KKR faced the challenge of a reduced-overs match due to rain. After being invited to bat first by MI, KKR posted a competitive total of 157 for 7. Despite losing early wickets, a resilient batting effort saw KKR reach a respectable score.

Venkatesh Iyer’s Contribution

Venkatesh Iyer emerged as KKR’s standout performer, scoring 42 runs off 21 balls. His aggressive innings provided KKR with the impetus to set a challenging target for MI.

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Nitish Rana and Andre Russell played supporting roles, contributing valuable runs to bolster KKR’s total. Rinku Singh also made a notable contribution with the bat, ensuring that KKR reached a competitive score.

MI’s Bowling Effort

MI’s bowling unit performed commendably, with Piyush Chawla and Jasprit Bumrah picking up two wickets each. Despite the onslaught from KKR’s batters, MI managed to keep the scoring rate in check.

The match highlighted the divergent fortunes of KKR and MI in the IPL season. While KKR showcased significant improvement from the previous year, MI struggled to maintain consistency and failed to qualify for the playoffs.

Toss and Decision

MI skipper Hardik Pandya’s decision to bowl first after winning the toss reflected the team’s strategy of capitalizing on the conditions and restricting KKR to a manageable total.

With KKR reaching 157/7 in 16 overs, the stage is set for an exciting run chase by MI. In the final over, Ramandeep Singh finished off with a flourish, adding crucial 10 runs to KKR’s total.

Most dismissals as a wicketkeeper for MI in the IPL
48 – Ishan Kishan
47 – Quinton de Kock
28 – Parthiv Patel
21 – Dinesh Karthik

20 or more wickets in an IPL season most often
5 – Yuzvendra Chahal
4 – Jasprit Bumrah
4 – Lasith Malinga

As per live weather reports from the iconic Eden Gardens, the Kolkata Knight Riders vs. Mumbai Indians game has been delayed due to bad weather. It’ll take about 75 minutes for the ground to clear up. 10:56pm local is the latest a five-over game can start.

Weather Conditions at Eden Gardens

The iconic Eden Gardens, known for its passionate cricketing atmosphere, is shrouded in inclement weather. Persistent heavy rains and thunderstorms have engulfed the stadium, casting a shadow of uncertainty over the scheduled match. Despite brief interruptions, the lousy weather shows no signs of relenting, posing a challenge to the players and organizers alike.

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Stakes for Kolkata Knight Riders

For Kolkata Knight Riders, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Currently positioned at the top of the IPL standings with 16 points from 11 matches, a victory in this encounter would solidify their spot in the playoffs.

Mumbai Indians’ Opportunity

Despite facing elimination from the tournament, Mumbai Indians have a golden opportunity to play spoilsport for KKR. A win against the table-toppers would dent their playoff aspirations and be a morale-boosting conclusion to their IPL campaign. With nothing to lose, MI enters the fray, intending to upset the apple cart.

Consequences of Rain Interruption

As the rain persists, speculation mounts regarding the match’s possible outcomes. If the weather continues to play spoilsport, the game could be abandoned, leading to a shared point for both teams. Such an outcome would have far-reaching implications for the IPL playoff race, creating a ripple effect across the points table.

Impact on Playoff Race

The scenario of a match abandonment presents a problem for IPL teams vying for playoff berths. For KKR, a shared point would propel them to 17 points in 12 matches, placing them in a favorable position for playoff qualification. Conversely, teams like Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, and Lucknow Super Giants would find their playoff hopes dimmed, unable to catch up to KKR’s tally.

The excitement surrounding the Kolkata Knight Riders‘ home game at the iconic Eden Gardens on April 17 has been tinged with uncertainty. The much-anticipated match hangs in the balance as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) deliberates potential changes to the fixture.

The Dilemma

The looming uncertainty stems from the clash between the IPL match and the celebrated festival of Rama Navami. With festivities set to grip the nation. Authorities are grappling with concerns regarding the provision of adequate security for the event.

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Rama Navami, an annual festival commemorating the birth of Lord Rama, holds immense significance across India. The fervent celebrations, coupled with the expected influx of devotees, pose logistical challenges for ensuring the safety and security of public gatherings.

Security Concerns

The security apparatus, particularly in cities like Kolkata, where the IPL match is slated to take place, is stretched thin due to the dual demands of festival management and general election arrangements.

The BCCI’s Deliberations

In light of these multifaceted considerations, the BCCI finds itself at a crossroads, contemplating the best course of action for the scheduled match. One option under consideration is the relocation of the game to an alternate venue deemed more conducive to ensuring the safety of players, officials, and spectators. Alternatively, the BCCI may opt to reschedule the match to a later date, thereby circumventing the logistical hurdles posed by the concurrent events.

Recognizing the importance of transparent communication, the BCCI has initiated discussions with all relevant stakeholders, including the franchises, state associations, and broadcasters.

Collaboration with Authorities

Crucially, the BCCI and the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) have been in constant dialogue with local law enforcement authorities. Notably the Kolkata police, to assess the feasibility of hosting the match amidst the prevailing circumstances.

As of now, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have triumphed in both of their two matches, elevating them to the top spot in the table. Conversely, Rajasthan Royals (RR) have emerged victorious in both of their games. They are also at the third position in the points table. Today, Rajasthan Royals are slated to encounter Mumbai Indians at Wankhede Stadium.

Pat Cummins, the Sunrisers Hyderabad captain will be meeting his Australian teammate Mitchell Starc, the Kolkata Knight Riders core member in the third match of the ongoing IPL2024. Both teams will be facing each other at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata. While Pat Cummins is excited for his new role for the Hyderabad franchise, he opened up about going up against Mitchell Starc ahead of the match.

Friends become rivals in IPL 2024

Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc have been crucial members of the Australian side for a long time. While Cummins will lead the Hyderabad team in IPL 2024, Starc will be seen as the Kolkata team leading pacer. They will be meeting each other at the toss of the match between SRH and KKR tonight in Kolkata. While speaking of the same, Cummins said,

“I will say this: hopefully, I don’t have to face Starc because that means our batters have done quite well. It’s funny… it’s one of the beauties of the IPL; I have been playing with Starcy for 15 years, [and] I can’t remember another game where I have played against him. Also, it’s going to be weird looking across and seeing him in the other dugout.”

During the pre-match press conference, he also said, “Yeah, being an opposition captain, seeing how we go about playing him will be an interesting part. But we’re both bowlers, so I am not sure we’ll cross [paths] too much.”

See also: IPL 2024: Top 4 Kolkata Knight Riders players to be in focus

While speaking about expectations, “I think it’s been a part of the IPL, you have expectations, you have a lot of fans who demand a lot out of the team, they want results. Yeah, being captain is probably a little bit more [of responsibility]. But it’s not much different to what we’re used to as players. We’ll give it our best.”

Sunrisers Hyderabad paid a whooping INR 20.50 crores to secure the service of Pat Cummins, the Test and ODI captain of Australia. However, KKR bought Starc for INR 24.75 crores after releasing Cummins and Lockie Ferguson. Now it will be interesting to watch the battle of the two most expensive players in IPL 2024 as well.

On this day 23 years ago, VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid stitched together a 376-run partnership that marked one of the historical moments of Indian cricket. On March 14, 2001, at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata the duo scripted an unreal fightback that laid the foundation for one of the greatest victories in the history of Test cricket.

How it all started?

After losing the first Test against Steve Waugh-led Australia, India were all set for another heartbreak in Kolkata. Australia put a mammoth 445 in the first inning and India were bowled out for a mere 171. The hosts were asked to follow on and they were soon 232/4 with Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly back to the pavilion. Rahul Dravid joined VVS Laxman and set the stage for an epic fightback.

Laxman scored 281 while Dravid played the perfect supporting role to add 181 to his name. The grit and resilience showcased by the duo changed the tone of the match in favour of the hosts. India were not just back in the game, they started showing dominance.

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Eden Test 2001 changed mindset of Indian cricket

The partnership laid the foundation for a magical spell from Harbhajan Singh that eventually saw India winning the match by 171 runs. Nobody could believe what they saw. Nobody could imagine that the match would be unfolded in such a way.

The match is significant in various ways in Indian cricket history. This was one of those matches that made Indians believe in the team India led by Sourav Ganguly. The magnitude of the Eden Test 2001 was recalled by Hemang Badani once. He tweeted in 2023, “Not many know that at the end of day 3 we had packed our suitcases, they were to be taken straight to airport and the team was to go straight to the airport from ground. And then these two batted like magicians without losing a wicket the entire day.”

The marquee match between India and Pakistan in the upcoming ICC ODI World Cup 2023 is very likely to be played at Kolkata’s iconic Eden Gardens stadium. However, MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai has also been shortlisted as a potential location for the high-voltage match, according to reports. In case any inconvenience comes up Kolkata facilitating the touchy conflict, Chennai could be granted the match.

Eden Gardens has facilitated various India versus Pakistan conflicts previously, including the one that was played in the T20 World Cup 2016. Virat Kohli scored 55* runs in 37 deliveries as the MS Dhoni-led team defeated the Men in Green by six wickets in the match. The storied Indo-Pak match that India won by 29 runs previously took place at the IS Bindra PCA Stadium in Mohali during the 2011 ODI World Cup.

However, the controversy surrounding Pakistan’s participation in the World Cup on Indian soil has not yet been resolved, as the Pakistan Cricket Board, led by Najam Sethi, had previously requested that Bangladesh be considered for hosting Pakistan’s World Cup matches. Even though that is highly unlikely, Pakistan and India have not reached a decision on this, so the discussions are still ongoing.

In the meantime, according to reports, 12 settings have been concluded to have all the matches of the impending World Cup. The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad has been shortlisted to host the final, and each venue is expected to host four matches.

India’s Asia Cup matches likely to be hosted outside Pakistan

India’s Asia Cup matches are likely to be held outside of Pakistan. Notably, the refusal of India to play the Asia Cup on Pakistani soil sparked the discussion about holding Pakistan’s World Cup matches in Bangladesh. Sethi, the head of the PCB, initially objected to the idea, but he eventually agreed to the idea of holding India’s matches in another nearby nation if the ICC and BCCI honored their request regarding their position on the World Cup venue. Nations, for example, the UAE, Oman and Sri Lanka are in the know to have India’s Asia Cup matches.

The PCB also retaliated after the BCCI’s decision by stating that the board would not send its team to the coveted ICC World Cup if India boycotted the Asia Cup, contrary to earlier reports

Sources have reported that the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka, might host the match if Pakistan does not agree to play in India and if the ICC and BCCI grant permission. The schedule and the location, on the other hand, won’t be revealed until after everything has been finalized, so the ICC has yet to make any announcements in this regard.

The upcoming biopic of Sourav Ganguly, a former captain of the Indian cricket team, is being made by Luv Ranjan Production Company, according to rumors that have been circulating. Recent images of Ranbir Kapoor and Ganguly together at Eden Gardens have sparked other gossip, despite the lack of an official statement regarding the cast or director of the movie.

Since Ranjan Production Firm announced the biopic in September 2021, nothing has been said about it. Ganguly denied the rumors and stated that no decision has yet been made, despite rumors suggesting that Kapoor has been cast in the main role. Ankur Garg, a co-producer, added that hiring and other details are still to be decided.

Fans of Kapoor and Ganguly are eagerly awaiting more details about the biopic despite the lack of formal confirmation. With his widely praised depiction of Sanjay Dutt in “Sanju,” Kapoor has already demonstrated his mettle in biopics. Fans are thrilled to see him assume the guise of one of the most recognizable cricket leaders in India.

The development of Ganguly from a young cricketer to the captain of the Indian cricket squad is an inspiring one. He is renowned for his fearless leadership style, tenacity, and capacity to inspire his team to succeed. An inconsistent team is replaced with one that was competitive on the international scene thanks to Ganguly, who is also credited with altering the face of Indian cricket. Ganguly, who was recently cited by the Bombay Times, denied these rumors. “No final judgment has been made,” he had stated. After the meeting, I hope we can exchange something constructive.

The movie’s co-producer Ankur Garg had previously stated, “Honestly, there’s no update to share at this point. The biopic will be one of the projects that we will focus on after our upcoming film’s release. For now, casting or anything else hasn’t been discussed.”

Fans still hold out optimism that more information will be revealed even though the Ganguly biopic is still shrouded in secrecy. It appears that the movie won’t be released anytime soon because there are presently no updates available. Fans are eagerly awaiting the project’s formal announcement and are still excited to see Kapoor in yet another biopic.

Regards to Kapoor is marketing his forthcoming movie, “Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar,” which will hit theatres on March 8. Kapoor will play Shraddha Kapoor’s first-ever opposite role in the Luv Ranjan-directed movie, creating excitement among the actor’s followers.