Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bangalore IPL, 2023

OUT! CAUGHT! All over for Punjab. Harshal Patel gets the final wicket and Bangalore win this game by 24 runs. Slower ball. Full and outside off. Jitesh Sharma swings hard across the line and gets a top edge that lobs up toward the point fielder Shahbaz Ahmed who holds onto the catch. Jitesh Sharma played a valiant knock but could not get his team over the line. Bangalore bagged 2 points away from home and the stand-in-skipper Virat Kohli will be pleased with this effort.

A low full toss, on midddle, Jitesh Sharma drills it down the pitch where it hits the stumps and goes nowhere.

On a length but way outside off, Jitesh Sharma fails to reach it. Wided.

Arshdeep Singh walks out at number 11.

OUT! GONE! TIMBER! There is no stopping Mohammed Siraj tonight. What a spell from the speedster. Full and slanting into the middle and leg. Nathan Ellis hangs back as the ball crashes into the stumps and Punjab loses their 9th one.

Shortish and around off, pulled with no timing to long on for one.

Full and at the stumps. Nathan Ellis defends it forward to a short cover and looks to take a single. Wanindu Hasaranga gets a direct hit at the stumps and the ball ricochets off the stumps toward short fine leg as the batters cross for a single.

OUT! WICKET! CLEANED UP! Good length delivery on the middle and off stump line. Harpreet Brar swings across the line but misses and the ball crashes into the stumps. Mohammed Siraj is delighted and takes his third one for the match. Also, Nathan Ellis is the next man in for Punjab.

BYE! Off-pace delivery, on a good length and outside off. Jitesh Sharma cuts and misses. Dinesh Karthik fails to collect it cleanly and the batters cross for a bye.

Back of a length around the off-stump. Brar pulls it to cow corner for a single.

DROPPED! Slower ball. Full toss at the stumps. Jitesh Sharma swings hard and lofts it high toward the wide long on region. Virat Kohli runs around to take the catch but gets distracted by Suyash Prabhudessai who comes in from the deep mid-wicket region. A chance goes begging here.

Full and on off, Harpreet Brar lifts it on a bounce to the man at long off for one.

Pace off delivery, on a length and outside off. Jitesh Sharma slaps it past the bowler down to long off for a single.

Full on the leg peg, clipped away to deep backward square leg for a single.

Full and on off, drilled to long off for a single.

Back of a length angled outside off, Harpreet Brar lofts it on the up toward long off for one.

Strategic Break. Punjab needs 37 from the final 4 overs. Prabhsimran Singh batted well for them at the top and Jitesh Sharma is keeping them in the hunt with his big hits. He holds the key for Punjab to get them over the line. Bangalore, on the other hand, will look to take the wicket of Jitesh Sharma and close this game out.

Yorker at the stumps. Harpreet Brar digs and drives this past the bowler and down the ground for one.

Off-pace delivery outside off. Jitesh Sharma hangs back and slaps it to extra cover. He scampers through for a quick single.

On a good length and bowls this outside off. Jitesh Sharma shuffles across to play the ramp but fails to connect.

SIX! BANG! SMASHED! Full and at the stumps. Jitesh Sharma stays deep in the crease and lifts it over the bowler and down the ground toward long on for a maximum.

FOUR!  Jitesh Sharma keeping it alive for Punjab! Full and in the slot around off. Jitesh Sharma lofts it inside out over covers for a boundary.

Full around off, flicked through mid-wicket for one.

Vyshak Vijay Kumar (2-0-16-0) comes back on.

Shortish around off. Jitesh Sharma goes back and pulls it toward the deep mid-wicket region for a couple. The ball lands just in front of the fielder running in and the batters cross for two runs.

Wrong'un drifting on the pads. Jitesh Sharma skids down to work it away but misses and gets a thud on the pad.

Flatter outside off, worked through square leg for one.

Googly at the stumps, Jitesh Sharma goes for the heave again but edges it on the bounce to the man at short third. A single taken here.

SIX! BOOM! Full and just outside off. Jitesh Sharma gets down, picks it up early, and smokes it over the side screen for a huge hit.

Flatter and around off, Harpreet Brar works it through square leg for one.

A dot to end the over. Brilliant yorker tailing into the middle and leg. Jitesh Sharma looks to work it away but bunts it back onto the pad.

Yorker at the stumps, Harpreet Brar digs it out and works it toward mid-wicket for a single.

Short of a length slanting outside off. Harpreet Brar looks to play the uppercut but fails to connect.

Yorker just outside off, Harpreet Brar jams it out and pushes back to Siraj.

On a good length and just outside off, Jitesh Sharma taps it to point for one.

Back of a length outside off, Jitesh Sharma pulls it toward the wide long on region for a couple.

Edged and Four! Leg break around the off-stump line. Harpreet Brar prods forward but the ball takes the inside edge and goes through the keeper and past the short fine leg fielder for a streaky boundary.

Harpreet Brar walks out to bat.

OUT! WICKET! STUMPED! Another one bites the dust! Googly around the leg peg. Shahrukh Khan charges down the track to hoick it away but misses this completely. Dinesh Karthik behind the stumps makes an easy stumping and Shahrukh Khan is a goner here. Punjab are 7 down and in spot of bother.

Flatter on the leg peg. Jitesh Sharma stays back and works it through mid-wicket for one.

Full and sliding down the leg, nudges it to short fine leg for one.

Googly at the stumps, Jitesh Sharma goes back and pulls it toward the deep mid-wicket region for one.

Wrong'un at the middle and leg. Jitesh Sharma hangs back and pats back to the bowler.

Wanindu Hasaranga (2-0-21-1) comes back on.

SIX! BOOM! Shahrukh Khan gets off the mark with a biggie! On a good length and on off. Shahrukh Khan hangs back and smashes this straight over the bowler and down the ground for a maximum.

DROPPED! Full again around off, Shahrukh Khan hits this hard and straight around the chest region to Parnell. The bowler gets his hand out to take it but is unable to grasp it.

Full at the stumps, driven back to Parnell.

Shahrukh Khan is the new batter in.

OUT! TIMBER! Excellent comeback from Wayne Parnell and gets his man. He serves this full and straight with hint of reverse swing, Prabhsimran Singh skips down the track to drill it away, but gets beaten by the movement and the ball goes through to shatter the stumps. Prabhsimran Singh goes back after a fine knock, and Bangalore are well and truly ahead in this game now.

SIX! BANG! Short and down the leg. Prabhsimran Singh pulls and helps it over the fine leg boundary for half a dozen. This is impressive stuff by the right hander.

Full at the stumps, chipped to long on for one.

A brilliant yorker, on middle, Jitesh Sharma is late to put his bat down in time as the ball goes off his pads past short fine leg. A leg bye is taken.

NO BALL AND SIX! Harshal Patel loses his grip and bowls a very high full toss above the waist, Jitesh Sharma manaegs well to get out of the way and smashes it over the deep square leg fence for a biggie. Free Hit coming up...

A good review from Punjab! Harshal Patel bowls a full toss, around leg angling in, Jitesh Sharma looks to whip it away, but misses and gets hit on the pads. There is a huge appeal for LBW, and up goes the finger. However, Sharma goes for the review and UltraEdge shows no bat involved and Ball Tracking indicates wickets are missing. The on-field call is changed and Sharma survives.

FOUR! Good shot! Harshal Patel bangs this short and outside off, Jitesh Sharma stays there and slaps it towards the sweeper cover fence for a boundary.

This is on a good length and on middle, Jitesh Sharma looks to work it away, but gets hurried and misses to get hit high on the pads.

A good yorker now, on middle, Prabhsimran Singh jams it out towards long on for a single.

A slower delivery, on a length and outside off, Prabhsimran Singh uses his feet and swings hard, but misses.

Overpitched and on middle, Prabhsimran Singh tucks it through mid-wicket for a run.

Jitesh Sharma walks out to bat now.

OUT! RUN OUT! Bangalore gets another wicket due to their fielding as Sam Curran walks back to the hut now. Vyshak Vijay Kumar pitches it up, on off, Sam Curran squeezes it towards short third man and sets off for the run, but is a bit slow as he is looking at the ball rather than running, Wanindu Hasaranga picks up the ball and hits bullseye at the bowler's end with Curran short of his crease. The replays confirms the same and Punjab lose half their side now.

FOUR! Nice shot! Sam Curran serves this full and around off, Sam Curran stays there and carasses it through extra covers for a boundary.

Back of a length and on off, Prabhsimran Singh uses his feet and punches it wide of mid off for a run.

Fuller one and on off, Sam Curran forces it through mid-wicket for a single.

Short of a length and on middle, slower too, Sam Curran looks to pull, but is through his shot early and misses as the ball goes off his thigh pads towards backward point.

Strategic-Break! Bangalore are currently top of this game, but they know that they cannot let a partnership build which can hurt them later on. Punjab are slowly getting back in the game, but they need to maintain the scoring rate without losing wickets to get near the total. This match is poised nicely at the moment. Vyshak Vijay Kumar to bowl after the break.

SIX! Into the stands! This is flighted and around middle and leg, Prabhsimran Singh dances down the track again and heaves it over the deep mid-wicket fence for another biggie.

Another short delivery, on off, Sam Curran punches it towards long on for one more.

Short again and on middle, Prabhsimran Singh clips it off the back foot through square leg for one.

Short and outside off, Prabhsimran Singh cuts it towards covers.

DROPPED! Prabhsimran Singh gets a life here! This is floated, full and on middle, Prabhsimran Singh looks to reverse-sweep it, but gets a top edge as the ball flies in the air in front of short third man where Harshal Patel is a bit late to react and dives forward in the end, but spills it out.

SIX! Up, up and away! This is tossed up around middle, Prabhsimran Singh skips down the track and and smokes it over the long on fence for a biggie.

Harshal Patel bangs in a slower bouncer, on middle, Sam Curran ducks under it.

Fullish and on off, Sam Curran drives it off the bottom half towards mid off.

On a length and on off, slower too, Sam Curran mistime his push back to the bowler.

A low full toss, on middle, Prabhsimran Singh drills it towards long on for a run.

A slower dipping yorker now, on middle, Prabhsimran Singh digs to the right of the bowler.

Harshal Patel starts with a full delivery and on middle, Sam Curran tucks it through mid-wicket for a single.

A single to end the over as this short delivery is punched towards long off by Curran.

Short once more, on off, Prabhsimran Singh forces it towards long off for one more.

Another short delivery, on middle, Sam Curran moves back and clips it towards deep mid-wicket for one.

Short again and on middle, Prabhsimran Singh works it towards mid-wicket for a run.

Short and outside off, Prabhsimran Singh cuts it towards short covers.

Glenn Maxwell begins with a short delivery, on middle, Sam Curran pushes it back where Maxwell misfields and allows a single.

SIX! BOOM! Vyshak Vijay Kumar bangs this short and on middle, Prabhsimran Singh looks to pull it away, but gets a top edge as the ball flies over the fine leg fence for a biggie.

On a length and on middle, Prabhsimran Singh tucks it towards mid-wicket and sets off for the run, but is sent back.

Overpitched and on middle, Prabhsimran Singh drills it towards mid on.

OUT! RUN OUT! A moment of brilliance in the field! Bangalore gets another breakthrough and Punjab are in a spot of bother now. Vyshak Vijay Kumar serves this a touch fuller, on middle, Prabhsimran Singh usss his feet and lifts it towards mid off on the bounce as Harpreet Singh sets off for the run, but there is confusion in the middle and is sent back. However, Mohammed Siraj picks it up and throws at the bowler's end in one motion and hits bullseye with Harpreet not even in the frame. Punjab four down now!

Sam Curran comes out to the middle now with his side in a spot of bother.

This is on a hard length and down the leg side, Prabhsimran Singh misss his pull. Wided.

Short of a length and outside off, Harpreet Singh cuts it towards deep point for a run.

Vyshak Vijay Kumar starts with a back-of-a-length delivery, around off, Prabhsimran Singh punches it towards short covers where the fielder parries it behind and allows a single.

SIX! Harpreet Singh connects this time! Wayne Parnell bangs this short and on middle, Harpreet Singh gets on top of the bounce and pulls it over the deep square leg fence for a biggie.

A brilliant slower bouncer, around off, Harpreet Singh has no idea and tries to pat it away, but faisl to connect.

Wayne Parnell lands this on a hard length and around leg, angling in, Prabhsimran Singh uses his feet and drops it to the off side for a run.

Short of a length and outside off, Harpreet Singh cuts it towards cover-point for a quick single.

This is on a good length and around off, Harpreet Singh looks to play at it, but misses.

Back of a length and around leg, Harpreet Singh tries to hook it, but toe ends it onto the pitch.

Length again and on off, Prabhsimran Singh blocks it out.

On a length and on middle, Harpreet Singh taps it to the leg side and scampers across for a run.

FOUT! Easy pickings! This is full but down the leg side, Harpreet Singh stays there and glances it towards the fine leg fence for a boundary to get off the mark.

Fuller and on off, Harpreet Singh pushes it towards short covers.

Harpreet Singh is the next man in.

OUT! LBW! Mohammed Siraj strikes again and gets the big fish, Liam Livingstone. This is another appeal for LBW, but turned down! Virat Kohli opts for the review at the last moment. Coming to the delivery, Mohammed Siraj lands this on a good length and on middle, Liam Livingstone comes down the track and tries to heave it away, but misses and gets hit on the pads. UltraEdge shows no bat involved and Ball Tracking shows three reds again. Another brilliant review for Bangalore and Punjab are in huge trouble now.

On a length and on middle, Liam Livingstone keeps it out to the leg side.

FOUR! Good shot! This is flighted, full and around leg, Prabhsimran Singh goes down and paddles it well towards the fine leg fence for a boundary.

Tossed up, full and on middle, Prabhsimran Singh leans on and blocks it out.

Another short delovery, on middle, Liam Livingstone tucks it wide of mid-wicket for one.

Short again and on middle, Prabhsimran Singh flicks it towards square leg for a run.

Short and on middle, Liam Livingstone moves back and pushes it towards long on for a single and gets off the mark.

Liam Livingstone comes out to the middle now.

OUT! TIMBER! Wanindu Hasaranga strikes straightaway! Matthew Short tries to take him on, but loses his wicket in the process. Hasaranga starts with a googly, on middel, turning in sharply, Matthew Short skips down the track to slog it away, but loses his shape and plays all around it as the ball goes through to rattle the stumps. Punjab two down now!

Wanindu Hasaranga to bowl some leggies now.

FOUR! BANG! Short again and down the leg. Prabhsimran Singh pulls it toward the long leg region for a boundary to end the over.

Full and outside off, Matthew Short drives it off the inside part of the bat and a slight misfield at mid on allows the batters to cross for one.

SIX! SMOKED! Back of a length ball, down the leg. Matthew Short picks it early and pulls it over the fine leg fence for a huge hit.

Full, and a hint of swing back in around off. Matthew Short prods and drives it back to Parnell.

Short of a length around the stumps. Matthew Short is into the shot early and wears on the thigh pad.

Wayne Parnell starts off with a short ball angling outside off, Matthew Short goes for the pull and misses.

Wayne Parnell to share the attack.

Hard length around off, Prabhsimran Singh gets on top of the bounce and punches it to covers.

FOUR! Prabhsimran Singh gets off the mark with a boundary. Back of a length delivery slanting down the leg. Prabhsimran Singh tickles it nicely toward the fine leg region for a boundary.

Hard length angled in around off. Prabhsimran Singh gets behind the line and defends.

Back of a length outside off, Matthew Short opens the bat face and guides it toward the third man for one.

Matthew Short walks out to bat at number 3.

OUT! LBW! Appeal for LBW and the umpire is unmoved. Good length delivery around the middle and leg stump line. Taide prods and get hit on the front pad. Bangalore goes upstairs for the review. The ball tracking shows THREE REDS and Taide is a goner. Mohammed Siraj gets the breakthrough early and Bangalore will be delighted with the wicket.

Is that out? Virat Kohli goes for the review for an LBW decision on Atharva Taide. UltraEdge shows no bat involved. Ball Tracking shows three reds and the on-field decision will have to be changed.

FOUR! Atharva Taide is up and running with a boundary. Back of a length on the pads. Taide clips it nicely through the square leg for a fine boundary.

Only a couple of runs to end the innings then! Sam Curran bowls this back of a length and outside off, Shahbaz Ahmed cuts it wide of deep point and comes back for the second. Bangalore ends on 174/4!

This is on a hard length and on middle, Mahipal Lomror heaves it towards deep mid-wicket for another run.

Back of a length and on off, Shahbaz Ahmed slaps it towards long on for a run.

Full and around off, Shahbaz Ahmed slices it towards wide of long off for a brace.

Short of a length and on off, slower too, Mahipal Lomror moves across to scoop again, but adjusts and pulls it towards short fine leg for a single.

FOUR LEG BYES! A lucky one but Bangalore will not mind that. This is on a good length and outside off, Mahipal Lomror shuffles across to scoop it, but misses and it goes off his thigh pads towards the fine leg fence for a boudary.

Shahbaz Ahmed walks out to bat now. Also, Sam Curran to bowl the last over.

OUT! TAKEN! Another one bites the dust! Arshdeep Singh gets his man this time. He bangs this short again, but in the middle this time, Dinesh Karthik looks to pull it away, but fails to get on top of the bounce and mistimes it in the air towards deep square leg where Atharva Taide comes forward and takes a good low catch. Bangalore four down now!

FOUR! A poor delivery and rightly punished! Arshdeep Singh lands this short and outside off, slower too with no protection in the deep, David Willey just cuts it over point for a boundary.

On a length and on off, Mahipal Lomror punches it towards extra covers for single.

FOUR! Mahipal Lomror finds the fence! Arshdeep Singh misses his yorker this time, on off, Mahipal Lomror carves it wide of extra covers for a boundary.

Another fine yorker, on off, Mahipal Lomror is late to put his bat down, and misses.

Arshdeep Singh nails the yorker, on middle, Mahipal Lomror only manages to dig it back to the bowler.

Arshdeep Singh (3-0-25-0) to bowl the penultimate over.

On a length and around leg, Dinesh Karthik tickles it wide of fine leg for a brace.

Back of a length on the body of the batter. Lomror swivels but misses the pull and wears around the rib. The batters cross for a leg bye.

Slower one. Full and on off. Mahipal Lomror bunts it back to Ellis.

Mahipal Lomror is the new batter in.

OUT! TAKEN! Nathan Ellis strikes now! Faf du Plessis goes now and Punjab are very much back in the game. Nathan Ellis lands this on a good length and around off, Faf du Plessis makes room and tries to slog it away, but fails to get under it and mistimes it. As a result it goes in the air and towards long off where Sam Curran settles under it to take a fine catch under pressure. Faf du Plessis goes after an excellent knock, but Bangalore are in a bit of a trouble now.

SIX! Just over! Nathan Ellis serves this full and on middle, in the slot as well, Faf du Plessis heaves it away without much timing, but it has enough power to go over the long on fence for a biggie.

Slower ball goes over the top of the middle and leg. Faf du Plessis skips down to heave it away but gets beaten by lack of pace.

A dot to end the over. Short and outside off. Dinesh Karthik goes back and cuts it straight to the man at covers.

Full and outside off, driven to deep extra cover for one.

SIX! BANG! On a length and on the middle. Faf du Plessis lifts it over the bowler and smacks it down the ground for a biggie.

Hat-trick ball! Floats it up on the leg peg, Dinesh Karthik eases it to long on for one.

Dinesh Karthik is the next man in.

OUT! TWO IN TWO! Harpreet Brar strikes again! Glenn Maxwell goes for a golden duck. Brar flights this up, full and outside off, Glenn Maxwell makes room and tries to go for the big shot, but ends up slicing it instead and Atharva Taide from covers runs to his left and takes a good catch. This is a huge wicket for Punjab and Bangalore are two down now.

Glenn Maxwell comes out to the middle now.

OUT! TAKEN! Harpreet Brar finally gets the breakthrough for Punjab! A soft dismissal for Virat Kohli. Harpreet Brar bowls this flatter, full and around leg, Virat Kohli looks to paddle it away, but misses and the ball loops up off the inner edge as Jitesh Sharma stretches his left hand and pouches it safely. The umpires are not sure and goes upstairs. UltraEdge shows that the there is a spike when the ball is close to the bat and the catch is clean too. Kohli has to make that long walk back now!

Harpreet Brar (2-0-23-0) comes back into the attack now.

Fullish and on off, Faf du Plessis lifts it with no power down towards wide of long off for a brace.

Another slower delivery, short of a length and around leg, Virat Kohli miscues his pull towards square leg for another run.

Sam Curran gets the slower bouncer right this time, on off, Virat Kohli looks to upper cut it, but misses.

DROPPED! A huge chance goes begging! Sam Curran serves this a touch full, on middle, Faf du Plessis looks to slog it away, but gets a top edge as the ball goes high in the air behind the keeper, Jitesh Sharma runs backwards, but fails to settle under it and spills it in the end. A single is taken.

Back of a length and on off, Virat Kohli uses his feet and forces it on the bounce towards long off for a run.

A slower one now, on a length and on leg, Faf du Plessis swipes it towards deep square leg for a single.

Nasty one! Sam Curran loses his grip and bowls a very high full toss near the head of the batter, Faf du Plessis tries to duck under it and swings his bat, but misses and Jitesh Sharma does well to stop it behind the stumps. It is called a No Ball for height. A Free Hit is coming up...

A low full toss, on middle, Faf du Plessis drills it towards long on for one.

Another good review for a wide call! Nathan Ellis tries the slower bouncer now around leg, Virat Kohli misses his hook and Jitesh Sharma only manages to parry it behind. A bye is taken. Kohli goes for the review and the replay shows that it is above the head too and a wide is called now.

SIX! Glorious shot! Nathan Ellis serves this full and around off, in the slot as well, Virat Kohli stays there and shows the full face of the bat to launch it over the long off fence for a biggie.

Pulls his length back a bit, on middle, Virat Kohli knocks it down the pitch where Nathan Ellis goes down quickly to make a good stop.

This is pitched up and outside off, Faf du Plessis reaches for it and drills it towards deep point while falling over in the process. They cross.

On a length and on off, slower too, Virat Kohli miscues his push to the right of the bowler for a run.

Full and on middle, Faf du Plessis mistimes his slog towards deep mid-wicket for a single.

FOUR! FIFTY FOR KOHLI! He gets to in some style as well and Bangalore gets a much-needed boundary. Arshdeep Singh serves this full and on off, Virat Kohli dances down the track and drives it well wide of long off with great timing for a boundary. This has been another fine knock from him, but he will need to change gears now.

Overpitched and on middle, Faf du Plessis mistimes his lofted shot towards long off for one more.

This is on a good length and on middle, Virat Kohli uses his feet and whips it towards deep mid-wicket for one.

A good yorker, on middle, Faf du Plessis digs it out towards long on for another run.

Arshdeep Singh bangs in a slower bouncer, on middle, Faf du Plessis thinks about ramping it, but lets it go in the end. The umpire signals one for the over. However, Faf du Plessis goes for the review after Kohli tells him too, and the replay shows that it is over the head height. The decision is changed to a wide now!

Full again and on leg, angling in, Virat Kohli looks to work it away, but gets an inside edge onto his pads as the ball rolls towards square leg. They cross.

Fuller one and slower too, on middle, Faf du Plessis forces it towards long on for a single.

Strategic-Break! Punjab have mangaed to get in a couple of cheap overs to restrict the run flow a bit, but they know that they need wickets to avoid Bangalore from getting to a huge total. Bangalore have all the resources still available and they will look to take full advantage of that after this break. An exciting phase of cricket awaits us. Arshdeep Singh to bowl after the break.

Shortish and on middle, Faf du Plessis heaves it towards deep mid-wicket for one more.

Tossed up, full and on off, Virat Kohli pushes it wide of point and scampers across for one.

Shorter in length and on middle, Faf du Plessis mistimes his pull through mid-wicket for another run.

Looped up, on leg, in the blokhole, Virat Kohli jams it out towards long on for a run.

Floated, full and no middle, Virat Kohli taps it towards point.

Flatter, short and on leg, Faf du Plessis works it towards deep mid-wicket for a single.

Full again and on middle, Faf du Plessis flicks it towards deep mid-wicket for another run. Only five runs of the over then!

Full and on off, Virat Kohli drives it towards long off for a run.

Good running! Sam Curran bowls a yorker, on leg, Virat Kohli digs it out in front of deep mid-wicket and comes back for the second. With that, the 100-run partnership comes up between these two batters.

Short again and outside off, Faf du Plessis slaps it towards long off for a single.

Back of a length and on off, Faf du Plessis punches it towards covers.

Short of a length and on middle, slower too, Faf du Plessis pulls it towards short fine leg.

Shortish and on middle, Faf du Plessis works it wide of mid-wicket for one.

FOUR! Brilliant shot! Rahul Chahar lands this short and way outside off, Faf du Plessis tries to make room initially, but adjusts well to reach for it and punches it past cover-point for a boundary.

Slightly shorter and on middle, Virat Kohli forces it towards deep square leg for a run.

Floated, full and on off, Virat Kohli drives it straight to covers.

Tossed up, full and on middle, Virat Kohli tucks it towards short mid-wicket.

Short and on middle, Faf du Plessis clips it towards deep mid-wicket for a single.

Pushed through full and just outside off, driven to deep cover-point for a single. Faf du Plessis brings up his FIFTY here and Bangalore are going well at 92 for no loss at the halfway mark.

Shortish and outside off, Virat Kohli hangs back and cuts it through covers for one.

Full and follows the batter outside off, Faf du Plessis works this through mid-wicket for one.

Flat at the stumps. Virat Kohli hangs back and punches it to long on for a single.

Full and outside off, drilled to long off for one.

FOUR! Liam Livingstone is greeted with a boundary. Short and outside off, Faf du Plessis goes back and hammers it toward the deep extra cover fence for a boundary.

Liam Livingstone comes into the attack.

Flat and shortish outside off, cut away to deep point for one.

Low full toss at the stumps, driven to long on for one.

Fires it full and outside off, Faf du Plessis makes room and lofts it on a bounce to the man at deep cover for one.

FOUR! BANG! Tossed up around off, Faf du Plessis sits down and lofts it over the bowler and down the ground for a cracking boundary.

Leg break spins away outside off. Faf du Plessis plays and misses.

Tossed up at the stumps, drilled to long on for one.

SIX! BANG! Good-length delivery at the middle and leg. Faf du Plessis backs away and hammers it back over the bowler down the ground into the side screen for half a dozen.

Good length ball slanting on the leg peg. Faf du Plessis backs away and flicks it toward the deep backward square leg region for a couple. Arshdeep Singh puts in the dive and keeps it to two.

Hard length just over the stumps. Faf du Plessis backs away and bunts into covers.

Full and outside off, Virat Kohli drives this to mid off for one.

Back of a length on off, Faf du Plessis hangs back and lofts it on a bounce to long on for one.

Length ball around the middle and leg, knocked down to long on for one.

Strategic Break! Bangalore have started well courtesy of Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis. The duo have added 63 off the 7 overs so far and are looking good for a big one. Punjab will have to get a few quick wickets to get back into the game and limit the scoring.

Googly around off, Virat Kohli goes back and eases it through covers for one.

Full on off, pushed to short cover.

Leg break spins away outside off, Virat Kohli bunts it back to Chahar.

Tossed up around off, Virat Kohli drives it hard through covers toward wide long off for a couple.

Flat and on the middle and leg stump. Faf du Plessis goes back and knocks it to long off for one.

Leg break around off, Faf du Plessis guides it to point.

Rahul Chahar is into the attack.

LEG BYE! Slower ball. Shortish and at the leg stump line. Faf du Plessis is early into the pull. The ball deflects off his ribs toward point for a leg bye.

Full and at the stumps, flicks to mid on and scampers for a quick single.

Short and angling down the leg, Virat Kohli pulls it toward the deep backward square leg region for a couple.

LEG BYE! Full and tailing back into the leg stump. Faf du Plessis looks to flick and misses, the ball deflects off the pad toward short third for a leg bye.

FOUR! BANG! Short of a length at the stumps. Faf du Plessis goes back and pulls it toward the deep mid-wicket region for a cracking boundary.

Sam Curran starts off with a back of a length ball on the leg peg. Virat Kohli advances and tucks it to deep square leg for one.

FOUR! Hard length again around off, Faf du Plessis plays it late and guides it nicely between short third and the backward point fielder for a boundary to end the over.

Hard length outside off, knocked to cover-point for none.

Length ball outside off, pushed to covers for one.

FOUR! Into the gap! Shortish and pace off, down the leg. Virat Kohli pulls it past the man at short fine leg toward the deep backward square leg fence for a boundary.

Length ball just outside off, Virat Kohli shimmies down and drives this hard to covers.

Slower and shortish around off, Faf du Plessis hangs back and pulls it to deep square leg for one.

Nathan Ellis comes into the attack now.

Flat on the leg peg. Faf du Plessis goes back and works it wide of the mid on fielder for a comfortable three.

SIX MORE! Full at the middle and leg. Faf du Plessis goes through with the line and smacks this over the long-on fence for another maximum.

Very full at the middle and leg, drilled to mid on.

SIX! BOOM! All the way! Tossed up at the stumps. Faf du Plessis makes room and lofts it over the bowler and down the ground for a biggie.

Full and on off, driven to long off for one.

Flat on the leg stump, worked through mid-wicket for one.

FOUR! 2nd boundary in the over! Back of a length outside off. Virat Kohli skips down and cuts this past the man at point for another boundary.

Good-length delivery outside off. Virat Kohli gets forward and eases it through covers for a couple.

Bouncer again around off, Virat Kohli goes for the pull but backs out of the shot at the last moment.

FOUR! Up and Over! Short and angling down the leg. Virat Kohli takes it on and pulls it over the short fine leg fielder for a boundary.

Low full toss outside off, Faf du Plessis knocks it to mid off for one.

Full-length delivery at the stumps. Faf du Plessis defends it forward.

Flat and coming into the middle and leg. Virat Kohli turns it to short mid-wicket.

Floated on off. Pushed to short cover.

FOUR! BANG! Tossed up around off. Virat Kohli leans into it and times this beautifully through covers for a boundary.

Full and outside off, eased to long off for one.

Shortish and spins outside off, Virat Kohli hangs back and works it through mid-wicket for one.

Full and just outside off, pushed to cover.

Harpreet Brar to start from the other end.

Back of a length delivery on the pad, tucked nicely through square leg for a single to end the over.

Short of a length outside off. Virat Kohli rides the bounce and steers it past point toward the third man for a couple.

LEG BYE! Tad fuller length this and swings back into the batter. Faf du Plessis plays all around it and wears it on the back pad. The ball deflects toward point and the batters cross for a leg bye.

Back of a length coming back in around the middle stump line. Faf du Plessis defends it forward.

Bouncer around off. Faf du Plessis lets it go and the umpire calls it one for the over.

Arshdeep Singh starts off with a length ball outside off. Virat Kohli dabs it to point and gets off the mark with a single.

We are all set to start! The two umpires walk out to the middle now followed by the Punjab players who spread out and take their respective field postions. Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis are the expected two openers for Bangalore. Arshdeep Singh has the new ball in hand and is raring to go. Let's play...

Liam Livingstone is up for a quick chat. He says that it is nice to be back in the playing field. Adds that the recovery has been a bit difficult but it is all worth it. Tells that they want to try and entertain the crowd and play good cricket and admits that Bangalore is a difficult opposition. Mentions that it is nice to see a full stadium and they have been playing good and wants to repay the faith shown in them by the fans.

Impact Players for Bangalore - Vyshak Vijay Kumar, David Willey, Akash Deep, Karn Sharma, Anuj Rawat.

Bangalore (Playing XI) - Faf du Plessis, Virat Kohli (C), Mahipal Lomror, Glenn Maxwell, Shahbaz Ahmed, Dinesh Karthik (WK), Suyash Prabhudessai (in place of Vyshak Vijay Kumar), Harshal Patel, Wanindu Hasaranga, Wayne Parnell, Mohammed Siraj.

Impact Players for Punjab - Prabhsimran Singh, Sikandar Raza, Mohit Rathee, Rishi Dhawan, Shivam Singh.

Punjab (Playing XI) - Atharva Taide, Matthew Short, Harpreet Singh, Liam Livingstone (In place of Sikandar Raza), Sam Curran (C), Jitesh Sharma (WK), Shahrukh Khan, Harpreet Brar, Nathan Ellis (In place of Kagiso Rabada), Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh,

Virat Kohli, the stand-in skipper of Bangalore says Faf du Plessis cannot field because of his bruised rib. So, he will be playing as an Impact Player for them replacing Vyshak Vijay Kumar later on. Adds that they got what they wanted and says that the pitch gets slow a bit. Mentions that it is about focusing on one game at a time and they need to do better in crunch situations which they haven't done in some of the games where the results haven't gone their way.

Sam Curran, the stand-in captain of Punjab says they will bowl first as they did it well in the last game and the boys are up for it. Adds that Shikhar Dhawan misses out again and he is closer to getting back. Mentions Dhawan is a quality player but the other players will have to step up and do the job.  Shares that Liam Livingstone comes back and so does Nathan Ellis in place of Rabada.

TOSS - The coin goes up in the air and lands in favour of Sam Curran. Punjab have decided to BOWL first.