Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) skipper Dinesh Karthik registered his highest T20 score of 97* runs to help his side post 175 runs at the end of the first innings against Rajasthan Royals at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals skipper Steven Smith won the toss and put host Kolkata Knight Riders to bat first. Both the sides went in with two changes each – Rajasthan Royals brought Varun Aaron and Oshane Thomas while Prasidh Krishna and Carlos Brathwaite slotted in Kolkata’s playing XI. Aaron, who is making his debut for Rajasthan bowed a terrific first over and in the process knocked the wicket of Chris Lynn to have the home side at 0 for one.
Shubman Gill – promoted up the order then combined with Nitish Rana to bail the innings. However, Aaron looked like a different bowler altogether and now dismantled the timber of Gill, who once again failed to capitalise on the opportunity. To make things worse, Nitish Rana followed the pack soon as Shreyas Gopal got the better of him caught by Varun Aaron who finds himself involved in everything today. The Rajasthan Royals bowlers did an outstanding job to contain Kolkata Knight Riders to 49 runs in the first ten overs.
However, the home side shifted the gear in the 11th over when Sunil Narine took Gopal for 25 runs. Narine struck three fours and two sixes to take the attack to the opposition before Narine got out while trying for the second run which brought Andre Russell to the crease. Since then, skipper Dinesh Karthik combined well with Andre Russell to post a good total on the scoreboard.
Although Karthik took most of the strike to do the scoring, Russell looked off-colours and failed to get going. His countrymen and debutant Oshane Thomas dismissed Russell while Karthik crossed his half-century from the other end. Carlos Brathwaite also followed the same road bringing Rinku Singh in the middle. However, Karthik kept up the good work to take on the bowlers in the last few overs to help Kolkata Knight Riders post
Twitter Reactions:
I look at the Eden Gardens pitch & feel sorry for KKR. A pitch completely unsuitable to them. Home teams must be allowed to have pitches to suit them…it’s called ‘home advantage’ that you see at the international level all the time.
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) April 25, 2019
3 runs short of a century
Still, a good display
Well done, DK
Today, you proved your critics wrong
Soldier on and giddy up for the next battle as a wicket-keeper#KKRvRR #DineshKarthik
— Agent Tina (@Not_A_Shammer) April 25, 2019
Eden Gardens or Eden Park?? Not the kind of pitch that suits #KKR’s strengths… #KKRvRR #IPL
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) April 25, 2019
When was the last time you saw rockets from either end in an #IPL game? #VarunAaron #OshaneThomas. Remember Malinga and Mitch Johnson…..
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 25, 2019
Highest #IPL scores for #KKR
158* Brendon McCullum vs RCB (Bangalore) 2008
97* Dinesh Karthik vs RR (Kolkata) 2019
94 Manish Pandey vs KXIP (Bangalore) 2014#KKRvRR#IPL2019— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) April 25, 2019
Still no Kuldeep??? Slightly surprised…. #KKRvRR #IPL
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) April 25, 2019
After Umesh Yadav, it's now Varon Aaron withdrawing his name from Ashok Dinda Academy#IPL2019 #KKRvRR
— Gaurav Dama (@GauravDama13) April 25, 2019
Now, We should stop debating Karthik's inclusion in India's WC squad. He deserves this place, he has earned it. #KKRvRR
— Arjun (@iam_arjunk) April 25, 2019
aaron has worked out how to dislodge these zing bails #KKRvRR
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) April 25, 2019
Those who criticised #DK for his selection in #WorldCup2019 squad, This innings is for you. On your faces sirs #KKRvRR #VIVOIPL #KKRHaiTaiyaar
— DR (@dhineshwarrajan) April 25, 2019
Superb spell @VarunAaron – good to see you fit & going strong, Varun!
Takes more skill than you can imagine to release those slower ones the way he did with great seam position too…
Now STOP calling him Varun Arun…That's NOT his name!#RR #RRvKKR #IPL2019 @StarSportsIndia
— Suhail Chandhok (@suhailchandhok) April 25, 2019
https://twitter.com/CricAnkit_7/status/1121438438778077184
This is the problem with this team only single player is performing, failing to perform as a team. #KKRvRR
— Gaurav (@GauravDas) April 25, 2019
Why Royals are still keeping Unadkat in playing 11 ??? He must be the last bowler in squad to rely upon. #KKRvRR #IPL2019 @rajasthanroyals
— Ranny* ? (@13Ranny_tweets) April 25, 2019
@IPL #KKRvRR#VIVOIPL A one player can change everything. Its all about Varun Arron.
After take 2 quick wickets. He take a great catch and important run out for his team. #gamechangerplayer @VarunAaron— Bharadva Aniket (@BharadvaAni) April 25, 2019
https://twitter.com/Devil__017/status/1121445676834021376
Carlos Braithwaite last hit a six in the World Cup T20 final that too in 1963. And @VenkyMysore bought him at 5 fucking cr. ? #KKRvRR
— Shoeib Shargo (@iamshorgo) April 25, 2019
#VIVOIPL #KKRvRR #KKR Seems like players are too instinctive as they play the game… They need to understand each and every delivery and then attack as T20 has very low margin of error…
The #EdenGardens pitch… Woh! Reminds me of 1983 World Cup Final Wicket! ??— Anubhav Maity (@the_psycho21) April 25, 2019
So Karthik missed his ?
But UNADKAT GETS HIS WELL DESERVED 50 ???
something to cheer about#IPL2019 #KKRvRR— ChokersFC (@Shristiiiiiiiii) April 25, 2019