On March 29, in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, Kolkata emerged victorious in their eagerly awaited encounter against Bengaluru, clinching a 7-wicket win. Phil Salt, Sunil Narine, and Venkatesh Iyer showcased exemplary batting skills, leading Kolkata to their sixth consecutive triumph at the M Chinnaswamy stadium since their maiden win in 2016.

Despite Virat Kohli’s impressive unbeaten 83-run innings, Bengaluru’s efforts fell short as Kolkata chased down the target of 183 runs in just the 17th over. The clash, much anticipated by the home crowd, turned into a disappointment as Kolkata became the first away team to secure a win in the IPL 2024 season. Despite notable performances by Kohli and Cameron Green, Bengaluru couldn’t prevent Kolkata from claiming their second victory of the season, thanks to their outstanding batting display.

Venkatesh Iyer and Shreyas Iyer rule the ground  

Venkatesh Iyer, scoring 50 runs off 30 deliveries, and skipper Shreyas Iyer, contributing 39 runs off 24 balls, played crucial roles in KKR’s victory, allowing them to achieve the target with 19 balls to spare, marking their second win in three games. Following their triumph, Kolkata Captain Shreyas Iyer emphasized how the break before the Bengaluru clash proved beneficial for the team’s preparation. He also commended Andre Russell for his impressive performance.

He said, “Coming here, getting those two sessions of practice, we were in a good shape from the previous game. Coming and hitting few balls, it felt comfortable from within. The way Russell came in and realised the wicket wasn’t giving much from bowlers, and went to slower ones, analysing the conditions on the spot was pleasing to the eye. The communication was brilliant.”

Sunil Narine continues to shine

KKR began the match with a strong start, with the opening pair of Philip Salt, scoring 30 runs off 20 balls, and Sunil Narine, contributing 47 runs off 22 balls, forging an impressive partnership of 86 runs in just 6.3 overs. Notably, Sunil Narine, in his landmark 500th T20 game, was honored with the Player of the Match award for his outstanding all-round display.

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Shreyas added for him, “See when Narine comes in to open, he knows he has one job which is to clear the infield. Today we were contemplating whether to start with him or not but he did a brilliant job.” 

Following their victory, Kolkata climbed to the second position in the IPL 2024 points table, while Bengaluru stayed put in sixth place. This win helped Kolkata improve their standing in the tournament, while Bengaluru maintained their position in the rankings.