IPL 2017: Kings XI Punjab vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, 5 Talking Points

#4 Axar Patel’s miserly spell

Axar Patel gave away just 12 runs in 4 overs to win the Player of the Match award

KXIP’s left-arm spinner opened the bowling with the new ball. That shows how much Maxwell trusts his frontline spinner. Axar didn’t disappoint, registering figures of 4-0-12-1. He got Shane Watson in his very first over as the latter chopped a ball onto his stumps.

Patel returned again to bowl three tight overs on the trot in the 11^th, 13^th and 15^th. His spell ensured RCB never got away despite having two set batsmen at one stage. It is also the pressure created by his bowling that led Mandeep to try and attack Varun Aaron, losing his wicket in the process.

On a pitch that was slightly difficult to bat on, Axar didn’t experiment too much and just bowled a steady line, a little flatter at a teasing length. AB de Villiers hit nine sixes in the innings and eight of them came after Patel finished his spell, showing how admirable the latter’s control was. It comes as no surprise that Patel was the Player of the Match.