Cricket

Shah Rukh Khan's Son Abram Steals the Show at Eden Gardens with Adorable ReactionBollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan's son, Abram, became the center of attention during the Indian Premier League (IPL) match between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Punjab Kings on Friday. The adorable toddler's reaction to the game's events captivated the internet.Abram accompanied his father to the Eden Gardens in Kolkata to witness KKR's dominant performance against a struggling Punjab Kings. As KKR posted their second-highest total in IPL history (261 for 6), the batters put on a batting clinic.Skipper Shreyas Iyer played a crucial role in KKR's run-fest, scoring a quickfire 28 off just 10 deliveries. However, his dismissal in the penultimate over left Abram visibly disappointed, with the youngster placing his hands on his head in frustration.KKR's massive total was built on the back of dazzling half-centuries from Philip Salt (75) and Sunil Narine (71), as well as sharp cameos from the middle-order batters. Arshdeep Singh was the most successful bowler for Punjab Kings, claiming two wickets for 45 runs.With five wins and two defeats, KKR currently occupy the second spot on the IPL points table. Punjab Kings, on the other hand, find themselves languishing in ninth place with six defeats in eight games.Abram's adorable reaction to the match highlights the passion and excitement that the IPL generates among fans of all ages. His presence at the Eden Gardens added a touch of star power to the already electrifying atmosphere.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) unleashed a batting onslaught against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) match at Eden Gardens on April 26, posting a mammoth total of 261 for 6. This was the highest score in IPL history at the iconic venue and the second-highest for KKR, after their 272 against Delhi Capitals in 2024.Sunil Narine (71) and Phil Salt (75) provided a blistering start, amassing 138 runs in just 10.2 overs before Narine's dismissal. Salt followed suit at 163 in 12.3 overs. Andre Russell (24 off 12) and Venkatesh Iyer (39) then added 40 runs in three overs.Captain Shreyas Iyer took on the PBKS bowling attack, scoring 28 runs off just 10 balls. Rinku Singh (5) was dismissed quickly, but Venkatesh Iyer and Ramandeep Singh guided KKR past the 260-mark.None of the PBKS bowlers were spared the onslaught. Arshdeep Singh (2 for 45), Sam Curran (1 for 60), Harshal Patel (1 for 48), and Rahul Chahar (1 for 33) were the wicket-takers. PBKS fielding was sloppy, with three dropped catches.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have replaced Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc with Sri Lankan seamer Dushmantha Chameera for their match against Punjab Kings at the Eden Gardens on Friday. KKR captain Shreyas Iyer revealed at the toss that Starc had sustained a finger injury during their previous encounter against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).Starc's IPL campaign with KKR has been underwhelming so far. Despite being acquired for a record sum of INR 24.75 crore (USD 2.98 million approx.) at the auction, he has managed only six wickets while conceding runs at an alarming rate of 11.48 per over.In the match against RCB, Starc was entrusted with the responsibility of bowling the final over, tasked with defending 21 runs. However, he was ruthlessly targeted by No. 9 batsman Karn Sharma, who smashed three sixes off his bowling. Starc eventually managed to take a return catch to seal the victory, but his figures of 1 for 55 from three overs were far from impressive.This was the third time this season that Starc has conceded 50 or more runs in a game, including the second consecutive match. His best performance came against Lucknow Super Giants in a day game at Eden Gardens, where he claimed three wickets and conceded only 28 runs.Starc is making his return to the IPL after an eight-year hiatus. His last appearance in the tournament was in 2015 for RCB, where he took 20 wickets at an economy rate of 6.76.In an interview ahead of the match against Kings, Starc did not mention his finger injury. Instead, he spoke about his return to the IPL and the lessons he has learned from the experience."Coming back, obviously a different team to where I was last in the IPL, so getting to meet a lot of the guys I have played against a little bit... Some younger guys in the KKR squad, getting to know a few of the younger bowlers," he said. "There's a lot of talent around with bat and ball.""I'm getting to know how these guys go about it and learn from them as well, and try and answer any questions they've got. I've come back an older player than when I was last in the IPL, but it's a lot of fun."For Chameera, this will be his first appearance of the season. It is his second stint in the IPL, having played for RCB in 2022.

KKR vs PBKS Live Score: Punjab Kings Face Pressure, Starc Under SpotlightKolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will face Punjab Kings (PBKS) in a crucial Indian Premier League (IPL) match at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Punjab Kings have struggled for consistency this season, despite promising performances from Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma. Their playoff hopes are fading, while KKR aims to improve their bowling unit's efficiency.Mitchell Starc, KKR's star bowler, will be under pressure to justify his hefty price tag of USD 3 million. The Australian pacer has been inconsistent so far, and KKR will rely on him to lead their bowling attack against a formidable Punjab Kings batting lineup.Punjab Kings, on the other hand, will be desperate to turn their fortunes around. They have a talented squad, including Jonny Bairstow, Liam Livingstone, and Kagiso Rabada. However, they have failed to perform as a unit, often losing crucial matches at key moments.The match promises to be an exciting contest between two teams with contrasting fortunes. KKR will be looking to consolidate their position in the top four, while Punjab Kings will be fighting to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Mitchell Starc, the Australian fast bowler, has been underperforming for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Despite his hefty price tag of $3 million, Starc has failed to justify his worth, raising concerns about his form and the team's bowling unit.KKR, currently second in the 10-team table, has relied heavily on its top-order batting, with Sunil Narine, Phil Salt, Andre Russell, and Shreyas Iyer leading the charge. However, the bowling department has been a cause for concern, with Starc's underwhelming performance being a major factor.In seven matches, Starc has managed only six wickets at an economy rate of 11.48, the worst among KKR's specialist bowlers. His lack of pace and reluctance to bowl slower deliveries have made him vulnerable to batsmen, especially in the death overs.In contrast, uncapped Indian pacers Harshit Rana and Vaibhav Arora have impressed with their economy rates of 9.25 and 9.57, respectively. However, they have also been hit at times, highlighting the need for a more consistent bowling performance from KKR.Against a power-hitting Punjab Kings side, KKR's bowling unit will need to step up. Starc, in particular, will have to rediscover his mojo and play a leading role alongside Narine and Varun Chakravarthy, who have been effective in the middle overs.Punjab Kings, on the other hand, have struggled to find consistency in their batting. Despite having talented players like Prabhsimran Singh, Liam Livingstone, Rilee Rossouw, and Jonny Bairstow, they have failed to deliver consistently.However, their uncapped duo of Ashutosh and Shashank have salvaged the team from precarious situations with their astonishing power-hitting. The return of skipper Shikhar Dhawan, who is nursing a shoulder injury, would be a major boost to their morale.The match between KKR and Punjab Kings promises to be an exciting contest, with both teams looking to improve their fortunes in the IPL. KKR will rely on their top-order batting and bowling unit, while Punjab Kings will hope to exploit KKR's bowling weaknesses and find their rhythm in the tournament.

Gujarat Titans' (GT) recent 3-wicket victory over Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 has sparked praise for Shubman Gill, with former cricketer Robin Uthappa predicting a bright future for the 24-year-old.Gill's 35-run knock from 29 balls against PBKS showcased his maturity and leadership qualities, according to Uthappa. "He's a gift for Indian cricket," Uthappa said on Jio Cinema. "He's maturing into an all-time great and a prolific leader who will lead not just his IPL side, but also the Indian team in the near future."Uthappa commended Gill's approach to the innings, noting that he paced himself well to ensure GT's success. "He went about his innings the right way," Uthappa said. "He needed someone to play more aggressively at the end to take pressure off him."GT's victory was also aided by a fine spell from Sai Kishore, who claimed 4/33 to restrict PBKS to 142 in their 20 overs. Despite contributions from Sam Curran (20), Prabhsimran Singh (35), Harpreet Brar (29), and Harpreet Singh (14), PBKS failed to capitalize on their momentum.GT's chase faced some hiccups, but knocks from Rahul Tewatia (36*), Gill (35), and Sai Sudharsan (31) guided the team to victory with three wickets and five balls to spare. Harshal Patel (3/15) was the standout bowler for PBKS, while Sai Kishore was named Player of the Match.With this win, GT moved to sixth place in the standings with four wins and four losses, while PBKS remained in ninth place with two wins and six losses.

Punjab Kings' woes continue in IPL 2024 as they suffer a fourth consecutive defeat, this time at the hands of Gujarat Titans by a narrow three-wicket margin. The loss leaves the Preity Zinta co-owned franchise languishing in ninth place in the standings, exacerbating their struggles in the absence of star player Shikhar Dhawan due to injury.With Dhawan sidelined, all-rounder Sam Curran has assumed the captaincy role, but his performances with both bat and ball have failed to impress. India cricket legend Virender Sehwag has been particularly critical of Punjab Kings' approach, questioning their decision-making regarding player roles and lineup adjustments."If I was in the PBKS dugout, I would not even pick him in my team, neither as a batting all-rounder nor as a bowling all-rounder. I wouldn't pick him," Sehwag remarked on Cricbuzz, highlighting Curran's underwhelming contributions.Sehwag further emphasized his point, stating, "A player is not of any use if he can bowl a bit and bat a bit. You either bat properly and win us the match, or you bowl and win us the game. This bits and pieces part I don't understand."Statistically, Curran's performance this season has been lackluster, managing only 152 runs in eight innings at a strike rate of 116.03, with just one half-century to his name. Despite taking 11 wickets for Punjab Kings, his overall impact has been questioned amidst the team's struggles.Punjab Kings' batting has also been inconsistent, with only Jonny Bairstow and Liam Livingstone consistently delivering substantial contributions. The middle order has failed to provide adequate support, with the likes of Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Shahrukh Khan, and Jitesh Sharma failing to live up to expectations.The bowling attack has also been underwhelming, with Kagiso Rabada and Arshdeep Singh failing to replicate their previous performances. The absence of Dhawan has also deprived Punjab Kings of a reliable opening batsman, putting additional pressure on the other batters.As the IPL 2024 season progresses, Punjab Kings find themselves at a crossroads, facing mounting pressure to arrest their slide and salvage their campaign without the services of key player Shikhar Dhawan.

In a thrilling encounter at Mullanpur, Gujarat Titans emerged victorious over Punjab Kings by three wickets, securing their fourth win in the 2024 IPL. The match was dominated by the spinners, with R Sai Kishore leading the charge for Gujarat with an impressive 4 for 33 in four overs.Punjab Kings' batting woes continued as they were dismissed for a below-par 142, exposing their vulnerability against spin. Sai Kishore, Rashid Khan (1/15), and Noor Ahmed (2/20) combined to dismantle the Punjab batting lineup. Liam Livingstone provided some resistance with two wickets in the middle overs, but Harpreet Brar's expensive spell of 35 runs in four overs proved costly.Gujarat Titans' chase was anchored by Shubman Gill (35 off 29) and Sai Sudharsan (31 off 33), but it was Rahul Tewatia's late cameo of 36 not out off 16 that sealed the victory. Tewatia's six boundaries in the final overs eased the pressure and guided Gujarat to a comfortable win in 19.1 overs.The victory propelled Gujarat Titans to the sixth spot in the points table, while Punjab Kings remained rooted at the bottom with their sixth loss in eight matches. Kolkata Knight Riders' win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru earlier in the day further solidified their position in second place, while RCB languished at the bottom.Virat Kohli maintained his dominance at the top of the scorers' chart with 379 runs from eight matches, earning him the Orange Cap. Jasprit Bumrah's 13 wickets in seven games secured him the Purple Cap.

Punjab Kings' woes continued in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as they succumbed to a disappointing 142-run total against Gujarat Titans at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur on April 21.The hosts' batting lineup faltered once again, with only Sam Curran and Prabhsimran Singh managing to put on a significant partnership of 50 runs. However, both openers were dismissed in quick succession, setting the tone for a disastrous batting performance.Four of Punjab's top five batters fell victim to reckless shots, highlighting their lack of composure and decision-making. Prabhsimran, after hitting a six over third-man, stepped out and edged one behind. Rilee Rossouw was trapped leg-before by Noor Ahmad, while Liam Livingstone heaved across the line to get an outside edge to first slip. Jitesh Sharma, who had just greeted Sai Kishore with an imperious six, was bowled after giving the bowler the charge again.Sai Kishore, Noor Ahmad, and Rashid Khan combined to take seven wickets, exploiting the seamer-friendly conditions and bamboozling the Punjab batters. The on-field umpiring also came under scrutiny, with three decisions being overturned.In the end, Punjab's total of 142 proved to be insufficient as Gujarat Titans chased down the target with ease. The loss extended Punjab's winless streak to four matches, leaving them languishing at the bottom of the IPL standings.