Shreyas Iyer, known for his batting prowess, surprised everyone by adopting a bowling style reminiscent of his KKR teammate, Sunil Narine, during the Buchi Babu Tournament. The unusual sight of Iyer bowling, while not yielding wickets, captivated the audience and sparked discussions about his potential return to the Indian Test team.
With the IPL 2024 playoffs just around the corner, we take a look at the biggest strength, the one glaring weakness, and the X-factor for each of the four playoff teams: Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals, and Royal Challengers Bangalore.
In the last double-header of the league on Sunday, the playoffs-bound Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals will battle at the Barsapara Stadium. The Knight Riders, already topping the standings, aim to secure another victory and conclude their group stage on a high. Meanwhile, the Royals face the challenge of winning their final league match to reach the second spot and gain two crucial advantages in the knockout stage. With the absence of star English players, both teams will field slightly altered lineups.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) has lost one of their key players, Phil Salt, who has left the team to join the England squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup and a T20 series against Pakistan. Salt was the second-highest scorer for KKR in the ongoing IPL season, with 435 runs in 12 matches.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have emerged as the first team to secure a spot in the playoffs of the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) season, following their impressive victory over Mumbai Indians. KKR’s resurgence this season, after finishing seventh in the previous year, has been attributed in part to the return of Gautam Gambhir as a mentor. Gambhir’s strategic move to promote Sunil Narine as an opener alongside Phil Salt has paid dividends, with Narine emerging as a contender for both the Orange and Purple Caps. KKR’s bowling attack, led by spin twins Varun Chakaravarthy and Sun… (continue reading)
In a rain-shortened IPL encounter, Kolkata Knight Riders secured their spot in the playoffs with a remarkable 18-run victory over Mumbai Indians. Spin wizards Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy played a pivotal role in Mumbai’s downfall, restricting them to a modest total. Venkatesh Iyer’s explosive 42 off 21 balls set the tone for KKR’s innings, while Piyush Chawla’s 2/38 played a key role in Mumbai’s bowling effort. Ishan Kishan’s initial aggression propelled Mumbai’s chase, but Narine’s skillful bowling and support from Chakravarthy and Andre Russell tilted the balance in KKR’s favor. Despite valiant efforts from Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya, Mumbai’s batters fell short as KKR’s spin duo proved too formidable. With this triumph, KKR solidified their position at the top of the IPL standings, while MI remained in ninth place and will aim to salvage some pride in their final match.
The top 10 of the IPL 2024 Orange Cap list remained unchanged after the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) defeated the Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Saturday. KKR openers Phil Salt and Sunil Narine, the only two players in the top 10 who played in the match, had a poor day at the office. Salt was dismissed after hitting a six, while Narine was dismissed for a golden duck by Purple Cap holder Jasprit Bumrah. Gujarat Titans openers Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan made significant gains in the Orange Cap list in the last match. Sudharsan smashed his maiden IPL century and moved up to fourth place, while Gill re-entered the top 10 at number 10. CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad failed to close the gap with current Orange Cap leader Virat Kohli, who remains on top with 634 runs in 12 matches.
The 17th edition of the IPL continues to witness relentless run-scoring, with 200 being breached in 17 of the last 19 matches. The top four teams on the points table – Royals, Knight Riders, Super Kings, and Sunrisers – are also the tournament’s top batting units. Notably, the home team advantage has diminished, with away teams winning 20 of the last 32 matches. Sunil Narine has emerged as the season’s most valuable player, showcasing exceptional performance with both bat and ball. Together with Phil Salt, they have formed a prolific partnership, contributing significantly to the Knight Riders’ success. Overall, the tournament remains fiercely competitive, with high-scoring matches and intense battles for playoff spots.
West Indies all-rounder Sunil Narine played a pivotal role in guiding Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to a commanding 98-run victory against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), propelling KKR to the top of the Indian Premier League (IPL) table. Continuing his impressive form with both bat and ball, Narine smashed a blistering 39-ball 81 (6 fours, 7 sixes) to power KKR to a formidable 235/6, and then chipped in with 1/22 to help dismantle LSG’s chase, restricting them to 137 all out in 16.1 overs. Narine’s exploits have been a major factor in KKR’s resurgence this season, earning him praise from team mentor Gautam Gambhir.
Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) all-rounder Ramandeep Singh showcased his brilliance against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Sunday, hitting an unbeaten 25 and taking a stunning catch that left commentators in awe. Singh’s contributions were instrumental in KKR’s victory, helping them reach a formidable total of 235/6. Sunil Narine also had an impressive performance, continuing his exceptional form this season with a half-century.
