11.30pm That's all we have from game 21, and the first one from Ahmedabad this IPL. Join us again tomorrow for a clash between two teams from the top four: it's Delhi Capitals vs RCB. Until tomorrow, good night, and stay safe everyone.
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Eoin Morgan is also the Player of the Match: Nice to lead the team. We've worked incredibly hard, but didn't perform as well as we would have liked initially. Today our performance was really, really impressive, especially from our bowlers and the way we started and kept the pressure throughout. On a wicket like that, in 12th or 13th over the ball continued to slide on and got better and better. Mavi was only in his second game this season, and bowling four together is something we don't do this often. His match-up against Gayle was favourable. He had started well last game so huge credit to him. The advantage we have over most spinners is we have variation spinners with drift and turn, and today they were exceptional. Still a lot of time to go in the tournament (on getting off the bottom of the table), we can't take it for granted. (On the pandemic) It's challenging and things have to be managed for the players and staff, and we know the horrific nature of what's happening outside the bubble. We try and lend our support and we've seen how devastating it is not only in India but around the world. If you're going out stay safe, wear a mask, maintain social distance. We've seen huge amounts of tough times, even at home. On behalf of KKR we wish everyone well. We can stick together, we can beat this thing.
KL Rahul: "I really don't know what to say, it was a poor performance from us. We should have adapted better on a new pitch, we could have applied a lot more with the bat and get that extra 20-30 runs. The wicket was a bit low and slow, but 120-130 was not enough. A few soft dismissals are that's costing us the game. The pitch was a bit two-paced and stayed up and down as well. It was hard in the first six overs to understand the good shots to play on this pitch. It was expected that the pitch was difficult to assess at a new venue when you're batting first, but we should have assessed and adapted quickly but we couldn't do that. We have a few more games here and we hope to learn from our mistakes. That was a stunning catch (from Bishnoi), we've been a good fielding side. We have Jonty Rhodes who pushes the boys at every training session. He's a tough task master and he puts everyone to test. He has a great energy off the field and that rubs off on the players."
Rahul Tripathi: "It felt nice to win after losing three in a row. Our bowling unit did a fabulous job to restrict them to 122. We lost early wickets but we knew if we applied ourselves we could chase it down. It was coming on but the odd ball was keeping low but it was coming on nicely. Yes, I thought I was run out (laughs) and I thought I was late to dive but fortunately I made it. I think I was set (when I got out) and I wanted to take a chance against an offspinner but it was a half-hearted chance. A little rash shot but I would have liked to carry on."
11.05pm Finally a convincing win for KKR who have pulled themselves off the bottom of the points table. And they'll be pleased with this clinical win. Their bowlers were accurate after opting to bowl, the spin duo kept the Punjab Kings guessing, the quicks bowled awkward lengths and they eventually sealed the chased with more than three overs to spare, led by their captain Morgan. They just need Russell to find his form again and probably quicker scoring from Gill, and they can become a much better team. Lots of questions yet to answer for the Punjab Kings, their powerplay scoring, their overseas batters not performing, their fifth bowler, and a couple of misfields as well today. They're lucky they're not back at the bottom of the table again.
Rahul Challa: "KKR is a very promising team, provided every player in their team gives their 100 percent."
Ashok : "Time to drop Pooran or Gayle and get Dawid Malan into the XI."
