Live Cricket Score - RCB vs MI, Match 5, IPL 2023

Done and dusted!!

Kohli smashes another six to put MI out of their misery. He looks pumped up. What a start for him this IPL. Just imagine the carnage he could cause with momentum on his side. This is a massive win for RCB. They chased down 172 with 22 balls left in the innings. What a statement to make. MI on the other hand have a lot of work to do. That bowling attack just doesn't look threatening.

(Overs 11-15) - Absolute carnage

RCB definitely have had an eye on the net run rate. In an unpredictable tournament such as this one, you never know what's in store in the latter stages when the fight for the playoffs spot intensifies. RCB are aware of that and have been trying to get this done very quickly. Kohli just smashed a terrific six in the 15th over and was then handed a lifeline when he attempted a similar shot. Faf however was dismissed in the same over while attempting to clear the ropes. RCB won't mind though. They have 148 on the board already. It's just a matter of time now.

Fifty for Virat

The carnage continues as Kohli now brings up a fifty as well. The openers have also added more than 100 now for the opening wicket. Rohit's ploy to bring Archer back hasn't worked. MI desperately need to break this stand.

(Overs 7-10) - RCB continue to dominate

These two are magnificent to watch. The boundaries keep coming and they are rotating the strike quite well. Faf is easily the aggressor among the two and he just smashed Shokeen for back-to-back sixes to bring up a fifty. RCB are running away with it. They already have 97 on the board at the halfway mark.

RCB thrive again in the Powerplay

They nailed the powerplay with the ball and they have done the same with the bat now. Faf du Plessis looked in glorious touch as he smashed a couple of sixes and Virat on the other hand took on Jofra Archer. RCB have 53 in the powerplay. They're looking good.

Innings break -MI post 171/7

Madness from Tilak right at the end even though he lost Tim David very early at the death. If MI win tonight, they will have only one man to thank for. They were in no position to get even 160 tonight, let alone 171 but this young man absolutely smashed the opposition. MI's bowling attack isn't very strong so RCB will still fancy themselves to chase it down with the likes of Kohli, Faf, Bracewell, Maxwell and DK in their ranks.

50 for Tilak

While MI keep losing wickets, Tilak Varma has stood tall tonight. He smashes a six now off Akash Deep to bring up a fifty. He has to bat right till the end now for MI if they are to target 160.

(Overs 11-15) -Tilak Varma sizzles

One of the success stories last season despite MI's struggles, Tilak Varma is taking it upon himself to rescue his side. He has played some gorgeous strokes tonight and has looked a class apart. Nehal Wadhera did struggle but smashed successive sixes to add 50 with Tilak before finding the fielder. This was a productive phase for MI, scoring 47 runs but they need a big finish in the final five overs as Tim David joins Tilak.

(Overs 7-10) -MI slide further

Nothing has changed drastically for MI post the powerplay. They are 55/4 by the halfway mark. In this little period, they have scored 26 runs and most importantly they have lost the wicket of Suryakumar Yadav. Bracewell struck in his first over ever in the competition and in all fairness, SKY would be kicking himself for that. He cut a short delivery straight to a fielder. Uncapped Nehal Wadhera and uncapped Tilak Varma are out in the middle.

Blow for RCB

Reece Topley is holding his right shoulder and is being assisted back into the dressing room. He has had a rotten luck with injuries in his career and now this looks quite serious as well. Topley has bowled well today and came up with a good effort earlier in the field as well but now he dives in the fine leg region to stop the ball and immediately was seen holding his arm. He was in serious pain. Remember, he is in the XI because of Josh Hazlewood's absence. RCB wouldn't want to lose this guy.

Powerplay - RCB dazzle (MI 29/3)

After a couple of quiet overs, RCB struck by getting rid of Ishan Kishan early. Attempting to smash Siraj, Ishan mistimed one that landed in the hands of the fielder at third man boundary. In the very next over, Cameron Green, making his IPL debut, was cleaned up by Reece Topley who bowled an excellent inswinging yorker. Siraj, given a third straight over could have gobbled up Rohit as well with the MI skipper growing frustrated over the run rate. He mistimed a pull shot completely but Siraj and Dinesh Karthik both competed for the catch, only to collide and hand Rohit a lifeline. However, the skipper couldn't make it count and departed in the very next over by edging Akash Deep behind to the keeper. Can SKY pull off a rescue act?

Toss - RCB opt to bowl

No surprises there as Faf wants to chase. Michael Bracewell plays in place of Hasaranga and Reece Topley is picked to fill the void left by Josh Hazlewood. This is Rohit's 200th game as captain so he would love to break MI's opening game jinx. They haven't won their first game of the tournament since 2013.

Teams:

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

Build up

Watching a sea of red at the Chinnaswamy is always a sight to behold during the IPL with the crowds constantly breaking into 'Rrrr ccccc bbbbb' chants. They have missed being out there and we have missed watching the action at this venue as well that's renowned for being batting friendly. A lot has changed in these four years. AB de Villiers is no longer present in that RCB squad to entertain the local crowd but Virat Kohli is still out there. New additions have been made, there has been a change in captaincy and more importantly, there has been a change in fortunes as well with RCB showing consistency over the last three seasons away from home.

The real challenge now is to replicate it in front of their home crowd. Historically, they have had a bad record here. But their bowling attack has improved considerably and they will be hoping to make an impact from now on to turn this into a fortress. RCB will still have to get through tonight though without the likes of Josh Hazlewood and Wanindu Hasaranga. While we wait to see who replaces them in the XI tonight, RCB have suffered a blow in the batting department as well. Rajat Patidar, who did an excellent job at No.3 for them last year, will not be available at least for a few games. The onus is now on the likes of Anuj Rawat, Suyash Prabhudessai and Mahipal Lomror to step in and support Faf du Plessis, Kohli and Glenn Maxwell.

To begin their campaign, they are up against a side that has its own issues heading into the tournament. Last season, they didn't have Jofra Archer and this time, they are without Jasprit Bumrah. Mumbai Indians do not have a menacing bowling attack and will rely on some unknown commodity to make an impact. It will also be interesting to see their batting order. They have spent loads on Cameron Green but with Ishan Kishan and Rohit Sharma in the side, where can the Australian potentially bat? Will Rohit move down to bolster the middle order especially with Kieron Pollard gone? We will find out shortly. Welcome to the live blog for the first game from the Chinnaswamy this season. Hopefully, a cracker is in store.