Virat Kohli-led Bangalore registered their third consecutive win in the Indian T20 League 2021 as they defeated Kolkata by 38 runs at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Sunday.
This is the first time ever that Bangalore have won their first three matches of an Indian T20 League season.
After electing to bat first, Bangalore rode on Glenn Maxwell and AB de Villiers's blitzkrieg half-centuries to post 204/4 in their 20 overs.
In reply, the vaunted Kolkata batting line-up failed to stand up to the count as they were restricted to just 166/8 and Bangalore collected two more points in Chennai. That said, let’s take a look at some key stats from the game.
The Maxwell and de Villers show
Glenn Maxwell and AB de Villiers helped Bangalore come back from a shaky start in an emphatic fashion. Reeling at 9/2. Maxwell scored 78 off 49 balls, putting up a partnership of 86 runs with opener Devdutt Padikkal. After Padikkal was dismissed, Maxwell was joined by de Villiers at the crease. Maxwell went on to score 78 runs in the innings which is his fifth-highest score in Indian T20 League and his highest score in a Bangalore shirt.
Highest scores for Maxwell
| Team | Opposition | Date | Runs | Balls | SR |
| Punjab | Hyderabad | 22 April 2014 | 95 | 43 | 220.93 |
| Punjab | Chennai | 18 April 2014 | 95 | 43 | 220.93 |
| Punjab | Chennai | 07 May 2014 | 90 | 38 | 236.84 |
| Punjab | Rajasthan | 20 April 2014 | 89 | 45 | 197.78 |
| Bangalore | Kolkata | 18 April 2021 | 78 | 49 | 159.18 |
The duo put on a whirlwind partnership of 53 off just 37 balls for the fourth wicket. de Villiers led the way as Bangalore took 56 runs off the last three overs with the last over bowled by Andre Russell going for 21, all of which was scored by de Villiers. He ended the innings unbeaten on 76 off 34 balls, which is his best score against Kolkata while playing for Bangalore in the Indian T20 League.
AB de Villiers' highest scores vs Kolkata for Bangalore
| Runs | SR | Ground | Match Date |
| 76* | 223.52 | Chennai | 18 April 2021 |
| 73* | 221.21 | Sharjah | 12 October 2020 |
| 63* | 196.87 | Bengaluru | 05 April 2019 |
| 59 | 190.32 | Kolkata | 16 May 2016 |
| 44 | 191.30 | Kolkata | 08 April 2018 |
Brilliant death bowling by Harshal
Harshal Patel was the wrecker-in-chief for Bangalore as he gave away just 17 runs in his four overs and picked two important wickets of Eoin Morgan and Andre Russell. Patel had an economy of 4.25 run per over in the innings which is his best spell in terms of economy in the Indian T20 League:
Most economical spells by Harshal Patel
| Team | Opposition | Date | Balls | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
| Bangalore | Kolkata | 18 April 2021 | 24 | 17 | 2 | 4.25 |
| Bangalore | Chennai | 04 May 2015 | 24 | 19 | 2 | 4.75 |
| Bangalore | Rajasthan | 24 April 2015 | 24 | 23 | 2 | 5.75 |
| Delhi | Chennai | 18 May 2018 | 24 | 23 | 1 | 5.75 |
| Bangalore | Mumbai | 09 May 2012 | 24 | 24 | 2 | 6.00 |
Featured photo: IPL/BCCI
