Short around leg, finishing on off, blocked on the back foot
PBKS vs KKR, 44th Match at Kolkata, IPL, Apr 26 2025 - Match Result
11.10pm How does the points table look like? The points shared means that PBKS have now entered the top four. They are in fourth position with 11 points, just behind GT, DC and RCB all on 12. KKR, meanwhile are on seventh position with seven points. Thanks for tuning in. We will be live nice and early for the double-header. Till then, on behalf of Abhimanyu, Thilak and Vairavan, this is me Ashish signing off. Ciao!
Eric: "Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe this is the first time Punjab have had a washout/no result ever in the IPL!" Yep, though Sampath informs that they nearly had a washout vs KKR at this very venue in 2014 playoffs, as it was played on reserve day
10.59pm Righto, the weather gods have won. The KKR-PBKS match has been called off due to steady rain. It's a shame because this was shaping up to be an interesting chase. PBKS scored 201, but at one point they were in line to get 220, even 230. The openers, Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh had a solid partnership up top, but KKR pulled back things brilliantly, picking 3 for 43 in the last six overs. KKR scored seven runs in the only over they batted, before it began to rain and never relented.
Deepankar DM : "With this washout, KKR have also entered must-win territory along with SRH. Anything less than 16 points will not be near enough this season. "
Mustafa Moudi : "The result was exactly double than the Target. Target - 202, Result - 404 Not Found :P"
Manoh: "Hey Ashish, ordering some tea and pakoras?" Just had dinner, bro.
saurabh: "does the NRR change from a wash out game? if so, how? " Nope, no changes.
10.55pm Thanks, Abhi. The rain has eased a bit, but it's still steady. Increasingly looking like, we won't be seeing any more play today. But, fingers crossed, we at least get a five-over game.
10.47pm Alright, it's Ashish's turn now for some weather-watching.
Nelson Joseph: "Have anybody tried jinxing the rain? If not, here it comes. " The match will be abandoned due to heavy rain ". Now let's wait and see."
10.42pm Some cheers ring out around the Eden Gardens. Sreshth tells me the rain seems to be easing. It's not stopped yet, mind you, so be cautious with your optimism.
Vishwas : "A washout and odd number of points will take away those NRR scenarios out of the way a bit which are usually extra fun at the end of league phase." -- Hmm I think there will definitely be one of the qualification spots decided by NRR either way. Hard to imagine a season without that!
Shwetanshu : "KKR will be very happy with a point here, they have games against CSK, RR, SRH in their last 5 where they will fancy themselves. If they can win one of the two clashes against DC and RCB they can reach 15 points." -- you have not been cautious at all with your optimism for the defending champions!
10.40pm It's still raining in Kolkata. The covers are still firmly on. "Suggestions are that the ground and pitch is soaked underneath. The groundstaff were really overwhelmed today," Sreshth says. It all sounds to me like a washout is the most likely outcome, but we wait on.
Ravim: "How does the washout affects the playoffs chances? Who is gaining from this?" Well, shared points will see PBKS edge ahead of MI to go fourth, but at this point, that point lost could hurt them in the long run. For KKR, they need every point they can get, so this could leave them at a disadvantage. While GT and DC will be one point clear of PBKS with games in hand, RCB, who have played nine matches, will feel happy with a little breathing room between them and PBKS at fourth.
Tejas: "Does the player scores add up in a washout game? For example, If someone scores a century and game is washed out after one inning, that century adds up to players tally?" -- yes it does.
10.25pm Tomorrow is a double-header day, so you can check out our buildup for MI vs LSG and DC vs RCB. As for today's game, the covers are all still on. It's still raining, but Sreshth tells me that the wind has eased up.
Gowri: "It is 4:51am in Antartica and I am half asleep and waiting for the match to restart, lying on the sofa in Bangalore. The first statement is a random fact." -- hat tip.
Swarnadeep: "I am a local and I can confirm that it looks very very bad. Kalboisakhi this late, and thunder in the sky. The probability of getting another ball is almost nil. Besides we only have 11:30 before its declared a washout."
"Hope this match will get abondened because I have not done good at fantasy app" -- amid all you passionate fans, Faizan is being a pragmatist looking out for No. 1. Big thumbs up from me.
Puneet Mahajan : "beat you all, in Auckland, waiting for game to start.... go pbks!!!"
Sid: "staying up in Brisbane too at 2.38am as a committed Punjab fan. Come on weather"
Anuj: "Waiting for the game to resume from Sydney at 2:30am. The weather apps look promising bar the lightning. " I salute your commitment!
10pm Lightning in the skies now as well.
9.55pm Sreshth says the rain is 'very heavy' now.
Prisha: "@Srividya, I have a feeling it's going to be Venkatesh, but let's see.."
9.48pm More from the venue: "Groundstaff are bringing rocks to put on top of the edges of the covers so they don't fly away. The fans have emptied the stands that are not covered. They've all taken shelter under the covered areas higher up."
Anubhab Mukherj: "54 off 24 with 10 wickets in hand is insanely harsh on PBKS. 140 runs chopped off of 15 overs without losing a wicket is ridiculous." -- C'est la cricket, or however you say it in French!
9.43pm According to the TV commentators, we have around an hour before we start losing overs.
Srividya : "Sandstorms during a cricket match takes one to sharjah 1998. Who is going to be KKR's Sachin tonight ?" Let's see if someone gets a chance!
9.40pm Debris flying all over the ground and the covers are flying into the stands, Sreshth reports from Eden Gardens! Meanwhile, some early calculations from Sampath (who is clearly fearing the worst): KKR's target will be 61 if they return for a 5-over chase (54 off 4 further overs).
It is raining, but the rain is flying sideways showing how strong the winds are, Sreshth adds.
9.35pm And we are off. The covers are being brought on as it starts to drizzle. "Tip tip barsa paani" playing on the speakers. The DJ clearly has a sense of humour. "Dusty. Also the covers are flying all over," Sreshth reports.
jaideep: "the DJ is doing some awesome job.. knows his (or her) trade well..!!"
Sri: "Wow they are covering the entire field! Huge canvases!" -- yep, almost the whole field is covered up.
More left-arm pace. Arshdeep from the other end. Meanwhile, Sreshth reports that the norwester storm in the forecaster has hit. It looks windy out there, no rain yet though, and the groundstaff are waiting to bring on the covers if needed
Looks to swing this leg side again and this time he misses. It goes off his thighs past the slip fielder to deep third's right
Swung away with disdain! Full on the pads and Narine does what Narine does and heaves it away well in front of the deep square leg fielder
Short outside off, Narine sways away. Looks for a wide call from the umpire, but there's no signal coming
Narine faces up for the first time today
kaig: "this is going to be a humdinger!!!" I'd hope so, after the last two contests between these two sides!
On a length around leg, tucked square on the leg side for KKR's first run off the bat
Full and angled across him, pitching closer to off this time, left alone by Gurbaz
Starts off with a full ball angled across the opener, but this one is too wide
Jansen from over the wicket to Gurbaz. Here we go
Marco Jansen to start things off with the ball in hand. And we have the confirmation that Brar has replaced Prabhsimran in this second innings.
9.25pm A strange decision to not send Nehal Wadhera or Shashank Singh, more so for the former, given the kind of form he has been in. But have PBKS got enough on the board against an under-pressure KKR batting lineup? KKR need 202 to get a little bit of revenge, and more importantly, two crucial points. The chase should begin soon, with Sunil Narine and Rahmanullah Gurbaz ready to come out. Harpreet Brar has also walked out along with the PBKS team, so it's likely that he is their Impact Player.
Priyansh Arya: We have a very good total, because the wicket is on the slower side. [Partnership] Ricky Sir told us to rotate the strike after six overs and take it deep. I really like batting with Prabhsimran. He asks me which bowler to charge, the shots I can play. [On Ponting] He gives me the confidence that I have the ability. He only talks positive.
ashish: "201 was espn cricinfo predictor at the 10 over mark. Punjab have got exactly that. Wow!"
Robin: "Big Big mistake from Punjab Kings camp!! They are gonna miss those extra 25 runs that Shashank and Nehal could have gotten them."
Java: "If I were in the KKR team, I'd be watching the radar like a hawk. There's a major thunderstorm moving into Kolkata from the west. Radar says it may be under 50 km from Eden."
9.12pm Could have been so much worse for KKR after the start PBKS got, but still 201 is a solid total on a surface which has been gripping for the spinners. Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya were the stars of the show as they added 120 for the opening wicket off just 72 balls. Prabhsimran started slowly but took over big time once Arya fell as PBKS reached 160 in the 15th over. At the time 220, even 230 was looking possible for the visitors. But KKR pulled back things brilliantly. Maxwell failed again, so did Jansen. PBKS could only post 40 runs in the last five overs and had Shashank Singh, Nehal Wadhera and Azmatullah Omarzai still in the shed. Will that cost PBKS? We'll find out in a bit.
He's missed a full toss and that is a top over from Russell. He backs away looking to thrash him over deep midwicket. Misses altogether.
Well bowled and equally well played and PBKS' 200 is up. Yorker outside leg stump, Inglis brings his bat down in time and squeezes this in the gap between deep square and deep fine leg
Low full toss tailing in on leg stump, he mistimes to deep midwicket. Again, just a run
Only a single. This is top stuff from Russell. Yorker on leg stump, that tailed back in once more. Inglis can only push it back towards the bowler
Drops short of Varun at short third. Fuller on middle stump, he looks for a reverse ramp, the ball balloons to Varun
Fuller-length ball outside off, he drives to extra cover
Russell to bowl the final over. Can PBKS reach 210? KKR also have an Impact Player coming in. Angkrish Raghuvanshi for Sakariya
Whacked! Good length ball outside off, he stands tall and thumps him over extra cover for a one-bounce four
Tries to go the other way, but misses. On a length well outside off, close to the tramline. He looks for a pre-meditated scoop, can only toe-end to point
Wow, Inglish making me eat my words. Back of a length ball well outside off, he plays a solid reverse ramp and nails it over the keeper's head
Inglis is next in. Have to say I am surprised they haven't sent Nehal or Shashank yet. Surely they are better hitters than Inglis
Two dots and a wicket. Just the result KKR were hoping for. Slower legcutter outside off, Jansen looks to go over long-on, doesn't time it as well and Venkeatesh Iyer takes a simple catch
Another swing and a miss. Good length ball at 125kph outside off, he connects at thin air
On-pace length ball at 134kph well outside off. Jansen swings at it and misses.
Just 23 runs in the last three overs. Here's Arora
Raj: "Iyer and Jansen have totally slowed down. Either hit or get out!"
Swung over long-on and Iyer ends the 18th over on a high. Slower back of a length ball outside off, but that sits up for Iyer who has hacked that miles.
1W | ||||
1W | ||||
1W | ||||
Eden Gardens, Kolkata | |
Toss | Punjab Kings, elected to bat first |
Series | |
Season | 2025 |
Hours of play (local time) | 19.30 start, First Session 19.30-21.00, Interval 21.00-21.20, Second Session 21.20-22.50 |
Match days | 26 April 2025 - night (20-over match) |
KKR Player Replacement | Impact player: in, out (1st innings, 18.6 ov) |
PBKS Player Replacement | Impact player: in, out (1st innings, 19.6 ov) |
Umpires | |
TV Umpire | |
Reserve Umpire | |
Match Referee | |
Points | Punjab Kings 1, Kolkata Knight Riders 1 |
Over 1 • KKR 7/0
No result