After a string of low scores, Kohli found his rhythm en route to a scintillating 54-ball 73 in their last match against Gujarat Titans.
Three of Titan’s four defeats and four of Royals’ five losses have come while setting up a target as the toss would also be a key area of concern.
This milestone was reached during the last league-stage match of the season between Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad, here at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday.
Quinton De Kock’s hard-hitting 140* and spells from Mohsin Khan (3/20) and Marcus Stoinis (3/23) helped LSG seal a thrilling 2-run win over KKR and become the second team to enter the playoffs.
De Kock gave a batting masterclass enroute to an unbeaten 140 off 70 balls as he and Rahul (68 not out off 51) fired LSG to 210 for no loss, the highest opening stand in IPL history.
”I am not feeling sad at all. That was one of the best games of cricket I have played. The way we should our character and attitude was simply outstanding,” said Iyer after KKR’s exit.
The last league stage of IPL 2022 will be played on May 22 between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings. The Playoffs stage will kick start from May 24 in Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
Verma has been one of the finds of IPL and with 368 runs from 12 games is the lone bright spot in an otherwise dismal season for the Mumbai Indians.
A win for GT today would ensure their position in the top two. When the last time these two teams met it was a nail-biting thriller in which GT beat CSK.
But GT’s main strength is their potent bowling attack, comprising world-class bowlers like Mohammed Shami, Lockie Ferguson and Rashid Khan.
LSG were on top of IPL points table with four wins on the trot before relinquishing that position after losing to Gujarat Titans in their previous match.
A report in cricket.com.au said that the Australian Test captain, who was roped in by KKR for Rs 7.25 crore, is returning to Sydney for his rehabilitation ahead of the national team’s tour of Sri Lanka next month.
Jadeja has also been ruled out of the ongoing edition of the IPL due to a bruised rib, which he suffered during the clash against Royal Challengers Bangalore on May 4.
With this win, DC is currently at fifth position in the points table with 12 points. RR is at third position with 14 points.
Gujarat Titans became the first team to qualify for Play-offs this season as they beat Lucknow Super Giants by 62 runs at MCA Stadium in Pune.
The Capitals have lost six of their 11 games and although they are fifth on the points table, they are bunched alongside Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings, who also have 10 points from as many games.
Batting first, Venkatesh Iyer and Nitish Rana’s 43 each for Kolkata and a quick unbeaten 23 by Rinku Singh guided KKR to a respectable total of 165/9.
Barring a 43-ball 51 from Ishan Kishan, Mumbai batters struggled to get going in the chase as their innings ended at 113 all out in 17.3 overs.
The Delhi team skipper Rishabh Pant admitted that they were no match to their opponents and said they will have to perform out of their skins from here to make it to the play-offs.
Panned for trying out too many combinations at the top, a part of their constant chopping and changing strategy this season which backfired on them pretty badly, KKR is coming off a 75-run drubbing at the hands of table-toppers Lucknow Super Giants.
Ishan Kishan top-scored for MI with a 29-ball 45 while captain Rohit Sharma and Tim David contributed 43 and 44 not out respectively.
Khaleel reached the triple-figure mark after removing SRH’s Aiden Markram. Khaleel provided his team with a big breakthrough when he dismissed well-set batter Aiden Markram.
Mukesh Choudhary in the post-match presentation talking about that 6th over said: “A wicket hadn’t fallen yet, so I had to take my chances, I knew I dropped a catch but I had to take a wicket and thankfully that happened.”
Invited to bat first at Wankhede Stadium, KKR scored 146 runs in 20 overs for the loss of 9 wickets. In reply, Delhi Capitals chased down the target in 19 overs for the loss of 6 wickets.
Lucknow beat Mumbai Indians by 36 runs in their last game, while Punjab come into the game after defeating Chennai Super Kings by 11 runs.