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Kings XI Punjab and Royal Challengers Bangalore have faced off 24 times since the inception of the VIVO Indian Premier League, with the head-to-head record tied at twelve apiece. The tied record is testament to the fact that games between these two IPL teams have always been tense and exciting. More often than not, it has been a runfest when these two sides take on each other, with five players scoring centuries in these games in the past. 

For Kings XI Punjab, games against Royal Challengers has often seen their left-handed batsmen, both domestic and foreign, bring their best to the table. Arguably, the top three performances for KXIP against the Bengaluru based franchise has been from southpaws, who’ve starred with ball as well as bat. 

Here’s a look back at the top three KXIP performances against Royal Challengers Bangalore. 

Axar’s all-round abilities

Back in 2017, Kings XI Punjab were in a spot of bother in a game at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, with the score reading 78/5 with their top-orders players like Glenn Maxwell, Martin Guptill and Manan Vohra back in the hut. All-rounder Axar Patel however helped steady the ship for the visiting team, stitching a 34 run partnership with Wriddhiman Saha. The left-hander switched gears brilliantly in the final couple of overs, scoring three fours and two sixes to ensure KXIP finished with a fighting score of 138/7. 

After top scoring for the team with the bat, Patel made his mark with the ball as well. Seamer Sandeep Sharma made a few early inroads to put KXIP in a commanding position, and then the left-arm finger spinner did the rest, accounting for the wickets of Shane Watson, Samuel Badree and Pawan Negi. Patel ended the game with figures of 3/11, helping the visitors win a low scoring thriller at Bengaluru. 

Gilchrist’s gallant ton 

Australian wicket-keeper batsman Adam Gilchrist captained Kings XI Punjab from 2011 to 2013, starring in many memorable games for the Shers. Amongst those was the game in Dharamshala against Royal Challengers Bangalore in his debut season, when he scored his only ton for KXIP, helping the team get to their highest ever team score of 232. 

Gilchrist ripped apart the RCB bowling, scoring some of the trademark flicks and pulls on the leg side. Alongside Shaun Marsh, Gilchrist stitched together a partnership of 206 runs, which remains the highest ever partnership for KXIP players for any wicket. The Australian batter hit eight fours and nine sixes in that innings, scoring 106 runs to give his team a comprehensive win against a toothless RCB side on the day. 

Miller mayhem destroys RCB 

Flashback to 2013, when the visitors from Bengaluru looked destined to win at Mohali’s IS Bindra Stadium, but for the brilliance of South African David Miller who single handedly took the game away from the opposition. The southpaw scored a 38-ball hundred in that game, earning plaudits from all including opposition captain Virat Kohli who described that knock as ‘one of the best innings’ he’d ever seen. 

Chasing a mammoth 191, KXIP found themselves in muddy water with the score at 64/4 the 10 over mark. Winning from that position seemed outlandish for most in the stadium, barring South Africa’s David Miller. He nonchalantly picked off the opposition attack which had the likes of RP Singh, Moises Henriques and Vinay Kumar, scoring eight fours and seven sixes in that innings. Kings XI Punjab scored a whopping 82 runs off 24 balls, with Miller finishing off the game with a six over long on with two overs to spare. For his surreal performance and scoring the third fastest ton in the IPL, Killer Miller was awarded the man of the match award. 

Barring these three, the likes of Sandeep Sharma, Chris Gayle, Glenn Maxwell and many other KXIP players have been part of match winning performances against Royal Challengers Bangalore. 

What has been your most memorable KXIP moment against RCB? Let us know in the comments below.