Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) suffered a 23-run defeat at the hands of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Match 19 of the IPL 2023 season at the Eden Gardens on Friday (April 14).
Riding on Nitish Rana’s 41-ball 75 and Rinku Singh’s 31-ball 58*, KKR posted 205/7 on the board but the target of 229 remained far away.
Speaking after the game, KKR skipper Rana said he is happy with his batting unit while also backed the bowlers to deliver goods and win matches again for the team.
“As a batting unit I’m very happy with my batting but I can’t be too critical because these are the same bowlers who will win me a game some other time. Very happy with the fight we showed but would have loved it more if we got two points as well,” Nitish Rana stated during the post-match press conference.
Knight Riders were reeling at 96/5 before the duo of Rana and Rinku added 69 runs to keep the hosts in the hunt.
Reflecting on his partnership with Rinku, the KKR captain said: “We had faith. As a batting unit someone or the other player has played an extraordinary innings over the last 4 matches but this happens. To chase down 230 you have to bat really really extraordinarily which we didn’t do today.”
KKR all-rounder Andre Russell suffered injury scare while bowling during the match. He suffered cramps and had to walk off the field after bowling just one delivery of his third over.
Sharing an update on Andre Russel, Rana said, “It’s not an injury, it’s a cramp. It’s because of dehydration. Talking about his batting, Russel is one of the biggest all rounders in T20 cricket for us. If he can’t perform with the bat I know he’ll perform with the ball which he did today.”
The KKR skipper also praised SRH batter Harry Brook, who slammed 100 not out off 55 balls to lead the foundation of the visitors’ mammoth 228/4 in 20 overs.
“Harry Brook played an extraordinary knock. If someone bats like this and sets a target of 230 I think it’s gonna be tough in the coming days too. It’s very difficult to score 230 runs in just 20 overs.”
(The Indian Express Inputs)
