Two-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders were knocked out of IPL 2016 after their loss in the Eliminator against the Sunrisers Hyderabad. The Kolkata franchise had a topsy-turvy run in the tournament and eventually had to return home empty-handed. However, in the 9th edition of the Indian Premier League, the Kolkata outfit once again exhibited some great performances and showed why they should never be written off.
A balanced side, KKR started the tournament well and looked favourites to lift the coveted trophy for the 3rd time. However, their tournament meandered to a different path in the end as some of their key players lost form and the side also dearly missed their talismanic all-rounder Andre Russell, who was out due to injury.
If we look back at their journey in the IPL 2016, we can find many memorable moments where they truly showed their character. Here is a list of the 5 most memorable moments in the IPL 2016 for the Gautam Gambhir-led side.
5) Gautam Gambhir’s 90 against the Sunrisers Hyderabad
In the 8th match of the IPL 2016, Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Gautam Gambhir played a magnificent knock of 90 not out against the Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad to guide his side past the total of 142.
Gambhir, who showed signs of getting back into great touch, impressed everyone with his new stance. He played the spinners with elan as he always does and also negotiated the short balls well. The southpaw played some exquisite strokes and winded back memories of the yesteryears.
His 92-run opening stand with Robin Uthappa proved critical as they negated the threat of the dangerous SRH bowlers to chase the target in 18.2 overs.
4) Umesh Yadav’s last over 6 against Rising Pune Supergiants
In one of the crunch games in the IPL 2016, KKR fast bowler Umesh Yadav did his job with the bat as he struck a match-winning six in the last over against Rising Pune Supergiants in the 20th match of the tournament.
RPS batting first put up 160 on the board and while chasing, KKR were in a spot of bother as they lost two quick wickets. Suryakumar Yadav steadied the ship with a fine knock and KKR looked all certain for a comfortable victory. But a flurry of wickets, in the end, made the game evenly poised and KKR needed 7 runs off the final over.
Thisara Perera was given the last over and he somehow made the game even more interesting when he got rid of Piyush Chawla in the second ball. Now KKR were 8 down and they needed 5 runs of the last 4 balls.
Yadav, however, didn’t leave it until the end and hit a six in the third ball of the over to finish the match on a high. He picked the slower ball well and tonked that for a six over the long-on fence.
Surely a memorable six by the fast-bowler.
3) Andre Russell’s last over against Kings XI Punjab
In the 32nd match of the IPL 2016, KKR and Kings XI Punjab locked horns at the Eden Gardens and the home team batting first put up a total of 164 on the board.
KXIP all-rounder Glenn Maxwell came back to form and threatened to take the game away from KKR as he scored a quick-fire 68 off just 42 balls. After his departure, Axar Patel’s cameo of 21 off just 7 balls brought KXIP back into the game.
But there was a twist to the tale. KKR’s prolific all-rounder Andre Russell showed his death-bowling skills and bowled a brilliant last over to set the match for the Kolkata franchise. He conceded only 4 runs in the all-important last over and also had a hand in the important run-out of Axar Patel. The West Indian also picked up a wicket to win the match for his team.
Kudos to Andre Russell!
2) Yusuf Pathan’s 37 against the Rising Pune Supergiants
In the rain-curtailed match against the Rising Pune Supergiants in the Eden Gardens, the Knight Riders should thank the efforts of their big-hitting batsman Yusuf Pathan, who on a turning track single-handedly changed the course of the game with his lusty blows.
KKR was asked to chase 66 in 9 overs and they started in a disastrous manner as they lost their openers in the opening over. Ravichandran Ashwin outfoxed the opening duo and he was extracting plenty of turn from the slow Eden Gardens track.
Yusuf Pathan then arrived at the crease with his usual swagger and demolished Ashwin in the 3rd over to score 20 runs off him, that over changed the course of the match. Pathan’s blitzkrieg helped KKR finish the match in 5 overs and the match belonged to Pathan for his blistering knock of 37 not out in 18 balls.
1) Andre Russell-Yusuf Pathan’s match-winning partnership against the Royal Challengers Bangalore
KKR’s victory against the mighty Royal Challengers Bangalore in Bangalore was surely one of the games of the tournament. The match witnessed a tremendous reversal of fortunes and it was ultimately the swashbuckling KKR duo of Pathan and Russell who paved the way for a memorable KKR victory.
Chasing a daunting target of 185, KKR looked down and out when they lost their 4 wickets for just 69 runs. The run-rate was climbing and RCB looked favourites to win that tie.
Cometh the hour! Cometh the champions! The partnership between Yusuf Pathan and Andre Russell brought KKR back into the game as the duo stitched together a 96-run partnership in just 44 balls. Pathan struck 60 off just 29 balls and he also remained unbeaten to take his side home in 19.1 overs and Andre Russell won the Man of the Match for his stupendous efforts with both bat and ball.
Surely, that was one great partnership and one of the best moments from the IPL season.
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