"Aaj hai VEER ZARA clash" - Twitterati reacts as PBKS square off against KKR in a crucial match in Dubai
KKR and PBKS face off in the 45th IPL 2021 game at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium today. It is a crucial contest for both teams as the league stage nears the end.
Punjab Kings skipper KL Rahul won the toss and chose to field first. In the absence of Chris Gayle, Punjab have brought in big-hitting Fabian Allen into their middle-order. KKR had to make a forced change as Lockie Ferguson was unfit. Swashbuckling Kiwi batsman Tim Siefert replaced him in the playing XI. He is making his debut for KKR today.
Here are the playing XIs:
Punjab Kings XI: KL Rahul (w/c), Mayank Agarwal, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Shahrukh Khan, Deepak Hooda, Fabian Allen, Nathan Ellis, Mohammed Shami, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh
KKR XI: Shubman Gill, Venkatesh Iyer, Rahul Tripathi, Eoin Morgan(c), Nitish Rana, Dinesh Karthik(w), Tim Seifert, Sunil Narine, Shivam Mavi, Tim Southee, Varun Chakaravarthy
Also Check: IPL Live Score | IPL Points Table | IPL Schedule
Fans were excited to witness the battle between the two sides as it will have repercussions for playoff qualifying scenarios. Some of the Bollywood cricket fans also dubbed it as a clash between Veer and Zara. Those are the characters portrayed by Preity Zinta and Shahrukh Khan in a movie named Veer-Zaara.
Here are some of the best reactions:
Now what was that?
Trying to understand tactical changes that KKR made
Lockie Ferguson ❌
Tim Seifert ✅
Mavi ✅
Warrier ❌
Why Ben Cutting and Shakib not considered?
Why Tim Seifert?
Venkatesh Iyer as 5th Bowler?
Nitish Rana as 6th Bowler?
Let's see how this goes
#KKRvPBKS https://t.co/nhUVWZUjcv
veerzara 😍❤👍#KKRvPBKS https://t.co/sM4XaC6qgw
Veer is ready to take on zara 😷❤️ #KKRvPBKS https://t.co/MQr4XpqTPo
Aaj hai VEER ZARA clash in ipl and I'm backing zara to thrash veer again in jail for 20 years and get those 2 points
#KKRvPBKS @realpreityzinta https://t.co/RfmibU6Efd
#KKRvPBKS
#MumbaiIndians rn : https://t.co/KLC41CrWGU
Bit surprised with the decision of KL Rahul bowling first. It's the same strip which is used two days ago in RCB vs RR game. Wicket might slow down in 2nd half. Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy will be threatening in 2nd half. #KKR should have played Shakib.
#KKRvPBKS
Pre-match catch-ups be like 👌
#VIVOIPL #KKRvPBKS https://t.co/PLiijDwySM
Worst Averages by captains in an #IPL season
MIN 10 INNS PLAYED
EOIN MORGAN, 2021 - 11.9
HARBHAJAN SINGH, 2012 - 12.0
SHANE WARNE, 2009 - 13.5
Hope this changes tonight for Morgan. #KKR needs runs from their skipper. Wish him well. #IPL2021 #KKRvPBKS
"Eoin Morgan is the weak link in KKR's batting line-up": Aakash Chopra
Former Indian player Aakash Chopra was critical of Eoin Morgan's batting form in the current IPL season and termed him the weak link in KKR's batting line-up. Ahead of KKR's clash against Punjab Kings, Aakash Chopra reviewed Eoin Morgan's performance with the bat in IPL 2021 on ESPNCricinfo and said:
"Morgan's bat should do the talking but unfortunately that has not been the case. If the captain of your team comes to bat at No.4 or No.5 meaning that if he is the engine room of your team but he is the weak link in the batting, then it is time to look inwards and understand that scoring runs is important.
'He makes this team a bit weak because there is no movement in the middle order except when Nitish Rana or Dinesh Karthik does it."
KKR are currently in fourth position in the points table after playing 11 games. They will be aiming to win their remaining three games and stake a claim for a playoff spot.