The action returned in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023, with the Kolkata Knight Riders hosting the Royal Challengers Bangalore in their iconic home, the Eden Gardens. Knight Riders are coming off a loss against Punjab Kings by just 7 runs via the DLS method. At the same time, the Royal Challengers are coming into the game against the backdrop of a handsome eight-wicket win over Mumbai Indians in the first game.
The visitors won the toss and elected to bowl first in a ground known to help the opening bowlers. The home side kept losing regular wickets as they were reduced to 89/5 within 11.3 overs. Opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz scored a fifty, anchoring the innings from one end. He scored 57 off 44 before being removed by Karn Sharma.
Shardul Thakur scored 9 boundaries and 3 sixes in his knock
The stage was set for a solid partnership between Rinku Singh and Shardul Thakur. The innings for the Kolkata Knight Riders remained a three-man show. Rinku Singh scored 46 off 33, but Shardul Thakur, popularly dubbed the ‘Lord’, remained the star for Kolkata, scoring 68 off just 29. His innings was decorated with 9 boundaries and three maximums as Kolkata closed out on 204/7 in their quota of 20 overs.
For the Royal Challengers Bangalore, David Wiley remained the pick of the bowlers, returning with figures of 2/16 in his four overs with an exceptional economy of 4.00. Karn Sharma also returned with two wickets in the game, conceding 26 runs in their three overs. Harshal Patel, Michael Bracewell and Mohammad Siraj returned with one wicket apiece.
Next, in the Indian Premier League, the KL Rahul-led Lucknow Super Giants will face off against the Sunrisers Hyderabad. The Sunrisers had to suffer a heavy defeat at their home ground at the hands of the Rajasthan Royals. On the other hand, Lucknow Super Giants will come into the game against the backdrop of a 12-run loss to Chennai Super Kings in their second game of the season.
Here’s how fans reacted to Shardul Thakur’s masterful batting:
Eden was getting ready for Kohli but so far Laawd has stole the show
— ? (@SarcasticCowboy) April 6, 2023
Lord > chokli
— ??? (@stan___MSD) April 6, 2023
Watching Lord Shardul at peak Supremacy… Lucky IPL viewers ??? pic.twitter.com/SfRAFZgsro
— Anubhav K??? (@Anubhav_Memerz) April 6, 2023
when i came to bat, i saw kohli dancing . He was celebrating as rcb won already, but this is the IPL where the results go until the last ball of the match .
hope so now kohli will think twice before celebrating aggressive against us , shardul with smile
– shardul innings break pic.twitter.com/vmG9iYMirx
— god Rohit sharma fanclub (@rogoat45ro) April 6, 2023
— {27(28) ? 1(10)}????? (@Aamirkh5456541) April 6, 2023
Lord Thakur
Asala Evadra Russell pic.twitter.com/GCI8mMyLZ3— Bharath Reddy (@Bharath_Ro_45) April 6, 2023
— Yash Boharupi ?? (@YashBoharupi) April 6, 2023
Thank you Lord Shardul for showing your peak Supremacy? pic.twitter.com/MMuGjWqSQt
— Anubhav K??? (@Anubhav_Memerz) April 6, 2023
