Faf du Plessis began from where he had left off in last year’s IPL, playing a fine innings for his new team, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Yet, RCB, who are notorious underachievers, couldn’t start IPL 15 with a win as Punjab Kings prevailed over them by five wickets at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Sunday.

Du Plessis, the new RCB skipper played a blinder of a knock, hammering 88 off just 57 balls that powered his team to a big total of 205/2 after being put in to bat. Timing and power complemented each other in Du Plessis’ majestic knock that was adorned with three boundaries and seven maximums, most of them clearing the ground comfortably.

But on a belter of a track, Punjab Kings were helped by a flying start from captain Mayank Agarwal and Shikhar Dhawan with Bhanuka Rajapaksa too making a vital contribution at No.3, scoring at a strike rate of 195.45 that kept the asking rate very much within reach.

Mohammed Siraj’s double strike, when he removed Rajapaksa and 19-year-old Raj Bawa off successive balls, tilted the balance slightly in favour of RCB.

But fortunately for Punjab Kings, Odean Smith (25 not out off 8 balls) lived up to his reputation as a power-hitter down the order. Smith clobbered Siraj in the 18th over that fetched Punjab Kings as many as 25, doing just enough to seal them the game, which they eventually won with an over to spare.

At the other end, Shahrukh Khan, who had earlier dropped Du Plessis when the latter was on 7, remained unbeaten on 24 as Smith and he smashed an unbroken 52-run partnership for the sixth wicket in just 4.1 overs to take Punjab Kings home.

Du Plessis was also let down by his bowlers as they bowled as many as 21 wides out of the 22 extras RCB conceded. Besides, Smith, when on 1, was let off when Anuj Rawat shelled a relatively easy catch at deep extra cover off Harshal Patel’s bowling.

That blunder in the 17th over went on to hurt RCB badly enough.

Du Plessis’ maiden appearance in RCB colours produced mixed results. While he was fantastic with the bat, some of his decisions as the captain during Punjab Kings’ run chase were a bit questionable. Shahbaz Ahmed conceded just 6 off the lone over he bowled, but Du Plessis surprisingly didn’t bring him back again.

Overall, the bowling in general from RCB could have been better. Failing to defend a 200-plus total is poor.