KKR vs RCB, 9th Match at Kolkata, IPL, Apr 06 2023 - Match Result

A one-sided game in what was Eden Gardens' first IPL match in four years. KKR cruised to an 81-run win after hitting back from a position where everyone except Thakur had given up. Have a read of Monga's report from today's play, which included RCB collapsing from 44 for 0 to 61 for 5. That's it from us tonight, as this is Himanshu signing off on behalf of Raghav, Thilak and Monga! Good night.

Shardul Thakur is the Player of the Match for his match-turning 68 off 29: "Even I don't know where it came from! Looking at the scorecard, everyone would have said we were struggling. But your subconscious mind takes over. You also have to have skills to do that at the higher level, but we also work hard in the nets. Coaching staff do the throwdowns, and give us the option of range-hitting. And you know the pitches; they always suit the batsmen, don't they? Suyash bowled exceptionally well, and we know the quality Sunil and Varun have. They have fun, take wickets. This was a perfect day"

KKR captain Nitish Rana: "If you look at the last match, there were positives; we were in the game even after seven down. Even today, we collapsed, and credit to Gurbaz. And it was an unbelievable innings from Shardul Thakur! People will talk about Shardul, but Rinku held one end up, as we had planned. We had always planned not to give RCB batters pace in the middle overs. Suyash, playing his first match, bowled brilliant balls to such batters. Not even we have got to know him so far! He backs himself. It was always our plan to add him if we needed a third spinner."

Time for the presentations

Shrikant : "23 extras by RCB was another crime committed "

KKR coach Chandrakant Pandit: "It's a good win. Boys have shown the character. Looking at the initial stage, having lost wickets, and coming back to get 200-plus. We just expected the pitch to help the spinners. But you require enough runs. Shardul and Rinku counterattacked the opposition. We have seen him (Suyash) at trial matches. He is very quick in the air, and it's very tough to pick him. It's just the inexperience; but he showed a fighting attitude."

RCB captain Faf du Plessis after the loss: "We had it set up there in the 12th or 13th over... It was probably 20-25 runs too much. Shardul played well. Their legspinners got on top of us. It was still a good wicket... but the nature of mystery spinners is that they get wickets. They put the squeeze on us. We were pretty average with the bat. You learn lessons. Two or three days ago, you played brilliant cricket. It got away from us."

Afeef: "Shardul's knock will remain one of the best knocks when this season ends"

11.09pm Hardly a challenge here from the Royal Challengers. KKR were 89 for 5 in the 12th over of their innings - including having Russell back in the hut - but Thakur turned the screw thereon, and how! Strangely, only three KKR batters entered double figures, but you can imagine the impact they had as their side ended at 204. Add to that not one, not two, but three mystery spinners: four wickets for Varun, three for debutant Suyash and two for Narine, and that was it. Hang around for the presentation formalities.

M Usman Mehsood: "Pakistan have won all the titles but given 100s of heart attacks..."

Varun into his final over

DJDJ: "On the positive side, a game may finally end on time :)"

Jai: "Yayyyy.. 100 up.."

So that four at least brought up RCB's hundred. And here comes Narine.

Sajid: "But Pakistan have won all the Titles :)"

Deep the last man