5 memorable moments from KKR vs KXIP that don't fade away

Eden Gardens hosted an incredible game of cricket in the IPL. As Kolkata Knight Riders locked horns against an inspired Kings XI Punjab, a lot was expected from this game as both teams came into this game on the back of a win.

KKR batted first and, as usual, their openers did the trick for them as Uthappa and Gambhir gave them a 100 run partnership before breaking up. Andre Russel and Yusuf Pathan finished the innings in a formidable manner, giving KKR 164 runs on board.

Punjab started the chase horribly, losing their top order, but an inspired Glenn Maxwell and a deadly Axar Patel brought them close to victory—before they were stopped by the incredible force of Andre Russell.

There were several memorable moments from the match that don't fade away, quite like the Axe Signature range of body perfumes. Here are 5 of the best:

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Uthappa’s surge

And Robin Uthappa continues his fine form. The Indian selectors now find themselves in a highly complicated dilemma on who to choose and who to leave. Regardless of that, what can’t be denied is the fact he is in sensational form and deserves credit for it.

In another high tempo encounter against the newly-inspired KXIP, he started off with all guns blazing. He scored 70 off just 49 balls to give his team a great start that allowed them to put up a good score.

Gambhir’s consistency

He is another man in glorious form. Scoring yet another half century, he became the batsman with the most 50s in IPL’s history. While Robin Uthappa batted with aggression, Gambhir played the role of the anchor—steadily guiding the innings while Uthappa was dismantling the bowlers.

In another fine captain’s knock, he managed to score 54 off 45 balls—an innings which might have been on the slow side, but was a really calculated one.

In the end, no bowler could get him or Uthappa out and both of them fell prey to run outs.

Maxwell fury

Glenn Maxwell is going through his finest hour. In terms of consistency, he has never been all that great. But of late, he has picked up his game and Punjab are now seeing the best version of him—someone who can give them life from the ashes.

After the top order were completely disarrayed by the KKR bowlers, he took the mantle and steadied it with his incredible display of power hitting.

In 42 balls, he scored 68 runs to bring Punjab within touching distance of victory. However, he fell to Piyush Chawla’s tricky leg spin, but it wasn’t over yet as we saw the wielding of…

Axar’s Axe

Axar Patel is known for his clever slow-left armers, but when it comes to batting, he can be an incredibly useful batsman.

And today, he showed just that. As Maxwell faded away, many thought that the chances of KXIP were also coasting towards the land of hopelessness. However, Axar Patel gave them more than just that with his incredible hitting.

In 7 balls, he scored 21 runs to bring Punjab very close to the total. At one point, the game seemed to be in the bag of KXIP, but it was snatched away by…

Russell the rockstar

Andre Russell is the best T20 all-rounder in the world. Not arguably, not probably. He is the best. Hands down. For two games in a row, he has shown his all-round abilities—skill that won his team the game in the end.

Against Punjab, it was no different as his superb bowling got KKR the win. With the bat, he got to face only 10 balls, but scored 16 runs off them.

With the ball, however, he was a completely different beast altogether. At first, he desecrated the top order of Punjab before finishing his spell with some unbelievable bowling at the death. Apart from inflicting Axar's run out, he finished his spell with 4 wickets while giving away just 20 runs—earning himself another man of the match award in the process.