Kings XI Punjab poor run in the Indian Premier League continues as they went down against Kolkata Knight Riders by two runs. Punjab and their skipper KL Rahul is getting new ways to embarrass themselves with each and every game.
Chasing 164 runs, Kings XI Punjab dominated the proceedings for most of the times before Dinesh Karthik pulled things back in the death overs. KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal added 115 runs for the first wicket to set the run chase but once Mayank got out, there was no intent from the Punjab skipper.
Punjab on verge of bowing out of IPL 2020
KL Rahul comments on strike-rate came back to haunt him as his 58-ball 74 runs cost Punjab the game. A knock nowhere close to T20 standards put Punjab in a spot of bother. Sunil Narine showcased his class in the 20th over to walk away with the game for Kolkata Knight Riders.
Batting first, Rahul Tripathi and Nitish Rana fell early – that meant Shubman Gill had to drop anchor and he did it perfectly. Mohammed Shami and Arshdeep Singh bowled well early on to have Kolkata Knight Riders at 14 for two. Gill Stitched a decent stand with Eoin Morgan as KKR recovered from the twin blows.
Have to come back harder – KL Rahul
In the end, it was the Dinesh Karthik show. He played with gay abandon, played some sublime shots and ensured that runs came in a hurry to score 58 off just 29 deliveries. Kings XI Punjab did come back in the last couple of overs but Kolkata Knight Riders had already crossed the 150-run mark.
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Speaking at the end of the game, Punjab skipper KL Rahul was short of answers and vouched to come back strong in the upcoming games. Praising the bowlers, Rahul said that losing wickets in the death overs cost them the game.
“I have no answers. We just need to keep coming harder in the next seven games,” KL Rahul said. “We bowled really really well. This was a fresh strip so we didn’t know what Qwere good lines and lengths. And the bowlers adjusted really well. And they were brave at the death too.
Don’t think we were satisfied at any stage in the chase. You are satisfied only when you win the game. Towards the end, we kept losing wickets, and couldn’t get us over the line,” KL Rahul added.