank Agarwal launches the ball without much timing but is able to clear mid on and mid-wicket. They race back for two.

On a good length, over off stump. Dhawan drops it onto the off side and picks up a run.

Around the top of off, Shikhar Dhawan comes down the track again and nudges it towards mid off. He sets off for a quick single and makes it in time.

Short ball, on the body. Agarwal mistimes the pull shot. The ball goes aerially towards the vacant mid-wicket region and they get a single.

Back of a length, Dhawan walks towards the ball and pulls it down to mid-wicket for a run.

Pitched up, around off. Dhawan lofts it with the swing and just about manages to clear the man at covers. They race back for two though, good running.

Short of a length, around off. Agarwal goes up and over point and picks up a single.

Full and straight, flicked away towards mid-wicket.

Around the top of off, tapped towards covers for a quick run. 15 off the over and Punjab off to a flier.

FIVE WIDES! This is a disastrous start from Mohammed Siraj with the new ball. Tries to angle it into the pads but spills it down leg. The ball zips through and DK can't get to it. The ball runs away into the fine leg fence.

FOUR! This is pushed fuller and around off from Siraj. Mayank Agarwal throws his hands at it and looks to go over extra cover but ends up slashing it behind point for a boundary.

Around off, pushed towards the cover region.

Beaten! A length ball, tight on the off stump and just shaping away a bit. Agarwal looks to steer it towards third man but gets beaten past the outside edge.

FIVE WIDES! Mohammed Siraj tries to be a bit too aggressive and bangs it in high and wide, down the leg side. The ball races away to the fence and Punjab get five free runs.

Mayank Agarwal makes room leg side and Siraj follows him with a 140 kph full delivery. Agarwal misses the swing.

Length, over middle. Agarwal tucks it away leg side.

Who will bowl from the other end? It is Mohammed Siraj.

FOUR! Bit of width on offer and Shikhar Dhawan pounces on it. Dhawan advances down the track and hammers it through the cover region for the first boundary of the innings.

Good-length, over middle and shaping into Mayank Agarwal who manages to da it down towards backward point for a quick single.

A length ball, around middle. Dhawan walks towards the ball and flicks it towards deep mid-wicket for a single. He is underway as well.

Again some swing on offer for Willey. Even fuller this time, close to the off stump and shaping away. Dhawan plays inside the line of the ball.

Lovely shape from David Willey! Pitched up a bit, around off and shaping away. Shikhar Dhawan lets it through to the keeper.

Mayank Agarwal and Punjab are off the mark straightaway. Willey starts off with a length ball, wide of off stump. Agarwal slaps it towards deep point for a single.

Bye! Just a bye to end a brilliant display of batting from Bangalore. Dinesh Karthik shuffles across the off stump again and Sandeep Sharma follows him with a full and wide one. The ball is beyond the tramline but the line moves with the batter's movement. DK misses the heave leg side and Bhanuka Rajapaksa does well to get a glove on it. Bangalore finish with 205/2!

FOUR! Slog-sweep off a seamer and DK has gone berzerk! Full and angled across off stump. Karthik picks it up and shuffles across the stumps to heave it into the cow corner fence.

Dot ball! Sharma comes 'round the wicket and nails the yorker, going across the off stump. Karthik looks to jam it out on the off side but gets beaten.

FOUR! Out comes the lap shot! Full and wide, DK gets inside the line of the ball and lifts it over short fine leg for a boundary. The 200 is up for Bangalore.

SIX! All the way! A good-length ball, outside off. Dinesh Karthik hangs back and punches it over the extra cover fence for a biggie.

This is dug in short and over off. Virat Kohli pulls it down towards deep mid-wicket for a single.

Sandeep Sharma to bowl the final over.

A rare dot ball to end the over. Dinesh Karthik pre-meditates and shuffles way across his stumps. Smith follows him with a full ball and Karthik misses the scoop shot.

SIX! It's carnage out there from DK! Pitched up on off. Karthik picks up the slower ball and thumps it right back over the bowler's head for a biggie. Odean Smith brings up his half-century as well.

Shorter in length, on the body. Kohli pulls it behind square on the leg side for a single.

Leg bye! Fuller in length, angled into leg stump. Karthik misses the heave leg side and the ball rolls off the pads towards covers. They get a leg bye.

FOUR! Now Smith bangs it in halfway down the track and this is pummeled away. Over middle, sets up nicely for the batter. Dinesh Karthik pulls it into the mid-wicket fence.

SIX! It's been a forgetful debut for Odean Smith. This is angling down leg with fine leg inside the ring. Karthik picks it up and dispatches it over the fine leg fence for a maximum.

Odean Smith to bowl the penultimate over.

A diving effort but it's out of reach. A short ball, at the body. Karthik looks to pull but mistimes it just over the fielder at square leg and picks up a single. Just 3 runs and a wicket off Arshdeep Singh's final over.

Arshdeep Singh bowls another slower bouncer, this is way outside off and almost never arrives. Dinesh Karthik goes fetching but can only manage to edge it down towards short third man.

Full and curving into off stump. Karthik can only jam it back towards the bowler.

Slower bouncer from Singh, around off. Kohli pulls it down well in front of square on the leg side for a run.

A full toss, on off and dipping on the batter. Karthik eases it down to long on for one.

Dinesh Karthik is the new man in.

OUT! TAKEN! Shahrukh Khan with a sensational catch and Faf du Plessis has to depart. Arshdeep Singh changes the angle of attack as he comes from 'round the wicket. This is fuller and angling in from outside off. The bat twists in Faf's hands as he tries to clear long off and ends up chipping it well in front. Khan races in and dives forward to pouch it just before the ball hits the turf. Khan has made up for his dropped catch but du Plessis has done a lot of damage. End of a fabulous knock from the Bangalore skipper.

A low full toss, sliding into the pads. Virat Kohli clips it behind square on the leg side for a couple of runs.

Very full again, at the toes. This is jammed out on the leg side for a single.

Full and straight, driven down to long off for one more.

Nails the yorker this time does Sandeep Sharma. Faf keeps it out back onto the deck but they still manage to scamper through for one.

FOUR! Full and wide, Faf creams it with exquisite timing over extra cover for a boundary.

Sharma pushes it wide, Kohli advances but has to adjust and works it towards long off for a single.

Sandeep Sharma is back into the attack.

SIX! How many maximums is this man going to hit tonight? Arshdeep Singh misses the yorker once again and serves a juicy full toss on off. Du Plessis makes a bit of room and thumps it over the long on fence. He has raced away into the 80s.

Another full toss, on off. Kohli looks to drive it straight back but toe-ends it down to long off for just a run.

Singh gets it into the blockhole this time. Du Plessis works it through square leg for a single.

SIX! Faf du Plessis is relentless! Singh pushes it full and wide, du Plessis waits for it and launches it over the long off fence for another biggie.

Shorter in length, around middle and leg. Kohli pulls it down towards long on for a run.

A high full toss, angling across off. Du Plessis slashes at it and gets it towards deep cover for just a single.

Strategic Time-Out! What a change of gears it has been from Faf du Plessis! He is absolutely destroying the Punjab bowlers at the moment. Virat Kohli too is striking at around 150 and the pair is looking well on course of taking Bangalore over the 200-run mark. Mayank Agarwal will be scratching his head as to who to bring into the attack now. Everyone is getting hit for runs and with Rahul Chahar done with his spell, someone has to step up for Punjab. Arshdeep Singh (2-0-12-0) is brought back into the attack.

Chahar completes his spell with a full ball, on off. du Plessis drives it through covers for a single.

Too full and on middle. Kohli works it to deep mid-wicket for a run.

A flatter ball from 'round the wicket, outside off. du Plessis slashes it to deep cover for a single.

Full, quicker and outside off. Du Plessis misses his drive.

Outside off. Kohli punches it to deep cover for a single.

Wide! This is short and outside off, spinning more away. Left alone for a wide.

Darted on the pads, du Plessis bunts it to square leg for one.

Rahul Chahar (3-0-16-1) is back on.

A full toss but pushed back to the bowler. 21 runs off the over.

SIX! Virat Kohli says let me join as well to the party! A full ball, on off. Kohli thumps it over long off for a maximum. Perfect wrists work there.

A loopy ball, on middle, tucked to square leg with soft hands and they get back for the second run.

Very full, on middle. du Plessis toe ends his drive, past the bowler and to long on for single.

SIX!  Two in a row! This is full and on off. This time du Plessis gets low to hammer it straight down for a biggie.

SIX! Stand and delivery! Faf du Plessis says enough of ones and twos! This is short and on off. du Plessis hangs back and muscles it over long off for a biggie. Sheer power.

A single as this length ball is slapped to sweeper cover.

SIX! This time it is much better and he brings up his fifty in style. The skipper making a statement. This is full and straying on the leg stump. Faf du Plessis shuffles across and scoops it beautifully and the ball lands over the fine leg fence in no time.

SIX! Huge! A short ball, angling on middle. du Plessis waits on the back foot and pulls it well over fine leg for a biggie now. He has changed the gears for sure.

FOUR! Finds the gap! Pitches it up and on off. du Plessis drives it through covers, in the gap for a boundary.

Short in length and on off. Kohli chops it to point for a single.

Wide! Short and down the leg side. Kohli misses his tuck there and a wide is signaled.

FOUR! Boundaries are coming now! A length ball, on off. Kohli smashes it through covers and the fielder there lets it through for a boundary.

Flatter ball, on off. du Plessis drives it through covers for a single. The fielder scores a direct-hit at the bowler's end and they get another run, through overthrow.

SIX! BANG! A full ball, flighted and on off. du Plessis stays back and hammers it over long on for a biggie. Will this break the shackles?

WIDE! Liam Livingstone sees Faf du Plessis shuffling and tries to fire it in at the toes. The ball seems to have hit du Plessis' pads but a wide is signalled and Livingstone isn't happy.

Full and on off, pushed through covers for a couple of runs.

A leg breaker but was at a short-length and Faf du Plessis pulls it to deep mid-wicket. A bit of fumble and they steal a couple of runs.

Tossed up, quicker and on middle, Kohli hits it to long on for a single.

A dipper, fuller and on off. Kohli square drives it but finds point.

Liam Livingstone to roll his arm now.

Tad short and on off. du Plessis pulls it to the right of long on and calls for two runs. This time he puts a dive and makes it, the throw was not that accurate so made it with ease.

Angles it on the pads, this is tucked behind square on the leg side for a single.

Fullish and on off, pushed to covers for another quick single.

On middle, flicked to deep square leg for a couple of runs.

Flighted, full and on middle. Virat uses his wrists to push it to covers. He takes off for a single and reaches the other end with a big dive.

Flatter ball, on middle. Du Plessis works it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

A quicker ball, on a length and on the pads. Kohli skips down and misses his flick. The ball hits him on the pads and rolls away to point.

Two wides! Length ball and down the leg side, du Plessis misses his flick. The keeper fumbles and a single is stolen.

Brar sees Kohli advancing down again and he serves it on the pads, this is pushed to long on for a single.

SIX! Kohli trying to change the gears now! Tossed up, on off. Kohli dances down and heaves it well over mid-wicket for a biggie. A much needed boundary.

This one comes with the angle, on a length and around leg. Kohli leans to flick it but misses and gets hit on the pads. An appeal but it was straying down.

Two again! Shorter this time, on middle, pulled away wide of deep mid-wicket for a couple.

Fuller ball and on middle. Kohli comes down the track and wrists it to deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs!

Strategic Time-Out! It's been an interesting opening 9 overs so far. The bowlers have bowled fairly well and yet the batting side had a decent Powerplay. This was not due to runs off the bat but mainly due to the extras. Anuj Rawat tried to up the ante but perished and Faf du Plessis has looked out of touch so far. But with Virat Kohli alongside him, they will look to bat as deep as possible. Punjab will be looking for wickets to put their opposition under more pressure.

Just three runs off it! Flatter and on off, cut away straight to point.

A flighted ball, outside off. du Plessis looks to drive but gets a thick outside edge to short third man.

A loopy ball, outside off, du Plessis keeps it out to covers.

This is full, slower in the air and just around off. du Plessis goes for the big slog-sweep but misses it completely and the ball bounces over the off pole.

Slightly short and on off. du Plessis cuts it uppishly and to deep point for a couple of runs. Big boundaries and the batters will get two easily.

A slower ball, on the pads. Kohli flicks behind square on the leg side for a single.

Keeps it tight, around off. du Plessis is early as he tries to drive and ends up pushing it back to Brar. Good start by Brar.

Full ball, on off. Kohli reaches to the pitch of the ball and eases it to long off for a single.

Very full and on middle. Kohli leans and nudges it to mid-wicket.

A flatter ball, this one comes with the angle. du Plessis tucks it to mid-wicket for a single.

Kohli is off  the mark as well as he pushes this full ball to long off.

Full ball, on off, du Plessis drills it to long off for a single.

Virat Kohli walks in at number 3 for Bangalore. Also, Harpreet Brar is into the attack.

OUT! TIMBER! Chahar gets his man! A flighted ball, full and on middle, turns a bit back into the batter. Anuj Rawat gets on his knee to slog-sweep but gets beaten by the spin and the ball meets the wooden sticks behind.

Four byes! A tossed up, full and around leg. Rawat tries to reverse sweep it but misses. The keeper fails to collect and the ball races away to the fence.

Full ball, on off. Rawat slog-sweeps it to deep mid-wicket and bags another couple of runs.

Tossed up, on off, pushed to long off for a run.

This is full and on leg. du Plessis makes room and lofts it to long off for a couple of runs. Good running between the wickets.

A leg breaker, it lands on off and spins away. du Plessis prods to defend but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Rahul Chahar is into the attack.

FOUR! Excellent finish for Bangalore! A length ball, outside off. Rawat skips down and muscles it over covers for a boundary.

FOUR! Pulled away! Short of a length, outside off, Rawat stays back and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a boundary.

Another dropped catch but it was a terrific effort from Shahrukh Khan! A length ball, outside off. Rawat smashes it to the right of covers where Khan dives and gets a hand to it, certainly saves a boundary there. Two runs taken.

A low full toss, outside off, pushed straight to covers.

A length ball, outside off. Rawat is cramped for room as he tries to go over covers, ends up hitting it to mid off.

A length ball, outside off. Rawat looks to cut but misses.

It's been a watchful start from the Bangalore openers here. Full and straight, pushed towards mid on for a quick single by Anuj Rawat.

Slower delivery, full and angled into leg stump. Rawat flicks it uppishly towards mid-wicket.

Fullish delivery, on off. Rawat hangs back and keeps it out.

Risky single but Faf makes it in time. Full and straight, jammed out to mid off for a quick single.

Good fielding in the deep by Liam Livingstone. Around middle and leg, flicked away in front of square on the leg side. Livingstone sprints to his left and dives in to save two runs for his team.

WIDE! Faf du Plessis tries to be cheeky and Arshdeep Singh tries to outsmart him. Faf shuffles right across his stumps. Singh goes chasing after him but pushes it beyond the tramline.

Back of a length, around off. Rawat punches it off the back foot through covers for a single.

Full and around off, this is driven towards mid off.

On off, pushed towards mid off.

DROPPED! At this level that should have been taken! Just short of a length, on middle. Faf du Plessis doesn't move his feet and just pulls it straight towards Shahrukh Khan at short mid-wicket. It is a sharp chance but he completely misses the ball and ends up spilling a straightforward chance. Odean Smith doesn't look impressed.

Around leg stump, tucked away towards mid-wicket for another quick run.

A touch fuller, on off. Rawat pushes it out towards covers.

Smith bowls his first bowl in the Indian T20 League at almost 141 clicks and around the top of off. De Plessis bunts it out on the off side for a quick single.

Full and straight, Rawat works it towards mid on.

Around the top of off, Rawat presses forward and nudges it on the off side with soft hands.

SIX! What a hit from Anuj Rawat! Rawat shimmies down the track and smokes the length ball over the long on fence for the first biggie of the match.

Around middle and leg, tucked away past square leg. They look for the second run but it isn't there. Just a single.

FOUR! Finally, Sandeep Sharma misses his mark and serves a half volley on the pads. Du Plessis clips it aerially and into the vacant mid-wicket fence.

A length ball, on the fifth stump line. Faf du Plessis gets right behind the line of the ball to make the block.

On off, pushed towards covers by Rawat.

WIDE! A length ball, pushed wider and moving further away. Wide called.

Leg bye! A stifled appeal from the bowler but it's well down leg. Singh goes full and at the toes, the ball curves into the batter. Faf du Plessis is yorked and the ball rolls onto the off side off his pads. They scamper through for a leg bye.

On middle and going away again, du Plessis keeps it out on the off side.

Arshdeep Singh gets this one to go the other way and Faf is taken by surprise. Around leg, going away after pitching and du Plessis manages to fend it off.

FOUR LEG BYES! Singh errs in line again and gives away four extra runs. On the pads, Faf misses the flick and the ball goes off the pads and into the fine leg fence.

Around middle and leg, swinging back into the right-hander. Du Plessis gets cramped for room and awkwardly blocks it away.

FIVE WIDES! A hint of swing for Arshdeep Singh but the line is completely wrong. Length, down leg and swinging further down. The keeper has no chance of getting to that one and its a boundary as well.

Who will bowl from the other end? It is Arshdeep Singh.

Right on the money again from Sharma. Around the top of off, Rawat shimmies a bit and nudges it out onto the off side. Just a single off the first over.

Faf du Plessis and Bangalore are off the mark. Length again, on the fifth stump line. Faf guides it down to third man for a single.

A touch fuller from Sandeep and outside off. This one shapes away now and du Plessis eases it onto the off side. Solid start so far from Sandeep Sharma.

Length again, a bit wider and shaping in nicely. Faf taps it towards cover-point.

On a length, shaping in from around off. du Plessis keeps it out on the off side.

Sharma starts off with a fullish ball, around off and there is some inward movement on offer for him. Faf du Plessis stays in his crease and blocks it out.

We are all set for play! The umpires make their way out to the middle as the Punjab team is seen in a huddle. Faf du Plessis and Anuj Rawat are the openers for Bangalore tonight and they take guard. Sandeep Sharma has the new ball in hand and he will be looking for some swing early on. Let's go...

We are minutes away from the start of this match but in the first match of Super Sunday, Delhi have managed to notch up a victory out of nowhere against Mumbai. It required a special batting effort from Axar Patel and Lalit Yadav to guide Delhi to a win in their opening fixture.

Bangalore (Playing XI) - Faf du Plessis (C), Anuj Rawat, Dinesh Karthik (WK), Sherfane Rutherford, Virat Kohli, David Willey, Wanindu Hasaranga, Shahbaz Ahmed, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep.

Punjab (Playing XI) - Mayank Agarwal (C), Shikhar Dhawan, Liam Livingstone, Bhanuka Rajapaksa (WK), Odean Smith, Shahrukh Khan, Raj Bawa, Arshdeep Singh, Harpreet Brar, Sandeep Sharma, Rahul Chahar.

TOSS - Up goes the coin and it lands in the favour of Punjab. They will BOWL first!

Punjab on the other hand have shuffled things around with changes right on the top. A new season with a new skipper and they look balanced on the paper. They have the likes of Liam Livingstone and Odean Smith in the middle with Kagiso Rabada leading the bowling troops. Rabada though will miss the opening fixture. Which new captain will lead his troops to the safer shores first? We will find out soon. Toss and teams coming up shortly.

‘Ee sala cup namde’ which means, this time the cup is ours. For yet another season, Bangalore fans will chant wholeheartedly, with a promise that the franchise will live up to the expectations, this time with a new leader at the helm. In the previous edition, they made it to the Eliminator but were knocked out by Kolkata. So they will hope to make the next big step this season and go a couple of steps further.

The Indian T20 League is up and running and the third match of the season sees Punjab take on Bangalore. Both the teams have new leaders for the new season. Virat Kohli announced last year that he will step down as the Bangalore skipper so it will be Faf du Plessis leading the side while Punjab will rely on prolific opener Mayank Agarwal to lead them.

... MATCH DAY ...