Kolkata XI vs Punjab XI 53rd Match at Kolkata, 08 May, 2023

Toss: Punjab Kings, who chose to bat
Punjab XI 179/7 (20)
Kolkata XI 182/5 (20)
Kolkata Knight Riders won by 5 wickets
Man of the Match: Andre Russell
  • Shardul Thakur 0 * (0)
  • Rinku Singh 21 * (10)

Over 15.3: Single. Rahul Chahar to Rinku Singh,

Over 16.3: Sixer!. Nathan Ellis to Rinku Singh,

Over 16.4: Single. Nathan Ellis to Rinku Singh,

Over 16.6: Two runs. Nathan Ellis to Rinku Singh,

Over 17.4Arshdeep Singh bowls short of length delivery to Rinku Singh, flicks it off his pads towards the fine leg region.Boundary!

Over 17.5Arshdeep Singh bowls good length delivery to Rinku Singh, gets beaten on the frontfoot by that good delivery.No runs

Over 17.6Arshdeep Singh bowls pitched up delivery to Rinku Singh, flicks it off his pads towards the deep mid wicket regionSingle

Over 18.1Sam Curran bowls pitched up delivery to Rinku Singh, gets forward and drives it wide of mid off.Single

Over 19.3 Arshdeep Singh bowls a good length delivery to Rinku Singh,1 run, backed away. Flicked but towards deep backward square leg. That was supposed to be in the stands, but just a single

Kolkata Knight Riders won by 5 wickets

Shikhar Dhawan (PBKS): Feels bad, of course not feeling great, we lost the match. Not an easy track to bat on, felt that we had a good total. In the end, they played well. It was a great effort from Arshdeep, the way he has bounced back from the last game. All credit to him that he took the game to the last ball. I feel we don’t have a good off-spinner, that is where we are leaking a bit of runs when left-handers come in. This wicket was offering turn as well, that is where we took the hit.

Nitish Rana (KKR): When I was batting, I wanted to hold one end. Venky had a problem with his ankle so we were trying to get one big over here and there. 10 matches have gone, we were all waiting for that one Russell innings to come. He was one innings away, I kept backing him saying you have done a lot, and you will 100% win us a game. This pitch was a feel of home advantage as well. Our bowlers bowled badly at the death, I was angry that we conceded that many because this was a 160-165 run wicket. (On Rinku) I just keep telling him, believe in yourself because what you have achieved is something not many people ever will. When he was batting, the whole crowd was chanting 'Rinku, Rinku'. That is what he has earned this year. I've been at this franchise for many years now, I'm used to the Eden crowd screaming 'Russell, Russell' but to hear them shout 'Rinku, Rinku' makes me feel very happy and proud. That's the respect he has earned this season.

Andre Russell | Player of the Match: We already thought about it, the ball was gripping so we just wanted to stick it out. They miss their lengths and we could swing it around. Needing 30 off the final two, it was very gettable. I flicked one into the stands without really swinging at it. And that six over point put the icing on the cake. I wanted to finish the game off, but we have a finisher this year in Rinku. (On Rinku) He had told me what if the ball beats you, should we go for the run? I said for sure, I have faith in him to finish it last ball. I get goosebumps seeing him doing what he's been doing. I have company at the back end, he soaks the pressure off and he's been here for years now, a really hard-working guy. He's very funny outside the field, I try to stay as close to him while we are training. Feeling good, now!!