ISSUE
Friday, August 15, 2025
Volume 16 . Issue 72
Kolkata: With a full house at an under-construction Eden Gardens here, Shah Rukh Khan and the entire Bollywood clan in full attendance, the stage was set for something special.
Sourav Ganguly provided just that as he played a captain’s innings to lead Kolkata Knight Riders to a famous win over Rajasthan Royals here on Saturday night.
Ganguly teamed up with Cheteshwar Pujara to help set-up an eight-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals who have now been eliminated from the tournament’s third season. This was the biggest win for Kolkata Knight Riders in terms of balls and wickets to spare.
Kolkata Knight Riders chased down Rajasthan Royals’ modest target of 132 in the 17th over. Ganguly (75: 50b, 11x4, 2 x6) and Pujara (45: 38b, 5x4, 1x6) added 111 runs for the third wicket.
After Brendon McCullum (promoted to open) and Chris Gayle fell in the same over to Kamran Khan, the task seemed onerous for the hosts.
But Ganguly and Pujara played in a measured way as the crowds kept cheering them on. In the end the home team won on a canter, with one eye on the crowded points table which keeps opening up every night.
But that’s not what Shane Warne had hoped for when he opted to bat first. Rajasthan Royals failed to capitalise on a brisk opening stand between new opener Shane Watson and Naman Ojha.
The partnership was worth 59, with Watson batting as if in a hurry (44: 26b, 7x4, 1x6). But after Watson fell, the middle-order did not offer much resistance.
The middle-order fell trying to increase the scoring rate as Ganguly applied the brakes with smart bowling changes.
Young left-arm paceman Jaidev Unadkat was the best on view with a spell of 3- 26. Ashoke Dinda (2-24), Shane Bond (1-20) bowled tight spells to stifle the Royals innings.
The Knight Rider’ fielding, or rather the catching, was probably the difference between the two sides.
Ganguly again led the way with a Karbonn Kamaal catch - Unadkat, Gayle backed him up. That was enough to cheer up Shah Rukh Khan and the entire celebrity enclosure.
For Warne and Co. the match was the end of the IPL 2010 dream. The side which looked to turn things around at key moments bowed out of the tournament and their captain was a disappointed man at the end of the capitulation to the Knight Riders.
But for the home team, there’s still a chance of making it to the semis and going by today’s performance, dada is very much in the hunt.
Kolkata: With a full house at an under-construction Eden Gardens here, Shah Rukh Khan and the entire Bollywood clan in full attendance, the stage was set for something special. Sourav Ganguly provided just that as he played a captain’s innings to lead Kolkata Knight Riders to a famous win over...
Kolkata: With a full house at an under-construction Eden Gardens here, Shah Rukh Khan and the entire Bollywood clan in full attendance, the stage was set for something special.
Sourav Ganguly provided just that as he played a captain’s innings to lead Kolkata Knight Riders to a famous win over Rajasthan Royals here on Saturday night.
Ganguly teamed up with Cheteshwar Pujara to help set-up an eight-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals who have now been eliminated from the tournament’s third season. This was the biggest win for Kolkata Knight Riders in terms of balls and wickets to spare.
Kolkata Knight Riders chased down Rajasthan Royals’ modest target of 132 in the 17th over. Ganguly (75: 50b, 11x4, 2 x6) and Pujara (45: 38b, 5x4, 1x6) added 111 runs for the third wicket.
After Brendon McCullum (promoted to open) and Chris Gayle fell in the same over to Kamran Khan, the task seemed onerous for the hosts.
But Ganguly and Pujara played in a measured way as the crowds kept cheering them on. In the end the home team won on a canter, with one eye on the crowded points table which keeps opening up every night.
But that’s not what Shane Warne had hoped for when he opted to bat first. Rajasthan Royals failed to capitalise on a brisk opening stand between new opener Shane Watson and Naman Ojha.
The partnership was worth 59, with Watson batting as if in a hurry (44: 26b, 7x4, 1x6). But after Watson fell, the middle-order did not offer much resistance.
The middle-order fell trying to increase the scoring rate as Ganguly applied the brakes with smart bowling changes.
Young left-arm paceman Jaidev Unadkat was the best on view with a spell of 3- 26. Ashoke Dinda (2-24), Shane Bond (1-20) bowled tight spells to stifle the Royals innings.
The Knight Rider’ fielding, or rather the catching, was probably the difference between the two sides.
Ganguly again led the way with a Karbonn Kamaal catch - Unadkat, Gayle backed him up. That was enough to cheer up Shah Rukh Khan and the entire celebrity enclosure.
For Warne and Co. the match was the end of the IPL 2010 dream. The side which looked to turn things around at key moments bowed out of the tournament and their captain was a disappointed man at the end of the capitulation to the Knight Riders.
But for the home team, there’s still a chance of making it to the semis and going by today’s performance, dada is very much in the hunt.
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