#TataIPL2023 : Venkatesh Iyer Anchors, Rinku Singh Finishes As Kolkata Knight Riders Beat Gujarat Titans By 3 Wickets

Picture : BCCI

Kolkata Knight Riders pulled off a thrilling win over Defending Champions Gujarat Titans in their Tata IPL2023 encounter at Ahmedabad. In a high-scoring encounter on a hot day KKR clinched a thrilling three-wicket win .

Earlier , Rashid Khan leading Gujarat Titans in absence of regular Skipper Hardik Pandya won the toss and decided to bat first . GT opners Wriddhiman Saha fell for ( 17 ) , in- from Shubman Gill scored ( 39 ), Sai Sudharsan played well for his 38 ball 53 . Abhinav Manohar was out for ( 14 ). But the momentum to the innings was provided by a superb innings by all- rounder Vijay Shankar . Shankar remained unbeaten on 63 ( 24 balls , 4 fours and 5 sixes) . It was a power packed knock. David Miller was not out 2 as Gujarat finished at an impressive 204/ 4 in their 20 overs.

KKR bowlers had a tough day out . Umesh Yadav 0/ 24 ( 3 overs), Shardul Thakur 0/ 40 ( 3 overs) , Lockie Ferguson 0/ 40 ( 4 overs) , Sunil Narine 3/ 33 ( 4 overs) , Varun Chakaravarthy 0/ 27 ( 2 overs) , Suyash Sharma 1/ 35 ( 4 overs)

Given the Gujarat bowling strength , KKR had its task cut out chasing big total . They began poorly losing opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz ( 15 ) early . N Jagadeesan followed soon for 6 . Skipper Nitish Rana put the innings on track with 45 ( 29 balls, 4 fours, 3 sixes) . Dangerous Andre Russell was out for 1. Sunil Narine ( 0) . As wickets fell, Venkatesh Iyer held the innings together and stroked a super counter- attacking innings of 83 ( 40 balls , 8 fours , 5 sixes) . KKR were in the hunt . Then Rinku Singh played a blinder of a knock scoring a quick 21 ball unbeaten 48 ( 1 four, 6 sixes) and Umesh Yadav not out 5 saw KKR clinch a thrilling three wicket win . KKR finished at 207/ 7 in their 20 overs.  Rinku smashed five sixes off Yash Dayal’s last over to seal a stunning win.

GT bowling figures : Mohammed Shami 1/ 28 ( 4 overs) , Josh Little 1/ 45 ( 4 overs), Alzarri Joseph 2/ 27 ( 4 overs) , Yash Dayal was smashed 0/ 69 ( 4 overs).  Rashid Khan 3/ 37 ( 4 overs)  took the first hat-trick of Tata IPL 2023.

GT Impact Player: Josh Little replaces Sai Sudharsan
KKR Impact Player: Venkatesh Iyer replaces Suyash Sharma

Match: IPL 2023, 13th Match
Venue: Ahmedabad | Date: April 09, 2023