RCB vs MI Highlights, IPL 2023: Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis blow Mumbai Indians away as Bangalore win by 8 wickets

Nehal Wadhera slogs sweeps Karn Sharma for two maximums on the on-side before the spinner gets rid of him. He is caught by Virat Kohli at long-on as he tried to hit the spinner for third maximum. He falls for 21(13). MI: 99/5 (14 overs)

Akash Deep is reintroduced in the attack and he is welcomed with a four by Tilak Varma. 

The bowler recovers well and concedes just seven runs in his over. MI: 85-4 (13 overs)

Glenn Maxwell comes into the attack and he is hit for a six and a four by Tilak Varma as 14 runs come off the over. 

16 runs come off the over as MI reach 78/4 (12 overs)

Tilak Varma welcomes Michael Bracewell with a boundary but the bowler recovers well and concedes just seven runs in the over. MI: 62-4 (11 overs)

Karn Sharma and Dinesh Karthik combine for a LBW appeal against Nehal Wadhera but the umpire isn't interested. RCB take a review but replay confirms the ball had bounced outside leg stump.

Three runs come off the over as MI reach 55/4 at the halfway stage.

Michael Bracewell strikes as Suryakumar Yadav hits the ball straight to Shahbaz Ahmed at point. He departs for 15(16).

The umpires signal for a strategic timeout as MI reach 48/4 in 8.5 overs.

Karn Sharma joins the attack and Tilak Varma smartly flicks the ball towards fine leg, which is stopped by Reece Topley, who puts in a good dive. However, he also hurts himself in the process and immediately holds his shoulder. He has also been taken off the pitch.

An update will be shared shortly on the same as we wait for an official word. MI: 43/3 (8 overs)

Harshal Patel comes into the attack and he concedes a four against Tilak Varma. The batter reads a back of a length delivery coming on the leg, which is pulled right of short fine leg for a boundary.

Eight runs come off the over. MI: 37/3 (7 overs)

Akash Deep is introduced in the attack and he gets rid of Rohit Sharma straightaway. The MI skipper, who was dropped in the previous over, fails to capitalise on the second chance as he is caught behind for 1(10).  

Tilak Verma the new batter in then hits the pacer for a six as 10 runs and a wicket come off the over. MI: 29/3 (6 overs)

Mohammed Siraj comes to bowl his third over and bowls a tight one. He concedes two runs, out of which one was wide, in the first four balls, before Rohit mistimes his shot. The ball skies up in the air and it could have been an easy catch. However, Siraj and Dinesh Karthik collide as they run to complete the catch, while Rohit gets a lucky reprieve. MI: 19/2 (5 overs)

Cameron Green, the new man in, whacks Reece Topley for a boundary. The bowler then makes a strong response as he cleans Green up with an inswinging yorker. Takes an inside edge before knocking the stumps. He falls for 5(4).

Five runs and a wicket come in the over. MI: 17/2 (4 overs) 

Mohammed Siraj removes Ishan Kishan for 10 (13). The batter gets a leading edge and the ball flies high in the air. It looked like it didn't go far, but it is caught by Harshal Patel near the third-man fence. MI: 12/1 (3 overs) 

Reece Topley will share the new ball duties with Siraj and he starts with a half volley outside the off-stump. Ishan leans forward and plays it square off the wicket for a four. 

A brilliant piece of fielding by Michael Bracewell, which almost gets the wicket of Rohit Sharma. Ishan plays it towards cover but it is stopped by Bracewell, who dives to his right. Rohit, on the other hand, runs down and covers more than half the pitch before returning to the non-striker end. RCB fail to capitalise on the opportunity. 

Ishan hits Topley for another four. Once again square off the wicket as 9 runs come off the over. MI: 11/0 (2 overs) 

Ishan Kishan and Rohit Sharma start cautiously as just two singles come off the first over.

Ishan Kishan and Rohit Sharma arrive in the middle to kick-off the proceedings.

Mohammed Siraj will lead the attack for RCB.

RCB: Anuj Rawat, Suyash Prabhudessai, Mahipal Lomror, Sonu Yadav, David Willey

MI: Jason Behrendorff, Vishnu Vinod, Shams Mulani, Sandeep Warrier, Ramandeep Singh

Royal Challengers Bangalore: Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis(c), Glenn Maxwell, Michael Bracewell, Shahbaz Ahmed, Dinesh Karthik(w), Karn Sharma, Harshal Patel, Akash Deep, Reece Topley, Mohammed Siraj 

Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma(c), Ishan Kishan(w), Suryakumar Yadav, Cameron Green, Tilak Varma, Tim David, Nehal Wadhera, Hrithik Shokeen, Piyush Chawla, Jofra Archer, Arshad Khan

RCB captain Faf du Plessis wins toss, opts to bowl first. 

Mumbai Indians also have Cameron Green in their camp and he provides depth in both the departments.

Faf du Plessis, who no longer plays international cricket, finished as the second highest run scorer in the inaugural edition of SA20 league. He will look to replicate a similar performance and lead RCB to their maiden IPL glory.

Glenn Maxwell will be part of RCB's playing XI. Sanjay Bangar, RCB's head coach had confirmed the same in the pre-match press conference. 

Maxwell recently returned to action in the ODI series against India, which Australia won 2-1, after a leg injury that he sustained last year. The all-rounder has been cleared to play by Cricket Australia (CA).

RCB had qualified for playoffs last year, where they lost to Sanju Samson-led Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2 by seven wickets.

Can RCB go all the way this time?

RCB's leading wickettaker Wanuindu Hasaranga will be one of the big names, who will miss the encounter. 

Hasaranga had claimed 26 wickets from 16 encounters at an economy of 7.54. His best bowling figures in the last season were 5/18.

RCB head coach Sanjay Bangar confirmed that Hasaranga will join the RCB camp on April 9.

In the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, the onus to lead the seam attack will be on Jofra Archer. If Mumbai also decide on fielding Jason Behrendorff, then the two can form a deadly pair.

Mumbai Indians are one of the best outfit in IPL 2023, having won the title five times, the most by any IPL franchises. 

However, the team had a disappointing 2022 season, which saw the side finish at the bottom with only four wins in 10 matches and will hope for a change in fortune this time around.