Punjab ride on Amla, Maxwell

Royal Challengers' sedate start - their slowest in encounters against Punjab - had more to do with Punjab's elaborate strategising as it did with RCB's circumspect start.

De Villiers was faced with the challenge of rescuing Royal Challengers' innings after the loss of three quick wickets including Australia's Shane Watson.

AB De Villiers, Chris Gayle and Shane Watson add some glamour, along with England paceman Tymal Mills. Though, RCB bounced back from an opening day loss to record a win at home against Delhi Daredevils and need to continue their win against KXIP.

All five of de Villiers' sixes came in the final five overs of the innings, with the shot he hit off Sandeep Sharma in the 19th over so large, commentator Michael Clarke declared "you should get 10 for that". This season, RCB have won just one game out of three and are now sixth in the table.

They won the last game due to an excellent bowling effort. Delhi pacers - Zaheer Khan (2/31), Chris Morris (3/21) and Pat Cummins (1/29) - kept it tight at the beginning, keeping the runs in check.

Donald couldn't keep himself back from tweeting about AB after witnessing his sensational 89 against Kings XI Punjab at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore on Monday. It was also an admission of Royal Challengers' lack of depth and prowess in the batting department.

Despite a couple of hiccups, Kings XI was seldom threatened. Sandeep had incredible first spell figures of 3-0-7-1, which were later spoilt by de Villiers' end-overs assault.

Along with all-rounder Stuart Binny (18 not out), de Villiers started the onslaught after the 15th over, when he dealt mostly in sixes, clearing the fence on as many as eight occasions to raise an undefeated 80-run fifth wicket stand. Pant had not seen him all night. Billy Stanlake picked up Nair and Sanju Samson (13), while left-arm spinner Iqbal Abdullah snared Billings. After Manan (34 from 21 balls) was dismissed, the hosts lost Axar Patel cheaply too. Both bowled in the Powerplay and still weren't taken for runs. This narrative might play out again. When he was brought back to try and dismiss Maxwell, he didn't bowl a single bouncer in that over. The swing bowler tied the batsmen down - bowling 14 dot balls in his first spell of three overs - and accounted for the wicket of Vishnu Vinod.

Why did Kings XI use Axar at No. 3?

Clarke and David Warner were amongst those to pay tribute to him on Twitter, and you get the impression it might not be the last time they'll be doing that in the IPL.

After hitting his first ball to the point fence he looked like he'd never been away.