Even if the first match of the league -- Bangalore Royal Challengers versus Kolkata Knight Riders -- fizzled into a no-contest in the second innings, the rousing pyrotechnics from Kolkata opener Brendon McCullum grabbed enough eyeballs among television viewers across the country to prove that IPL, in the end, was about cricket and it is on-field action that's going to make or break it.

This was a day Bangaloreans weren't going to miss. Though, in the end, they watched in dread as the home team collapsed under the weight of McCullum's awesome, unbeaten innings of 158. Bangalore lost by 140 runs, falling for 82 in reply to the daunting 222 put up by the Kolkatans.

Kiwi Stumper Blasts A Record Unbeaten 158 Off 73 Balls As Team Kolkata Dwarfs Bangalore
Precisely at 8 p.m. on Friday night, the cricket world woke up to a new reality with the Indian Premier League getting off to a rousing start. A host of artists descended from the rooftop as part of the colourful opening ceremony but once the game started, it was mostly about Brendon McCullum gaining ascendancy in several attempts to hit the same high roof at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Whether the tournament opener was history in the making or not, the Kiwi opener seemed bent on disproving the scientific fact that Kiwis cannot fly as he sent the ball soaring to all parts of the ground and well over it. Kolkata Knight Rider's own set of cheerleaders on the
boundary edge, as also team boss Shah Rukh Khan from within the pavilion stands, were given almost no break between their hip-shaking routines as, instead of the skies opening up as some weather pundits had predicted, it was McCullum who opened up and how!

As many as 10 fours and 13 sixes -- the most maximum hits in a T20 game -- rained off his bat as he raced to the highest score in a T20 first-class fixture. His unbeaten 158 (whew! that's some score) came off a mere 73 balls and took the Knight Riders to an imposing 222 for 3 in their 20-over innings.