IPL 2018: Chennai bowlers restrict Bangalore to 127 runs

Virat Kohli-led Bangalore fell like nine pins after the powerplay as the team ended their innings at just 127, their lowest total in this year's IPL.

At one point Bangalore were 47 for the loss of one wicket, but then lost Kohli, AB and Mandeep to spin in the space of five overs.

Parthiv Patel, who played his first game in IPL 2018, smashed a half-century and also became the top scorer for the team by making 53 runs off 41 balls. 

The team could have ended their innings with the lowest score in this year's league before Tim Southee came to their rescue. 

He made 36 runs in 26 balls to save his team from drowning and set a decent score on board. 

Apart from Patel and Southee, no other player scored in two digits. 

Skipper Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers fell succumbed to Chennai's spin attack as Bangalore were put into bat at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune, on Saturday.

Kohli was clean bowled by Ravindra Jadeja while de Villiers gave away his wicket to Harbhajan Singh.

Kohli was departed for eight runs and de Villiers made just one.

Chennai skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and opted to bowl.

Chennai is coming off from a tragic defeat against Kolkata in their previous encounter and must have worked on their loopholes and rectified the errors in order to earn two crucial points.

On the other hand, team Bangalore is high on spirit as they have won the previous match against Mumbai.

The competition between the teams which are placed at the fourth, fifth and sixth position at the league's table is very tough now. 

Chennai have lost its two previous clashes out of three and looked a bit off but with a well-balanced team, it requires just one win to prove caliber of the entire team.

On the other hand, confidence Virat Kohli is leading the batting department from the front but still, team Bangalore is dealing with the problems of bowling unit, which has been very expensive especially in death overs.

The current team of Chennai is very sorted and any change at this moment is not required.

On the other hand, the good news for Bangalore is that their star player, AB de Villiers is fit and back in the squad but opener Quinton de Kock has flown back home due to some personal reasons and skipper Virat Kohli might replace him by Manan Vohra.

In the absence of wicket-keeper, the best replacement for team Bangalore is Parthiv Patel.