NEW DELHI:
Jonny Bairstow
's scintillating unbeaten century off just 45 balls propelled Punjab Kings to a record-breaking victory, as they successfully chased down Kolkata Knight Riders' imposing total of 261/6 with a stunning 262/2, clinching victory by eight wickets with eight balls to spare.
Bairstow's breathtaking innings, complemented by
Shashank Singh
's unbeaten 68 off 28 balls and Prabhsimran Singh's explosive 54 off 20, ended Punjab Kings' four-match losing streak in style.
The Eden Gardens witnessed a spectacle as Punjab Kings hammered 24 sixes, outshining the 18 struck by the home side.
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Reflecting on KKR's formidable innings, cricketer-turned-commentator
Aakash Chopra
highlighted the players' ultra-aggressive mindset as a key factor in the high scores.
Dismissing the notion of the "Impact Player" rule as the sole reason for the onslaught, Chopra stated on his Youtube channel, "The bowlers got hit a lot and it wasn't because of the 'Impact Player' rule. Both openers scored half-centuries and not many players got out. Ramandeep Singh came in the end for one ball and he too hit a six. So where does the impact player come there? An extra batter wasn't required. The change has been in the mindset."
Chopra also expressed surprise at KKR skipper Shreyas Iyer's decision to bat ahead of hard-hitter
Rinku Singh
, noting, "Venkatesh Iyer came and he also tried to play big shots... I was extremely surprised that why Shreyas Iyer came ahead of Rinku Singh."
Despite Shreyas Iyer's aggressive cameo of 28 runs off 10 balls, Chopra questioned the batting order decision, suggesting Rinku Singh's potential impact.
As Punjab Kings bask in their remarkable victory, Bairstow's masterclass serves as a testament to their resilience and determination to turn the tide in their favor in the IPL 2024 season.
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