In the 47th league match of the ongoing IPL 2024 T20 series, Kolkata emerged victorious against Delhi, beating them by 7 wickets at the iconic Eden Gardens. Delhi set a target of 154 runs in the first match, but it proved to be insufficient as Kolkata chased it down comfortably in just 16.3 overs.
Key Highlights:
- Target Set: Delhi set a target of 154 runs for Kolkata in the match played at Eden Gardens on April 29.
- Kolkata Bowling Dominance: Varun Chakravarthy from Kolkata proved to be the star bowler, taking a maximum of 3 wickets, while Kuldeep Yadav contributed with the bat, scoring an unbeaten 35 runs.
- Dominant Batting Display: Phil Salt and captain Shreyas Iyer led Kolkata batting with impressive performances. Phil Salt scored 68 runs, while Shreyas Iyer remained unbeaten on 33 runs, guiding their team to an easy victory.
- Kolkata Position: With this win, Kolkata registered their 6th victory of the season, advancing to the 2nd place in the points table. This win has significantly increased their chances of qualifying for the playoffs.
- Delhi Performance: On the other hand, Axar Patel was the most successful bowler for Delhi, taking 2 wickets. However, it wasn’t enough to stop Kolkata’s dominant performance, resulting in Delhi’s 6th defeat in 11 matches.
Controversial Celebrations:
Earlier in the season, Kolkata Harshit Rana found himself in the midst of a controversy during the match against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Rana animated celebration after taking the wicket of Hyderabad opener Mayank Agarwal drew criticism from cricketing legend Sunil Gavaskar and the BCCI.
Gavaskar criticized Rana for his disrespectful celebration towards Mayank Agarwal, a seasoned player in Indian cricket. The BCCI fined Rana 60% of his match salary for his actions.
In response to the criticism and punishment, Harshit Rana showed maturity by celebrating his subsequent wickets in a more subdued manner, indicating that he had learned from his mistake.
Kolkata victory against Delhi not only showcased their dominance in the ongoing IPL 2024 series but also highlighted the importance of sportsmanship and respect in the game of cricket.