Warner logs 1k runs against KKR after Kuldeep weaves a web against his former team

Close to 400 runs were scored in the previous encounter at the Wankhede. In just 24 hours, the pitch slowed down so much that Kolkata posted only 145 in the first innings.

Kuldeep shines against his former team, twice

This week somewhat belongs to the players who have performed well against their former teams. Rashid Khan, Wridhiman Saha against Sunrisers Hyderabad yesterday and Kuldeep Yadav against Kolkata in Match 41.

Not only in this match, in the reverse fixture against Kolkata, Kuldeep was the star with the ball. In his other fixture, he bagged four wickets for 35 runs in his full quota of overs. In this fixture, he bettered it as he bagged four for 14 runs in three overs. In the IPL, the eight wickets picked up by Kuldeep in two fixtures against Kolkata is the most for a bowler in a season of IPL against Kolkata.

To add more, he also registered his career best IPL figures (4/14). In the IPL, Kuldeep has picked up four wickets in an innings thrice and never had he conceded less than 20 runs.  

The Mr IPL embarks another record

The reason we call David Warner as the Mr IPL is because of his consistency. Virat Kohli might have the most runs, but Warner in the IPL has a better average and more 50+ scores in lesser innings than Virat.

If that is not enough to justify, here is another one. En route his knock of 42 against Kolkata, Warner reached the 1000-run mark against the Kolkata franchise. This is the second franchise against whom he has scored 1000+ runs, making him the only batter to score 1000+ runs against two opponents in the IPL. He has scored 1005 runs against Punjab Kings with 12 scores of 50.

Narine registers 150 wickets

Since his IPL debut, Sunil Narine has been a vital cog for Kolkata, whether in success or failure. He has been part of the set up since 2013, his debut and has played over 140 matches for the franchise.

In this game, the wily spinner bagged his 150th IPL wicket. Overall, in the IPL, Narine became the ninth bowler to bag 150+ wickets, the sixth spinner and the first overseas spinner to achieve this feat. To add more, he also became the second bowler in the IPL to bag 150+ wickets for a single franchise. Lasith Malinga, who played his entire career for Mumbai Indians has the most (170).

Kolkata on a losing spree

After having a commanding start in the first four matches, Kolkata have faded away. They are struggling to find proper balance in their last few matches. Hence, a lot of changes have been made without any fruitful results. In the last four games, they have made 10 changes and in three matches including this, three times they have made three changes in a match. However, after their win against Mumbai, Kolkata have suffered five straight losses. In the IPL, this is their biggest streak of defeats. In 2009, they had nine, the biggest and in 2019, they suffered six consecutive losses.

Prithvi’s first over struggle

Prithvi Shaw has been sensational for Delhi this season. His first ball duck against Kolkata was a rare failure. In any case, regardless of the success Prithvi has had as an opener, he has a problem of his own in the first over, especially in the first ball.

In his career, Prithvi has been dismissed nine times in the first over of the innings. In the IPL since 2018, no batsman has been dismissed in the first over as many times as Prithvi. To his worse, out of the nine, in three innings he has been dismissed off the first ball.