KKR vs RR HIGHLIGHTS, IPL 2023: Jaiswal 98, Samson propel Rajasthan to massive nine-wicket win at Eden

This is always in my mind, to go out there and play well. It was a nice feeling today. It is not like everything I wanted happens, I prepare well and I trust in myself. I know the results will come. The winning shot was a great feeling, I wanted to finish the game and winning the game has been my motto. I’m blessed and grateful, I’m trying my best. I think the RR was the only thing in our mind, me and Sanju were only talking about finishing the game quickly. I think it happens in the game, it gives me the responsibility to do even better.

I didn’t have to do anything today. Just put bat on ball and watch him play. We are used to it now, even the bowlers know how he goes in the powerplay. He enjoys batting in the powerplay. I think it is time to give him the tag of legend. We are grateful to have him in the franchise. Never have to speak to him, give him the bowl and he knows what to do. He bowls at the death as well, very pleasing for me as a captain. We have two more quarter finals to play, the pressure in never off in the IPL. Each game, each over is important.

You have to praise his innings (on Jaiswal). It was a day when he could do anything he wanted. It was a 180 wicket as I said at the toss, our batting wasn’t great and that’s the result of us dropping 2 points. He was batting well right through the tournament, so I thought a part-time spinner could perhaps make him complacent, that was the plan, but he played superbly and those things do happen

Shardul is back. Jaiswal flicks a low full-toss through square-leg for FOUR and finishes unbeaten on 98 off 47 as RR wins by nine wickets!

Jaiswal steps out and misses the googly. Gurbaz misses the stumping as well and the batters get off with a bye. Samson flicks the ball through leg for a single. Suyash slides one in and Jaiswal gets a reverse-sweep behind point for FOUR. Suyash beats the outside-edge with another googly. Leading-edge and Jaiswal gets a single. Suyash tries to slide the ball own leg and Samson stretches across to wood the ball across. He signals Jaiswal to now hit a six and finish things off in style.

Varun returns. A short ball outside the off-stump and Jaiswal sweeps him in front of square for FOUR - 100-run partnership between YBJ and Samson. A single follows. Varun slides one in from around the wicket and Samson biffs the ball over cow corner for SIX! A single to follow. Slower ball through the air and Jaiswal misses out ona cut.

Anukul Roy into the attack. Roy floats one outside the off-stump and Samson extends his arms over cover and muscles it into the stands for SIX. A couple of singles to follow. Anukul tosses one into the slot and Samson pumps it down the ground for SIX more! Anukul slides one in and Samson clears his front leg and tonks the ball over long-on for a bigger SIX!

Suyash drops short and Samson unleashes a reverse-sweep over point for FOUR. Suyash follows up with a delivery in the blockhole, no run. A single to finish, six from the over.

100 up for RR as Jaiswal flicks Narine through mid-wicket for two runs. Two dots and a single to follow. Narine to Samson, straight up and Narine drops a sitter. Goodness me!

Suyash Sharma replaces Varun. Samson taps the first ball through cover for a single. Short from Suyash and Jaiswal slaps him over deep mid-wicket for SIX.

Sunil Narine into the attack. Jaiswal slices the first ball to deep backward point for a single. Short from Narine and Samson drags it to wide long-on for a single. Narine tosses one outside the off-stump and Jaiswal carves the ball inside-out for SIX over deep cover!

Chakaravarthy continues. He teases Samson outside off and he guides the ball to point. Fuller delivery and Samson drives it to the mid-off fielder. Four dots on the trot and Samson shuffles across to pull Chakaravarthy’s slider over deep mid-wicket for SIX. Varun comes around the wicket and Samson flicks a ball off his waist through wide long-on for FOUR.

Samson guides Harshit down to third for a single. Back-of-length and Jaiswal slashes Harshit through point for FOUR. Fuller this time and Jaiswal lofts the bowler over mid-on for another FOUR.

Varun Chakaravarthy into the attack. Chakaravarthy pins Jaiswal down finally with his variations before he finds a square-drive for FOUR.

Jaiswal drills Shardul Thakur through extra cover for FOUR and follows up with another flick through mid-wicket for FOUR! Bang! A hint of room and Jaiswal crunches it through cover for another FOUR. Shardul comes around the wicket this time. A single and Jaiswal hits the fastest IPL fifty in 13 balls!

Harshit Rana into the attack. Harshit starts with a wide. Harshit sends in a quicker delivery onto Buttler’s pads and an inside-edge saves him. Harshit goes straight and Jaiswal dabs the ball down to third for a single. Harshit sends down another wide. Harshit to Buttler, OUT! A mix-up ends in Buttler’s dismissal. Harshit rushes one high onto to the pads and the ball deflects towards point while Jaiswal sets off on a single from the non-striker’s. Buttler is caught in two minds but makes a run for it as Russell’s perfect throw from point hits the stumps. Sanju Samson walks in at 3.

Harshit forces Jaiswal to flick the ball to Rana at mid-on. Rana has a needless shy at the striker’s stumps and the ball deflects off them for FOUR! Short from Harshit and Jaiswal slams it over deep square-leg for SIX!

Jos Buttler run out (Russell) 0 (3b)

Nitish Rana opens the bowling for KKR. Interesting. BANG! Jaiswal steps out first ball and smashes Rana over long-on for SIX. SIX more! Rana slides one in and Jaiswal sweeps the ball behind square for SIX! Another arm ball and Jaiswal steps out and whacks the ball through extra cover for FOUR. Rana comes over the wicket and Jaiswal slashes him through point for FOUR more! Jaiswal flicks the ball through mid-wicket for two. Rana offers another loose ball and Jaiswal slaps it through point for FOUR - 26 from the opening over!

Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler open the chase for RR.

Sandeep overpitches and Narine digs it out through cover for FOUR. Sandeep to Narine, OUT! Faint sound as the ball passes the outside-edge. Samson is celebrating and the umpires go up for a review. The replays suggest that the ball is touching the ground before Samson gloved it in. A single to follow. Anukul manages another run. Now, can Narine finish it off with a boundary? Nope, he cannot. Sandeep to Narine, OUT! Narine lobs it straight to long-on and KKR finishes on 149/8.

Chahal tosses one in and Anukul pumps one through the non-striker’s stumps for a single. Rinku attempts a reverse-sweep but misses as Chahal rushes one down the turf. Short ball and Rinku slaps it to a diving Hetmyer at cover. Chahal to Rinku, OUT! Straight to long-off. Fourth for the champion leggie as KKR continues to lose the plot. Sunil Narine is in at 9. He’s off the mark with a single. Chahal bowls out with figures: 4/25 (4).

Rinku Singh c Root b Chahal 16 (18b 1x6)

Sandeep returns. Rinku flicks the first ball straight to backward square. Sandeep follows up with a perfect yorker. Sandeep follows up with a slower-bouncer, third dot. Another one in the blockhole outside the off-stump and Rinku fails to get it past point. Fraction short and Rinku blasts the length with a pull over wide long-on for SIX. Rinku finds two off the last ball.

Chahal to Iyer, OUT! Chahar flights one outside the off-stump and Iyer scoops it straight up and Boult holds onto a tricky catch at cover. Huge wicket for RR as the well-set batter falls. Shardul Thakur is in at 7. A couple of singles and Chahal lands on Thakur’ pads as he fails to hit the sweep. The umpire is unmoved but Chahal forces Samson for a review. Three reds and top of off. Chahal gets his third wicket.

Anukul Roy is in at 8. Chahal greets him with a googly, beating the outside-edge.

Venkatesh Iyer c Boult b Chahal 57 (42b 2x4 4x6); Shardul Thakur lbw b Chahal 1 (2b)

FIFTY for Iyer off 39 balls. Leg-cutter from Asif and Iyer pumps the ball just over long-on for SIX! A single to follow. Rinku drags a fuller ball across the line and Boult cuts a four in the deep. 11 from the Asif over.

Ashwin bowls out with a six-run over. Iyer and Rinku work through the field for singles. Ashwin ends with figures of 0/32.

Asif pins one on the full and Russell blasts it over long-off for SIX. Asif to Russell, OUT! Straight to backward point. A huge roar from Asif as he gets the big man. A quick bumper angling in and Russell slaps it straight to Ashwin in the circle. Samson’s call to ask the bowler to go short works.

Andre Russell c Ashwin b Asif 10 (10b 1x6)

Chahal comes over the wicket and tosses one outside the off-stump and Iyer charges to pump the ball over long-off for SIX. Fraction shot from Chahal and Iyer dismisses it through mid-wicket for FOUR. Chahal loops one in and Iyer lifts it easily over cover for another FOUR. 100 up for KKR with a single. CLOSE! Chahal tosses one in slowly and Russell has a huge swing and a miss. Chahal cannot believe how did that delivery miss the off-stump. Marginal!

KM Asif into the attack. Asif varies his pace as Iyer and Russell attempt to heave across the line. Asif follows up with a wayward wide. Asif sends in a quick bumper and Russell ducks. Six from the over.

Yuzvendra Chahal replaces Root. Iyer finds a single. Yuzvendra to Rana, OUT! Slog-sweep and straight to Hetmyer at deep square-leg. Wicket No. 184* for Chahal - he overtakes Dwayne Bravo to become IPL’s leading wicket-taker!

Andre Russell is in at 5. Chahal starts with a googly to Russell and it just misses the leg-stump as it hits the pad. Chahal attacks the off-stump and Russell prods forward to defend. A single to follow. Short ball and Iyer pulls it across the line. Jurel puts in a full length dive to his left at deep mid-wicket to deny a certain boundary.

Nitish Rana c Hetmyer b Chahal 22 (17b 2x4)

Ashwin drops short and Rana pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single. Fuller from Ashwin and Iyer wallops it over deep mid-wicket with a thunderous slog-sweep for SIX. Ashwin wafts the ball onto length and Iyer charges down and lifts it over long-off for SIX. A single to follow. Ashwin drags short and Rana slams the ball through extra cover for another FOUR.

Root offers room and Iyer drags the ball to deep point for one run. Root sends in a flatter one which deflects off Rana’s gloves down leg for FOUR. Root darts one in and the ball nearly rolls to the stumps off Rana’s bat. Root drags one short and Rana flicks it to the deep square. Root tosses one outside the off-stump this time and Iyer slaps it to wide long-off for one run. Five from the over.

Ashwin continues to keep the batters in check. Rana and Iyer are content with the singles at the moment. Iyer lofts the ball to deep cover for another single.

Joe Root replaces Boult. He’s bowling in the IPL before a bat! A slew of singles for the batters. Seven from the over. The KKR batters have gone 22 balls without a boundary.

Ravichandran Ashwin into the attack. Ashwin mixes up with his lines and keeps Iyer and Rana guessing. Iyer attempts to make room but Ashwin sends in a flatter delivery to beat the bat, inches wide off the leg-stump. Just the two runs from it.

Boult continues. Boult to Gurbaz, OUT! A blinder from Sandeep at mid-off! Slower delivery on length and Gurbaz attempts to clear the inner ring but mistimes to the left of Sandeep. He puts in a superb full-length dive to his right and latches onto it. Gurbaz is in disbelief but that’s some piece of fielding. Nitish Rana is in at 4. An inside-edge and he is off the mark with two runs. Rana taps one to point and a throw from the fielder flies past the stumps for two overthrows.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz c Sandeep Sharma b Boult 18 (12b 1x4 2x6)

In the slot from Sandeep and Gurbaz nimbly makes room to pump the ball over long-off for SIX. SIX more! Similar length and Gurbaz simply taps the ball over cover for another gorgeous maximum. A single to follow.

Width from Boult and Roy thumps the ball over extra cover for FOUR. Boult to Roy, OUT! A sensational catch from Hetmyer at the backward square-leg fence! Slower ball on length from Boult and Roy whips it across the line. The ball seemed to clear the line but Hetmyer times his leap to perfection to keep the ball within his grasp. Venkatesh Iyer is in at 3. Boult cramps him up with three dots. Make that four, a brilliant over from Boult.

Jason Roy c Hetmyer b Boult 10 (8b 2x4)

Sandeep Sharma into the attack. Sandeep constricts Gurbaz with a tight line outside the off-stump. Sandeep to Gurbaz - a shout for caught behind as Gurbaz advances fro a heave and Sandeep tucks one in past him to Samson. A bit of deliberation before Samson reviews. It seems like the ball is zipping past the inside-edge. RR loses the review. Samson stands up to the stumps. Fraction short from Sandeep and Gurbaz gets a thick outside-edge past short-third for FOUR.

Trent Boult takes the new ball. A big challenge lies in front of the KKR openers. Boult to Roy. In the air and just past cover. Boult takes the ball away from Roy and he tentatively pushes it past the fielder for two runs. Width on offer again and Roy chips it towards the mid-off fielder. Boult moves one in and Roy drives it to mid-on, no run. Boult overpitches outside the off-stump and Roy slices it past backward point for FOUR. Boult brings one back in and hits the pads as it slides down leg. Change of pace and Boult beats Roy’s outside-edge to finish.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Jason Roy walk out to the centre after Lasith Malinga rings the bells at the iconic Eden Gardens. Samson’s men take the field as well. Huge game up ahead for both sides.

Kolkata Knight Riders XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Jason Roy, Venkatesh Iyer, Nitish Rana(c), Andre Russell, Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, Shardul Thakur, Anukul Roy, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy

KKR Impact Subs: Suyash Sharma, Vaibhav Arora, N Jagadeesan, Lockie Ferguson, Umesh Yadav

Rajasthan Royals XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson(w/c), Joe Root, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Sandeep Sharma, KM Asif, Yuzvendra Chahal

RR Impact Subs: Devdutt Padikkal, Riyan Parag, M Ashwin, Navdeep Saini, Donovan Ferreira

TOSS: Rajasthan Royals wins toss, opts to bowl.

Samson: We will bowl here first. Long tournament, need to change according to the strength and weaknesses. Couple of changes for us - Boult replaces Kuldip Yadav, KM Asif replaces Murugan Ashwin. Root will bat at 4. It’s a long tournament, we have had some tough games for the bowlers, the morale of the team is high, not easy to forget close losses, but we need to move on

Rana: I think we’re getting the type of pitches we want. We will have to play good cricket, take one game at a time and earn 2 points. One change for us - Anukul Roy replaces Vaibhav Arora. Looks like the pitch is dry, they haven’t watered a lot, so we are playing that extra spinner and add some depth to the batting

Nitish Rana and Sanju Samson are in the middle for the coin flip.

(On his form) By God’s grace, things are going good for now but as a team we are all trying to do well each game, let’s see how today pans out. The seniors on the side keep telling me to trust myself, play good cricketing shots and take brave decisions. Their words motivate me to bat fearlessly. (On team atmosphere) It is always great with our dressing room and with Sanju (Samson). We enjoy playing together. A few ups and downs like these will keep happening, those are learnings for us, we keep learning to move forward.

• Sanju Samson will feature in his 150th IPL match
• Yuzvendra Chahal needs 1 wicket to become IPL’s leading wicket-taker

Wicketkeeper: Jos Buttler (c), Sanju Samson, Rahmanullah Gurbaz

Batters: Nitish Rana, Rinku Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal

All-rounders: Ravichandran Ashwin, Andre Russell

Bowlers: Yuzvendra Chahal (vc), Trent Boult, Varun Chakaravarthy

Team Composition: KKR 5:6 RRCredits Left: 5.5

• Matches played: 79
• Won: 47
• Lost: 32
• Last result: Beat Punjab Kings by five wickets
• Last five results: Won - 2; Lost - 3

RR Predicted XI (batting first): Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson (c/wk), Joe Root, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Yuzvendra Chahal, Sandeep Sharma, Kuldeep Sen.

RR predicted XI (bowling first): Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson (c/wk), Joe Root, Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Sandeep Sharma, Kuldeep Sen.

RR Impact Player options: Devdutt Padikkal, Murugan Ashwin, Kuldeep Sen, Jason Holder, Obed McCoy

KKR Predicted XI (batting first): Jason Roy, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Venkatesh Iyer, Nitish Rana, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Shardul Thakur, Sunil Narine, Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakravarthy,

KKR predicted XI (bowling first): Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Venkatesh Iyer, Nitish Rana, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Shardul Thakur, Sunil Narine, Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakravarthy, Suyash Sharma/Anukul Roy

KKR Impact Player options: Suyash Sharma, Jason Roy, Anukul Roy, David Wiese, Mandeep Singh

Rinku Singh, Kolkata Knight Riders’ finisher of the season, says his focus on being a death-over specialist during his time at the KKR Academy has helped him in the ongoing Indian Premier League.

Rajasthan Royals pace spearhead Trent Boult on Wednesday said the team needs to be clear in its plan against big-hitting Andre Russell, who returned to form against Punjab Kings.

• Matches played: 8
• Kolkata Knight Riders won: 6
• Rajasthan Royals won: 2
• Last result: Rajasthan Royals won by three wickets (April 2019)
• Last five results: KKR won - 4; RR won - 1

The Playoffs race is heating up and both KKR and RR have a chance to jump to the third spot tonight. Here is an overview of where the teams stand as of now:

• Matches played: 26
• Kolkata Knight Riders won: 14
• Rajasthan Royals won: 10
• Tied: 2
• Last result: Kolkata Knight Riders won by seven wickets (Mumbai; May 2022)
• Last five results: KKR won - 3; RR won - 2

Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals will lock horns in a mid-table tussle at the Eden Gardens here on Thursday, in a bid to improve their chances of qualifying for the Indian Premier League playoffs.

KKR, having won its last two matches, will look to sustain its revival, whereas RR, which has lost three on the trot, will need to arrest its downward slide.

The host will continue to depend on its reliable hands in batting. Openers Jason Roy and Rahmanullah Gurbaz – who underlined his worth in batting and keeping, especially in the last outing where he took some sensational catches against Punjab Kings – and the following batters Venkatesh Iyer, Nitish Rana, Rinku Singh and all-rounder Andre Russell can punish any attack.

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KKR relies heavily on its spinners, led by Varun Chakravarthy. It will require its pacers to perform tidily at its home ground, which has seen high-scoring duels.

RR too has spinners of the caliber of Yuzvendra Chahal and R. Ashwin who provide teeth to its bowling attack. But the side needs its pacers, such as Trent Boult and Sandeep Sharma, to provide adequate support.

RR, despite having a potent attack, has leaked runs profusely. The Sanju Samson-led team, which gathered 200-plus totals thrice in its last four matches but lost two of these three fixtures, must find a way to defend its aggregate.

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler and Sanju shoulder maximum responsibility in RR’s formidable batting line-up.

Tied on 10 points with three matches to go, the margin of error is minimal for both sides.

SQUADS

Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson(w/c), Joe Root, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Ravichandran Ashwin, Murugan Ashwin, Sandeep Sharma, Kuldip Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Devdutt Padikkal, Adam Zampa, Riyan Parag, Jason Holder, Obed McCoy, Trent Boult, Navdeep Saini, Akash Vasisht, KC Cariappa, KM Asif, Kuldeep Sen, Donavon Ferreira, Abdul Basith, Kunal Singh Rathore

Kolkata Knight Riders: Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Venkatesh Iyer, Nitish Rana(c), Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Shardul Thakur, Vaibhav Arora, Harshit Rana, Suyash Sharma, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jason Roy, Anukul Roy, N Jagadeesan, Lockie Ferguson, Kulwant Khejroliya, Tim Southee, Umesh Yadav, Mandeep Singh, Johnson Charles, David Wiese, Aarya Desai