KKR vs RCB Highlights, IPL 2024: 3 moments that generated buzz among fans in Match 36 ft. Virat Kohli
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) were a part of yet another last-ball thriller at the Eden Gardens on Sunday, April 21. They beat the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) by just one run in a true all-time IPL classic.
A half-century from Shreyas Iyer and handy cameos from most KKR batters allowed them to post a mammoth 222/6 in their 20 overs. Will Jacks (55) & Rajat Patidar (52) kept the visitors in the chase and one could argue that at one point, they were ahead of the hosts.
However, a flurry of wickets followed by an epic final over brought the game right down to the wire. KKR eventually held their nerves to clinch the victory on the final ball. On that note, let's take a look at three moments from the game that grabbed the attention of fans on social media:
#3 Cameron Green's one-handed stunner
All-rounder Cameron Green was back in the RCB playing XI on Sunday. He made an impact straightaway on the field by taking an absolute screamer to dismiss KKR's Angkrish Raghuvanshi. The youngster tried to flick a delivery from Yash Dayal towards mid-wicket and must have thought that he had timed it well enough to evade Green.
However, peddling back from short mid-wicket, Green timed his jump to perfection and caught the ball with his outstretched right hand. He showed incredible acrobatic ability in holding onto the catch despite stumbling and that was just the kind of lift Bengaluru needed in the field.
#2 Virat Kohli and the waist-height no-ball drama
RCB star Virat Kohli's dismissal was a massive talking point and the veteran batter was livid with the on-field umpires when he was adjudged out. Kohli had gotten off to a crucial start in the chase but was surprised with a loopy full toss from Harshit Rana. He could only lob it in the air and the bowler completed a simple catch.
The square leg umpire didn't give it a waist-height no-ball as he felt the ball would have dipped. The special Hawk-Eye technology, introduced by the IPL this year, was brought into the play. It showed in the replays that the ball would have dipped well below Kohli's waist height had he stood on the popping crease.
Kohli's waist height was 1.04 metres as calculated before and the ball at the popping crease would have been 0.92 metres high. Kohli was furious as he walked back to the pavilion. The debate on social media caught fire as to whether he was rightly adjudged out or not. The rule book and technology suggest Kohli was out, but fans continue to have mixed reactions.
#1 Mind-boggling last over
KKR seemed to have the game in their bag as they had dismissed Dinesh Karthik and had 21 runs to defend off the final over. Karn Sharma was on strike and Mitchell Starc, who was already having a bad day, wouldn't have envisaged what was about to hit him.
Karn smashed Starc for three sixes, remarkably bringing the equation down to just 3 runs needed off 2 balls. Starc then produced a brilliant return catch to send the southpaw back. He followed it up with another accurate yorker that Lockie Ferguson couldn't get under.
Ramandeep Singh had a quick pick-up-and-throw from the covers but the direction was wayward. Phil Salt stretched to collect the ball and then showed great agility to dislodge the bails just in time. Ferguson couldn't complete the second run as RCB fell agonizingly short of the target.
The KKR fans rejoiced in the win, while the RCB fans could only ponder what could have been.