IPL 2024: Kolkata Knights Riders vs Royal Challengers Bangalore Match Highlights | Points Table and Player of the Match: Amidst the electrifying atmosphere of the ‘City of Joy’, a thrilling cricket spectacle unfolded that will remain etched in the memories of all who witnessed it.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) had a fierce encounter that culminated in a heart-stopping finish, with KKR leading by the narrowest of margins by one run.
The day started with KKR coming to the crease first after RCB took the field. The inning had a bad start, and Sunil Narine returned to the pavilion early and could score only 10 runs in 15 balls.
Despite Sunil Narine’s early dismissal, Phil Salt set the stage on fire. Displaying a masterclass in aggressive batting, Salt tore apart the RCB bowling lineup, scoring 48 runs in just 14 balls and thrilling the crowd with his daring strokes.
Although Angakrish Raghuvanshi and Venkatesh Iyer could not make significant contributions, scoring 3 and 16 runs, respectively, Shreyas Iyer opened the inning.
Shreyas showed maturity and cleverness and played a good inning with 50 runs in 36 balls. The innings were further strengthened by a cameo from Rinku Singh, who added a quick-fire 24 runs, and the pair of Andre Russell and Ramandeep Singh, who remained unbeaten, contributed 27 and 24 runs respectively, and set RCB a strong target of 222/6. kept.
As soon as RCB started chasing the target, Virat Kohli started the attack albeit briefly, and scored 18 runs in just 7 balls before he was dismissed.
The usually reliable Faf du Plessis faltered and was out for 7, leaving RCB in a delicate position. However, the tables were turned with the arrival of Will Jacques and Rajat Patidar at the crease.
The two played outstanding batting, scoring over 100 runs between them and reaching their half-centuries, briefly giving RCB the lead. However, the match was still ongoing.
Andre Russell, who is known for important breakthroughs, was brought into the attack and he performed brilliantly by dismissing both the set batsmen in the same over. This crucial moment brought the momentum back in KKR’s favor as RCB started losing wickets at regular intervals.
Despite Dinesh Karthik’s brilliant 25, RCB needed 21 runs from the final over and Karn Sharma was on strike. In an over that defined the term ‘cliffhanger’, Sharma hit three sixes in four balls off Mitchell Starc, dramatically reducing the equation to 3 runs required off the last two balls.
On the last ball, Starc took a brilliant low catch on his own ball to dismiss Sharma. With one ball remaining and the score almost tied, Lockie Ferguson came to the crease, scoring only one run and was run out attempting another run which would have tied the game.
This last-ball thriller, where the match hung in the balance till the last moment, was one of the most thrilling performances in cricket. The pendulum of fortunes swung wildly before coming to rest in KKR’s favour, culminating in a match that was nothing short of a saga of dramatic twists, individual brilliance and nerve-wracking excitement.
Kolkata Knights riders Captain Shreyas Iyer: “It takes a lot off your body and drains you out completely because you go through so many emotions.
It’s tough to stay calm but I’m elated. We got two points on the board and that’s all that matters. It’s extremely tough when the pressure is on; I feel that every individual should put their hands up and take the responsibility.
Russell did that by picking up two wickets and completely changed the game in our favor; that kind of attitude is needed in the team. It’s a funny game, when you need 18 runs off 6 balls, the pressure is on the bowler. One six here and there, it completely changes the momentum.
It is important that we maintain our calmness and stay in the present and make the batter hit where you want them to hit. We need to stick to our routines and processes and see to it that we execute the things we want. It was a pivotal knock;
I wanted to stay till the end and steady the ship. We were losing wickets and I wanted to stay till the end and see it off. We got some important boundaries towards the end and I was very happy about that.”
Royal challengers Bangalore captain Faf du Plessis: “It was crazy, rules are rules. Virat and I thought that the ball was higher than the waist (on Kohli’s dismissal). I guess they measured from the popping crease. One team thinks it’s high, the other doesn’t. That’s how the game goes at times.
Then the partnership, it was magnificent (on the Jacks-Patidar partnership), but when you don’t win too many games, some sort of panic sets in and the Narine over was game-changing. You don’t feel that you have time to settle down and bat (on the evolution of the IPL this season).
The game doesn’t allow it to do that; obviously, you have an extra batter, but in chases like these, you have to keep going. The match-up against Narine, I thought that was the game-changing over. The small things, I am actually proud of the boys tonight, the way we bowled and fielded. We did give away a couple of big overs towards the end, but I thought we kept them down to a par score.
We thought we’ll go hard in the batting powerplay, find those boundaries at the start of the innings. We were desperate, 10/10 from an effort perspective, the way we put up the effort on the ground, the faces told the story.
We’ve got an unbelievable fanbase, we want to make them happy, we want them to have a smile on their face. We’ll have to continue putting in our efforts and try to change things around.”
IPL 2024: KKR vs RCB Match No. 36 Andre Russell, Player of the match:
“Thanks to the almighty. I always back my bowling as I said earlier. Getting the ball at a crucial time, I knew that I had to come good and thankfully it happened today.
Happy for the two points. When I was batting earlier, change of pace was difficult to hit. As a bowler that’s what I wanted to do. The slower balls were gripping and holding.
Was happy to get the two set batters out and I think that’s what changed the game. Those two wickets from Narine were also very important and that’s what started the slide for RCB.
When I look at the bowling equation, I had two left and I conditioned myself to bowl that (19th) over. Tried to give Starc as many runs as I could. DK wasn’t getting off strike so I looked at bowling 6 deliveries to him and mix it up, thankfully it worked.”
Also Read: TATA IPL Points Table 2024, RCB lost the match against KKR by 1 runs
IPL Points Table 2024 (Updated)
| Team | Matches | Won | Lost | Tied | No Result | Points | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rajasthan Royals | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 | +0.677 |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10 | +1.206 |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10 | +0.914 |
| Chennai Super Kings | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | +0.529 |
| Lucknow Super Giants | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | +0.123 |
| Gujarat Titans | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 | -1.055 |
| Mumbai Indians | 7 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 6 | -0.133 |
| Delhi Capitals | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 6 | -0.477 |
| Punjab Kings | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 4 | -0.292 |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 8 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -1.046 |
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