When KKR Crushed RCB with a Shocking 49 All-Out!

Royal Challengers Bengaluru has faced its fair share of heartbreaks in the IPL, from losing the finals in 2009, 2011, and 2016 to enduring crushing defeats. One of their most painful moments came against Kolkata Knight Riders when they were bowled out for just 49 runs, which is the lowest total in IPL history. Chasing a modest 132, RCB’s batting lineup collapsed in a nightmare performance, suffering an 82-run defeat. The match remains a haunting memory for RCB fans, resurfacing every time they face KKR. But what exactly went wrong that night, leading to one of the most shocking defeats in IPL history?

23rd April 2017: RCB vs KKR

It was April 23, 2017, and the IPL season had reached its midway stage. Kolkata Knight Riders were set to host Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the iconic Eden Gardens, with two crucial points at stake. The atmosphere was electric as RCB won the toss and, considering the chasing-friendly conditions, opted to field first. Their plan seemed simple, as to restrict KKR to a manageable total and chase it down comfortably.

As the game began, KKR’s openers, Sunil Narine and Gautam Gambhir, walked out with determination, knowing a solid start was key. Virat Kohli, leading RCB, handed the new ball to Samuel Badree, hoping for early breakthroughs. But Sunil Narine had other plans. The West Indian blazed through the first over, smashing 18 runs and setting the tone for an aggressive start.

RCB’s troubles only deepened when Sreenath Aravind was dispatched for 14 runs in the third over, taking KKR to a fiery 39/0. Sensing the urgency, Kohli turned to his pace spearhead, Tymal Mills. The move paid off as Gautam Gambhir, after scoring 14 off 11 balls, was dismissed, leaving KKR at 52/1. But there was no relief for RCB, as Robin Uthappa confidently walked in to join Narine.

With the powerplay still in motion, Kohli knew another wicket was needed. He brought in Stuart Binny, and despite being hit for consecutive boundaries, Binny had the last laugh, dismissing Narine for a quickfire 34 off 17. By the end of the powerplay, KKR stood at 65/2, with Manish Pandey now at the crease. Sensing the opportunity, Virat Kohli moved to his trump card Samuel Badree for another over, and he delivered by dismissing Robin Uthappa for 11 runs off 9 balls and leaving the team at 68/3.

As the wickets continued to tumble, KKR needed stability, and Yusuf Pathan joined Manish Pandey at the crease. The duo aimed to rebuild, but RCB’s bowlers kept the pressure high. In the 10th over, Yuzvendra Chahal displayed his clever bowling, luring Yusuf out of his crease with a wide delivery, leading to a sharp stumping. Pathan departed for 8 off 8 balls, leaving KKR struggling at 87/4.

With the innings losing momentum, KKR sent Suryakumar Yadav to steady the ship. However, Chahal was in his zone. In the 12th over, he struck again, trapping the well-set Manish Pandey for 15 off 16 balls. Just three balls later, Chahal struck a major blow, dismissing Colin de Grandhomme for a duck. KKR had suffered a sudden collapse, slipping to 94/6.

Now, Chris Woakes joined Suryakumar, hoping to salvage a respectable total. The pair added some crucial runs, but in the 17th over, Tymal Mills dismissed Woakes for 18 off 21 balls. The troubles didn’t stop there as Pawan Negi removed Nathan Coulter-Nile and Suryakumar Yadav in consecutive deliveries in the 18th over, crushing KKR’s lower order. KKR’s innings finally ended at 131 in 19.3 overs, and it seemed a below par target for the dangerous RCB batting lineup.

Under the bright lights of Eden Gardens, Royal Challengers Bengaluru began their chase of 132, hoping to put on a strong performance. Virat Kohli and Chris Gayle, two of the most destructive batters in T20 cricket, walked out to the middle with confidence. However, Kolkata Knight Riders had other plans. Sensing the importance of early wickets, captain Gautam Gambhir handed the new ball to Nathan Coulter-Nile, setting an attacking field to apply pressure from the very first over.

On the third ball of the innings, disaster struck. Kohli, attempting a drive, got a thick outside edge that flew straight to Manish Pandey at slip. Eden Gardens erupted in joy as the RCB skipper walked back for a golden duck. The pressure mounted as Mandeep Singh arrived at the crease, but he didn’t last long either. In the second over, he mistimed a shot straight to point, departing for just 1 run off 3 balls. RCB was already struggling at 3/2.

With two quick wickets down, the hopes of the chase now rested on the shoulders of AB de Villiers. The South African maestro showed glimpses of his brilliance, smashing two boundaries to take RCB to double digits. But Coulter-Nile wasn’t finished yet. Returning for another over in the third, he sent AB packing as Robin Uthappa took a sharp catch behind the stumps. De Villiers was gone for 8 off 6, and RCB had slumped to 11/3.

Kedar Jadhav tried to steady the ship with two quick boundaries, but Coulter-Nile returned in the fifth over to strike again. His first ball saw Jadhav edge one straight to the keeper, and he was dismissed for 9 off 7. At 24/4, RCB was crumbling, and the nightmare was just beginning. By the end of 6 overs in the run chase, Royal Challengers Bengaluru was struggling at 39/4 and had Stuart Binny and Chris Gayle at the crease. The team still needed 92 runs more from the 14 overs to seal the game, and it looked like a game in balance.

As the powerplay ended, Gautam Gambhir sensed an opportunity to tighten his grip on the match. With Royal Challengers Bengaluru already reeling, he handed the ball to Chris Woakes, hoping to continue the demolition job. Woakes, with his precise seam movement, delivered a double blow in a single over. First, he got rid of Chris Gayle, who had struggled to 7 off 17 balls before edging one to the slips. Just a few deliveries later, Stuart Binny followed, dismissed for 8 off 9 balls. RCB was now in complete disarray at 40/6, their dreams of a chase slipping away rapidly.

Sensing blood, Gambhir made another tactical masterstroke, bringing in Colin de Grandhomme. The medium-pacer, known for his deceptive swing, wasted no time in making an impact. On his very first delivery, he trapped Pawan Negi LBW for just 2 runs off 3 balls. The scoreboard read 43/7, and the nightmare for RCB was only getting worse. Chris Woakes returned for another over, and this time, he struck what seemed to be the final nail in the coffin. He dismissed Samuel Badree for a duck, reducing RCB to a miserable 44/8.

The stadium was in shock, watching one of the most formidable batting lineups collapse like a house of cards. The end was inevitable, and de Grandhomme ensured it came swiftly. In the 9th over, he bowled Tymal Mills for 2 runs off 5 balls, leaving RCB on the brink of an embarrassing defeat. Moments later, Yuzvendra Chahal was trapped LBW for a duck, and RCB was bundled out for a shocking 49 runs in just 9.4 overs.

KKR had not just won but they had demolished RCB by 82 runs. The Eden Gardens erupted in celebration as Gambhir punched the air, his aggressive celebrations reflecting the sheer dominance of his side. Meanwhile, the RCB camp sat in stunned silence. Virat Kohli, visibly disappointed, could barely fathom what had just transpired. It was a night of humiliation as one that would haunt RCB fans for years to come.