The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 witnessed a thrilling encounter between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The match was marked by a scintillating century from West Indies star Sunil Narine, who propelled KKR to a commanding victory.
Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson opted to bowl first after winning the toss, hoping to capitalize on the conditions. However, KKR openers Phil Salt and Sunil Narine had other plans. The duo put on a solid partnership of 75 runs before Salt was dismissed for 32.
Narine continued his onslaught, smashing a 49-ball century, the fastest in IPL 2024. He hit 10 fours and 7 sixes in his whirlwind knock, leaving the RR bowlers clueless. Shreyas Iyer (25) and Venkatesh Iyer (22) provided valuable support as KKR posted a formidable total of 210/6.
In response, RR got off to a decent start with Yashasvi Jaiswal (35) and Rovman Powell (28) putting on 63 runs for the first wicket. However, the KKR bowlers, led by Mitchell Starc (3/32) and Varun Chakravarthy (2/35), kept chipping away at the RR batting lineup.
Sanju Samson (29) and Riyan Parag (25) tried to revive the chase, but their efforts were not enough. RR eventually fell short by 37 runs, with KKR securing a crucial victory.
The match also witnessed a special moment when Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, the co-owner of KKR, met Indian cricket legend Jhulan Goswami. The two icons shared a warm embrace, highlighting the growing stature of women’s cricket in India.
