IPL 2017: Chronicling all IPL matches between Kolkata Knight Riders and Gujarat Lions

A supremely confident Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) outfit play host to the Gujarat Lions who find themselves at the bottom of the league table. While KKR have notched up four victories from five matches, Suresh Raina’s team have only a solitary win from five attempts.

However, head-to-head records lend a slight upper hand to Gujarat. From three matches against the Knight Riders, they have managed to emerge triumphant on two occasions and suffered a defeat only once. While the visitors will be looking to add another victory to their tally, Gautam Gambhir’s side will be eager to restore parity in the list of battles between the two units.

With another engrossing clash in the offing later today, let us revisit all the previous encounters between Kolkata Knight Riders and Gujarat Lions.

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Kolkata, 2016 – Gujarat Lions win by 5 wickets

Both sides had gotten off to strong starts in the 2016 IPL season. The stage was set for an intriguing clash between a powerful batting lineup and a spin-heavy bowling attack. With some humidity in the air, Gujarat skipper Suresh Raina inserted the Knight Riders on a surface promising good carry.

The seamers vindicated his decision by making early inroads. Praveen Kumar removed Gautam Gambhir and Manish Pandey within the space of three deliveries and when Robin Uthappa nicked one behind, KKR appeared to be unravelling pretty quickly. Things soon turned to worse as Dwayne Smith got in amongst the wickets column and reduced them to 24/4.

However, an unbeaten fifth-wicket partnership between Shakib Al Hasan and Yusuf Pathan took the hosts to a fighting total of 158. Both batsmen registered resourceful half-centuries to give their bowlers something to defend.

The opening combination of Smith and Brendon McCullum gave a breezy start to the chase. Wicket-keeper batsman Dinesh Karthik then took control and began to guide his team towards the target. Shortly after bringing up his half-century, the right-hander succumbed to the wiles of Brad Hogg. But, his efficient knock along with Aaron Finch’s fiery cameo had ensured a smooth five-wicket victory for Gujarat.

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Kanpur, 2016 – Gujarat Lions win by 6 wickets

Suresh Raina led from the front to secure victory at the Green Park Stadium

The reverse rubber of the 2016 IPL season took place at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur. Synonymous with the name, the venue rolled out a green-tinged surface. Raina won a handy toss and had no hesitation in consigning the Knight Riders to bat first.

Apart from Uthappa and Pathan, all the other batsmen struggled to come to terms with the pitch. With conditions loaded in his favour, Dwayne Smith unleashed his dibbly dobbly medium pacers to scythe through the batting lineup.

The Barbados all-rounder found the perfect length to trouble his opposition to no end. After having Uthappa caught behind, he ran through the middle-order to finish with remarkable bowling figures of 4-0-8-4.

Chasing a modest target of 125, Gujarat lost both openers quite cheaply. Unlike his effort with the ball, Smith could not make an impact in the batting department and departed for a first-ball duck. When McCullum and Karthik fell to leave the scoreboard reading 38/3, the Knight Riders smelled a window of opportunity.

But, captain Raina led from the front to prevent any more mishaps. Showing impressive timing on a tricky pitch, the left-hander compiled one his finest half-centuries in the IPL. Riding on his 36-ball 53, Gujarat cruised to the target with 6 wickets and 39 deliveries to spare.

Catch the highlights of the match here: (Video Courtesy – hotstar)

Rajkot, 2017 – Kolkata Knight Riders win by 10 wickets

Chris Lynn smashed a 41-ball 93 to demolish the Gujarat Lions bowlers in Rajkot

The clash at the Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) Stadium in Rajkot was the 2017 season opener for both teams. Perhaps mindful of the previous two games between the sides, Kolkata Knight Riders decided to make Gujarat bat first on an even-paced surface.

Powered by McCullum’s quick-fire 35, the hosts threatened to break away in the early stages of the encounter. But, a couple of timely strikes from Kuldeep Yadav allowed the Knight Riders to halt the surge.

Raina, though, on his part, began the campaign serenely and looked to build a partnership with Karthik. While the left-hander kept the scoreboard ticking by finding the gaps, the latter took the attack to the opposition bowlers with his instinctive style of hitting. Eventually, the Lions finished with a competitive total of 183.

What happened was scarcely believable. Gambhir and his new opening partner Chris Lynn proceeded to make a complete mockery of the chase. The duo smashed the bowlers to all parts of the ground and operated at a manic rate. An unbeaten partnership of 184 from just 14.5 overs not only helped Knight Riders overhaul the target comfortably but also set a new benchmark in the tournament for the opening wicket.