The 28th match of the IPL 2024 season witnessed a commanding performance from Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), who celebrated their first win against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at Eden Gardens. This victory not only highlighted KKR’s strengths but also marked a significant turnaround in their campaign.

Key Performances for KKR

The spotlight shone brightly on skipper Shreyas Iyer and dynamic batter Phil Salt, whose contributions were pivotal in KKR’s triumph. Iyer’s leadership and batting prowess, coupled with Salt’s aggressive half-century, set the tone for the match.

See Also: Kolkata Knight Riders beat Lucknow Super Giants by 8 wickets

Shreyas Iyer’s Performance

Skipper Shreyas Iyer, known for his calculated batting style, played a crucial role in stabilizing the innings. He skillfully maneuvered the field, scoring consistently and building a partnership that would steer KKR towards a competitive score. Skipper Shreyas Iyer played a decent supporting role and scored 38 runs on 38 balls.

Despite a solid performance, Shreyas Iyer faced criticism on social media, with fans expressing mixed feelings about his rate of scoring and strategic decisions. The trolling seemed rooted in expectations of a faster scoring pace and more aggressive playstyle, highlighting the varied expectations of IPL fans.

Shreyas Iyer ko nikalo yaar team se

— ραℓℓανι(Fan Account) (@Megastar_SRK_) April 14, 2024

Shreyas Iyer crossed the 100 SR mark for the first time in this game !!!

— Rᴀɪᴋᴀᴛ  (@OverMidWicket) April 14, 2024

Shreyas Iyer bro what are you doing?
Looking so underconfident 😭 pic.twitter.com/PqPIwvxtxx

— Yash Godara(Exams ki MKC) (@105of70Mumbai) April 14, 2024

Even srk 💜 got bored after watching Shreyas iyer batting 😭😭#KKRvsLSG #ShahRukhKhan𓃵 pic.twitter.com/G4PhSzyVSH

— Aasif Mir 🦅 (@Slit991) April 14, 2024

Shreyas Iyer playing at a SR of 50 in a T20 match 💀 pic.twitter.com/atg2u1xObu

— Dinda Academy (@academy_dinda) April 14, 2024

Shreyas Iyer have 2 roles.
Playing T20 in ODI
nd playing odi in T20🥲🥲🥲 pic.twitter.com/wTGlDq1yDi

— 𝑀𝒾𝒸𝓇𝑜 𝐿𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓇 (@Swapnil113goat) April 14, 2024

Could someone kindly jog Shreyas Iyer's memory that he's in a T20I match? pic.twitter.com/63Of8hfoxe

— Vipin Tiwari (@Vipintiwari952_) April 14, 2024

Shreyas Iyer is clearing struggling with form. Looked shaky throughout his stay at the crease and battled for every run. The best thing was he stayed unbeaten in our run chase. Iyer will come good, I have no doubts about it. #KKR #KKRvLSG

— Rohan Sengupta (@GarryDevilDada) April 14, 2024

Kash shreyas Iyer 11 run aur Kam banata to aaj Salt ka century ho jata.😐😐#KKRvLSG

— Seb🖤 (@difficult_much) April 14, 2024

Very disappointing batting from Shreyas Iyer, playing at only 100 Strike Rate. I thought he would make a statement with the bat but he hasn't done it

— Dhaanush (@SuperSportsmass) April 14, 2024

Match Highlights

The initial overs saw KKR focusing on a conservative yet steady approach to the innings, setting a foundation for a significant total. Both Iyer and Salt approached the bowling with a blend of caution and aggression.

Phil Salt, on the other hand, displayed a more explosive approach. His quick 47-ball 89 was a spectacle, punctuated by swift boundaries and crucial singles, pushing the team’s total to a dominant position.

Mitchell Starc was another standout performer, showcasing his prowess with a critical 3-wicket haul that not only curbed LSG’s scoring but also boosted KKR’s defensive strategy.