Highlights, IPL 2019, Kolkata Knight Riders vs Kings XI Punjab: Clinical KKR beat KXIP by 28 runs

IPL 2019 Match 6, Kolkata Knight Riders vs Kings XI Punjab:

A comfortable win in the end for Kolkata! After they posted a gigantic total on the board and removed KL Rahul and Chris Gayle cheaply, they always were ahead in the match. Mayank Agarwal and David Miller did try to revive the chase with a handy 74-run partnership but the required rate kept mounting and never allowed them to gain any control. Towards the end, Mandeep Singh also played some shots but still Punjab fell short by 28 runs. (Match Scorecard)

IPL 2019, Kolkata Knight Riders vs Kings XI Punjab at Eden Gardens: KKR (218/4) beat KXIP (190/4) at Eden Gardens

23.45 IST: That's all for today. See you all again tomorrow for the mega clash between RCB and MI.

23.45 IST: Punjab skipper, Ravichandran Ashwin, says it is the small things which cost you the game in this format and they have to be more aware. Mentions he takes the blame on himself for that no ball. Further adds Varun was playing his first game and he will improve as time goes on. Credits the way Mayank Agarwal batted. The Mohali wicket suits them, they played 4 games there last year and won all 4 and they will hope to continue that good run.

23.41 IST: Earlier in the match, Kolkata were put to bat and they performed brilliantly. Every batsman contributed to the cause and once again it was Andre Russell who provided the kick with his swashbuckling knock in the death overs. With the ball also, Kolkata were nearly there. Although they conceded too many runs, they made sure to chip in with some tidy overs in between. Once again it was Andre Russell who picked up a couple of crucial wickets and proved his worth as an all-rounder in the deep.

23.39 IST: A comfortable win in the end for Kolkata! After they posted a gigantic total on the board and removed KL Rahul and Chris Gayle cheaply, they always were ahead in the match. Mayank Agarwal and David Miller did try to revive the chase with a handy 74-run partnership but the required rate kept mounting and never allowed them to gain any control. Towards the end, Mandeep Singh also played some shots but still Punjab fell short by 28 runs.

23.36 IST: Piyush Chawla to Mandeep Singh, FOUR! Just beats the man at short fine leg. Mandeep plays the scoop. Hits it nicely and just about clears Lynn. 50-run stand up.

23.34 IST: Piyush Chawla to Mandeep Singh, FOUR! Short and on middle, Mandeep goes back and pulls it towards deep mid-wicket. Uthappa there tries to stop it but fails to do so.

23.34 IST: Piyush Chawla to bowl the last over.

23.32 IST: Lockie Ferguson to David Miller, SIX! Fine shot! Ferguson lands it on a fuller length around middle and leg, Miller makes room and smacks it over cover-point for a biggie.

23.31 IST: Lockie Ferguson to David Miller, FIFTY! Fifty up for Miller, 9th in this League. Ferguson cuts down on his pace and delivers a length ball around leg at 125.7 kph, Miller works it in the gap on the leg side for a couple.

23.30 IST: Lockie Ferguson to Mandeep Singh, FOUR! Mandeep receives a short delivery outside off and steers it past the diving backward point fielder for a boundary. More than fours, Punjab need sixes.

23.28 IST:  Prasidh Krishna to Mandeep Singh, FOUR! Good shot! Krishna bowls a short ball on middle, Singh arches and then upper cuts it just over the leaping keeper and into the third man fence.

23.25 IST: Prasidh Krishna to David Miller, FOUR! Straight as an arrow! No fielder had a chance there. A low full toss and Miller powers it down the ground.

23.34 IST: Prasidh Krishna to bowl for KKR now

23.20 IST: Lockie Ferguson to David Miller, FOUR! Ferguson changes his plan for Miller. Switches to around the wicket and hurls a slower short ball outside off. Not a good idea with third man inside the ring. David just rocks back and picks the gap past that in-ring fielder for a boundary.

23.18 IST: Lockie Ferguson to Mandeep Singh, SIX! Good start to the over! A sharp delivery but there is plenty of width on offer outside off. Mandeep exercises his arms and dispatches it over long off for a biggie.

23.17 IST: Lockie Ferguson has the ball for KKR.

23.16 IST: Piyush Chawla to David Miller, NOT OUT! Nothing on Ultra Edge, a big gap between bat and ball and the on-field call has to be overturned! Good use of the review there and Punjab's glimmer of hope survives to fight another day. Chawla once again sticks to the line outside off. Miller looks to slap it hard. He seems to have missed it. Karthik takes it and appeals. The umpire agrees. Miller reviews and replays show that there is no bat involved.

23.14 IST: Mandeep Singh is the next man in.

23.13 IST: Piyush Chawla to Mayank Agarwal, OUT! Mayank has been clean up by Chawla! The googly does the trick. Mayank I feel does pick it and hence goes for the sweep. The ball though does not bounce a lot, goes under the bat and knocks the leg stump out. Chawla breaks the 74-run stand and one of the two set batsman is back in the hut. A good innings by Agarwal but he had a lot to do and perishes in the attempt to do so.

23.08 IST: Strategic time-out! The current partnership has somewhere given hope to Punjab. The equation still is a daunting one - 86 off 30 balls. As long as Miller is there, the danger is also there. Mayank Agarwal has also looked in great touch and if these to last the distance, we are in for a thrilling finish. Sit back and enjoy the ride.

23.07 IST: Kuldeep Yadav to David Miller, FOUR! Lovely shot! Miller uses his feet, Kuldeep tries to outsmart him by firing it in. Miller does well to get bat to it, he does even better to get it past cover. Russell runs to his right and seems to have pushed it back in. However, replays show that he was in contact with the ropes and the ball. Boundary.

23.06 IST: Kuldeep Yadav to Mayank Agarwal, DROPPED! In the air... dropped! Rinku Singh is the culprit but it is a very good effort. Agarwal comes down the track and looks to hit it against the turn. It was the googly. He ends up slicing it towards covers. Rinku the substitute there runs to his right, dives but can't hang onto the catch. Couple taken.

23.04 IST: Kuldeep Yadav back on for KKR.

23.01 IST: FIFTY!3rd IPL fifty for Mayank Agarwal. A very good innings from him. Wickets kept falling at the other end but he has continued to score freely. Needs to stay there till the end though. He works this through mid-wicket and bags two.

22.59 IST:Andre Russell is back on for Kolkata as they look for a breakthrough

22.56 IST: Piyush Chawla to Mayank Agarwal, SIX! Shot Mayank! Brings up the 50-run stand, this stand is just about keeping the hopes alive for the Punjab dug out. This is shorter and it is the googly. MA picks it and he pulls it over the square leg fence for a biggie.

22.56 IST: Piyush Chawla introduced into the attack

22.54 IST: Sunil Narine to Mayank Agarwal, FOUR! Last one got power, this one has finesse. Allows the ball to turn back in from outside off and then at the last moment deflects it past short third man for a boundary. 19 from the over, 113 needed off 48 balls.

22.54 IST: Sunil Narine to Mayank Agarwal, FOUR! Bang! Turning out to be a very useful over for Punjab! Flatter and fuller outside off, Agarwal latches onto the room and spanks it past the bowler for a boundary down the ground.

22.53 IST: Sunil Narine to David Miller, FOUR! Brute power! Narine drags his length short and drops it on middle, Miller goes deep inside the crease and powers his pull shot through mid-wicket.

22.52 IST: Sunil Narine to David Miller, SIX! Bashed! Narine pitches it up and around off, as they say for Miller, if it's in the arc, it's out of the park. This is what happens here. Miller attacks it and sends it packing over the bowler's head for a maximum.

22.51 IST: Kuldeep Yadav to David Miller, DROPPED! Ferguson drops a sitter! Miller once again goes for the sweep shot. This time though he hits it flat towards deep square leg. Ferguson there goes for the reverse cup but fails to hang on. He though does well to recover and push it back in before it crosses the ropes with an acrobatic dive. The umpire's though go upto check and replays show he has done well. Just a single.

22.50 IST: Kuldeep Yadav to David Miller, SIX! HUGE! That has gone a long way back! It also makes a cracking sound of the bat. Brings the slog sweep out. Connects extremely well and hits it into the mid-wicket stand.

22.46 IST: Sunil Narine to Mayank Agarwal, FOUR! Gets one this time but still, only 7 from the over. This is down the leg side, Agarwal sweeps it through square leg. The fielder, Rana, in the deep runs to his right, dives but fails to stop it.

22.44 IST: Sunil Narine will bowl for Kolkata now

22.41 IST: Strategic time-out! Kolkata comfortably on top. Chris Gayle, KL Rahul and Sarfaraz Khan, all known for big hitting, are already removed and Punjab are staring down the barrel. David Miller is capable of hitting big but the required rate has jumped to 13.54 and it's not going to be easy against the quality and variety that the home team has in its bowling attack.

22.40 IST: Kuldeep Yadav to David Miller, FOUR! Swept and swept nicely! This is tossed up on middle, Miller goes down on one knee and sweeps it in the gap at the mid-wicket region. Boundary. Need a few more.

22.35 IST:David Miller is out there in the middle

22.34 IST: Andre Russell to Sarfaraz Khan, OUT! Russel gets another one! The slower ball does the trick for him this time. Sarfaraz was completely foxed there. It is down the leg side. Khan is way too early in his shot as he tried to hit it towards fine leg. Only manages a top edge which lobs towards the left of Karthik. He runs there and takes it. He then points towards the bowler so there surely might have been a plan between the two. Kolkata right on top here. 204 more needed.

22.33 IST: Andre Russell to Sarfaraz Khan, FOUR! Like that! A top shot that. Length and outside off, Sarfaraz once again just uses the pace of the ball and guides it past point. The outfield is lightning quick and it reaches the fence in a jiffy.

22.32 IST: Andre Russell is back on.

22.28 IST:Kuldeep Yadav into the attack for KKR now.

22.27 IST:The first six overs would go to KKR as they have got both the openers, who can be so dangerous. However, KXIP have still managed to score over 50 runs.

22.25 IST: What happened there? Dinesh Karthik and Robin Uthappa are having an animated chat with the umpires. All the Kolkata players have surrounded there. Not sure what's the issue... Now we know! After the last ball, the fielder threw it casually over the bowler and Russell didn't back it up. The ball went past the rope.

22.24 IST: What happened there? Dinesh Karthik and Robin Uthappa are having an animated chat with the umpires. All the Kolkata players have surrounded there. Not sure what's the issue...

22.19 IST: FOUR! Sarfaraz finds a boundary to open his account. Clever shot! Short and on middle, Sarfaraz at the very end arches his back and then upper cuts it. Uses the pace of the bowler and fetches a boundary in the fine leg region. KXIP 43/2 in 5 overs

22.18 IST: OUT! Russell removes Chris Gayle 20. In the air... taken! Russell gets the big man. Did it with the bat first and now with the ball. Too quick this for Gayle. It is short and on the body. Gayle looks to pull but the ball hurries onto him. It hits the higher portion and then lobs back over the bowler's head. Now there are two fielders going after it, one from mid off and the other from mid on. No calling between the two. However, they avoid the collision and Prasidh from mid off takes it. Kings XI Punjab 37/2 (4.2 overs) vs Kolkata Knight Riders (218/4). Sarfaraz Khan is in next.

22.15 IST: SIX! A maximum from Gayle to end the over. This is right off the middle and it goes all the way! Gayle may have been expecting a pacy short ball and he gets it. He smokes it over the long on fence. 10 from the last two balls and 11 from the over in total. 24 from the last two. KXIP 36/1 in 4 overs

22.14 IST: FOUR! The slower one almost does the trick. It is short once again, Gayle this time swings a little too early. It goes off the bottom part of the bat but over the mid on fielder and into the fence.  

22.09 IST: FOUR! Mayank Agarwal hits Krishna for a boundary to end the over. A boundary to end! Three in this over. A full toss this time and Agarwal puts it away as he flicks it through mid-wicket.  KXIP 25/1 in 3 overs

22.08 IST: FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries for Mayank. This time he gives himself the room and hits the ball towards deep extra cover. This time through the off side. Makes room does Agarwal and opens up the off side. Hits it through covers and the ball races away. Back-to-back boundaries.

22.07 IST: FOUR! Mayank Agarwal hits Krishna for a boundary. Beautiful shot! Just eased it there. Shuffles across and the works it through square leg. The ball races away.

22.03 IST: OUT! Ferguson removes KL Rahul for 1. The pressure was building and KL Rahul succumbs. Ferguson ups his pace and delivers a length ball on off at 145.9 kph. Rahul backs away to play a lofted shot over the cover region but fails to time his shot properly. His bat turns in his hands and the bottom hand also comes off as he ends up chipping a straightforward catch to Kuldeep Yadav at mid off. Big loss for Punjab. Kings XI Punjab 11/1 (1.4 overs) vs Kolkata Knight Riders (218/4). Mayank Agarwal is the next man in.

22.00 IST: Lockie Ferguson to share the new ball with P Krishna.

21.58 IST: FOUR! Gayle hits Krishna for a boundary to third man. The third man fielder was a bit square and it has raced away. Shortish ball outside off, once again Gayle reaches out and tries to punch it over the off side probably but gets a thick outside edge. KXIP 11/0 in 1 over, chasing 219

21.57 IST: SIX! Here's Gayle for you! Gayle is off the mark with a maximum! Prasidh commits the mistake of bowling short and wide outside off, Chris stays back calmly on the back foot and just uses the pace to loft it over third man.

21.55 IST: Welcome back for the KXIP chase. Openers Chris Gayle and KL Rahul are at the crease. P Krishna to start the proceedings for KKR.

Kolkata Knight Riders Innings

21.50 IST: Muscle-Russell for you.

21.49 IST: A massive target is in front of Punjab but they would like to believe that they have the firepower in their batting to scale this down. For now, the hosts are the favourites and let's see what happens in the chase. Do join us in a short while.



21.46 IST: Sunil Narine who is up for a chat says they started off well, Nitish played well in the middle and Russell did his job in the end. Reckons the wicket is a good one and they will need to bowl well. Mentions if Russell is at the crease anything is possible. Ends by saying there is not much spin at the start but as the match progresses, it will start to turn.

21.44 IST: The Dre Russ show! Once again. Bowled on 3 but called a no ball for having an extra fielder outside the ring and the narrative changed completely after that! A big, big miss from Ravichandran Ashwin as a skipper, this. Andre Russell just unleashed after that and muscled a 17-ball 48 to power Kolkata to a gigantic score of 218/4!

21.42 IST: Andrew Tye to Robin Uthappa, FOUR! A boundary to end! What a shot, excellent innovation. Uthhappa first looks to paddle but then sees the line is outside off. He adjusts and manages to guide it past point, away from third man for a boundary. KOLKATA END WITH 218!

21.39 IST: Andrew Tye to Andre Russell, OUT! End of the destruction! Russell has been bounced out. A very good catch there by Agarwal. The bumper on middle, Russell goes for the pull but it hits the higher portion of the bat. For a second it seems that it would go all the way but Mayank at deep mid-wicket keeps his eyes on the ropes behind and then takes a well-judged catch. Russell walks off to a standing ovation, he has made Punjab pay for the reprieve they gave him.

21.35 IST: Mohammed Shami to Andre Russell, FOUR! Clobbered! He does not get a maximum but gets the next best result. A boundary. Full and outside off, Russell powers it through extra cover. Long off is very straight and he can't stop it. 25 from the penultimate over.

21.34 IST: Mohammed Shami to Andre Russell, SIX! Three in a row! Another freebie by Shami. A high full toss this time and Russel easily clears the mid-wicket fence. Can he make it 4 in 4?

21.33 IST: Mohammed Shami to Andre Russell, SIX! If you bowl him a full toss he will surely make you pay. That is humongous. Russell just bludgeons it into the mid-wicket stands. Consecutive ones.

21.32 IST: Mohammed Shami to Andre Russell, SIX! You miss the yorker and Russell will deposit you in the stands. That is what happens here. Shami misses the mark by a little and Russell powers it over the long off fence.

21.30 IST: Andrew Tye to Andre Russell, SIX! Russell has smoked this! Poor delivery this time. A length and in the zone for the West Indian. Russell clears his front leg and rifles it over mid-wicket for a biggie. 22 from the over, Kolkata powering ahead!  

21.29 IST: Andrew Tye to Andre Russell, FOUR! Edgy again! Tye delivers it short and on middle, from 'round the wicket, Andre winds up for a big heave across the line and top edges it behind. Rahul runs back but fails to stop it.

21.28 IST: Andrew Tye to Andre Russell, FOUR! One brings two. Tye serves a shorter one outside off, Russell camps back and blazes his pull shot to the cow corner region for a powerful boundary.

21.27 IST: Andrew Tye to Andre Russell, SIX! He gives away his first boundary. Unlucky though. A slower one, on a length around leg, Russell top edges his attempted big shot across the line and it goes all the way over fine leg for a maximum.

21.23 IST: ANTI-CLIMAX! FREE HIT! The Punjab players can't believe it! Shami has knocked over Russell with a top yorker but the umpire has signaled it a no ball just as Russell started to walk back. He spots there is an extra fielder outside the circle. How costly is this going to prove now? A Free Hit coming up.

21.21 IST: Mohammed Shami to Robin Uthappa, FOUR!  A very good delivery but an even better shot! This is what dents the confidence of a bowler. This is very full and on the pads, Uthappa uses the depth of the crease and then flicks it through square leg for a boundary.

21.18 IST: Mohammed Shami is back on for KXIP

21.15 IST: Strategic time-out!

21.14 IST: Hardus Viljoen to Robin Uthappa, FOUR! And it spoils what was a brilliant over. Still a good one though as only 6 came from it. A poor delivery to end. A full toss on the pads, Uthappa flicks it fine and fetches a boundary. Also, he brings up his 50 in style. 24th Indian T20 League fifty. He has been crucial in the no. 3 spot for Kolkata and he continues to show why. Needs to be there till the end though.

21.09 IST:Andre Russell is the next  man in

21.07 IST: Varun Chakravarthy to Nitish Rana, OUT! Chakravarthy strikes! His first in the Indian T20 League and that should make him feel a lot, lot better. Shows good courage here to toss it up on middle, it is the googly. Rana does not pick it and looks to hit it across the line, he only manages a top edge towards mid off. Agarwal at long off runs in and takes a very good catch.

21.06 IST: Varun Chakravarthy back on for KXIP

21.02 IST: Hardus Viljoen to Nitish Rana, FOUR! 4,6,4 in this over so far! Rana is in some form out there. Through the off side this time. Full and outside off, this is driven square on the off side. No chance for any fielder.

21.01 IST: Hardus Viljoen to Nitish Rana, SIX! 10 from the first two balls! Short and outside off, Rana stands tall and then flat-bats it over the long on fence.

21.01 IST: Hardus Viljoen to Nitish Rana, FOUR! Easy pickings! Down the leg side and Rana flicks it past short fine leg for a boundary. 50 for Rana, back-to-back fifties for him. Another excellent innings.

20.59 IST: Mandeep Singh to Nitish Rana, SIX! This one is as flat as this pitch! Short and wide outside off, Rana reaches out for it and slaps it over the jumping deep cover fielder for a maximum. You just cannot afford to bowl that length, especially with that pace. Nitish is now the leading run-scorer this season.

20.58 IST: Mandeep Singh to Nitish Rana, SIX! This one is high and handsome! Mandeep runs in from 'round the wicket and angles in a short ball on off. Rana stays back and launches it over mid-wicket for a biggie.

20.57 IST: Mandeep Singh to Robin Uthappa, FOUR! Mandeep with his gentle speed dares to bowl it short and wide outside off. Robin attacks it with all his power and whacks it through point.

20.57 IST: Mandeep Singh comes on to bowl for Punjab

20.54 IST: R Ashwin to Nitish Rana, SIX! Into the stands! Second in the over! This is tossed up wide outside off. Rana gets to free his arms, he connects really well and it sails over long off.

20.53 IST: R Ashwin to Nitish Rana, SIX! A gift but it still has to be put away! A full toss and Rana deposits it into the mid-wicket stands with a slog sweep. A maximum of Ashwin's each over seems to be mandatory tonight.

20.48 IST:  Hardus Viljoen back on for KXIP

20.45 IST: R Ashwin to Nitish Rana, SIX! Slightly short and that has been powered into the stands. Rana transfers his weight onto the back foot and hits it over the long on fence.

20.41 IST: Strategic time-out! A mixed bag for both teams. Kolkata have scored runs quickly and Punjab have also picked up a couple of wickets. The current partnership though will be giving headaches to Ravichandran Ashwin. Robin Uthappa, in particular, has looked in prime form and the hosts will be hoping for a big contribution from his bat. A vital middle phase coming up...

20.35 IST: R Ashwin to Nitish Rana, SIX! In the slot and that is out of here. Flighted ball and on off, Rana goes down on one knee and hits it over the long on fielder.

20.32 IST: Varun Chakravarthy to Robin Uthappa, FOUR! Second boundary in the over. This time through the right of point. Short and wide again, Uthappa says thank you very much as he cuts it for another boundary.

20.31 IST: Varun Chakravarthy to Robin Uthappa, FOUR! 29 from his first 7 balls. Poor start for the debutant. Another poor delivery this. It is short and outside off, Uthappa rocks back and cuts it past point. It races away to the fence.

20.30 IST:  Varun Chakravarthy back on for KXIP

20.28 IST: R Ashwin to Robin Uthappa, SIX! Uthappa has belted this one out of the park! He goes down on one knee to a full ball, fetches it from outside off and powers it over mid-wicket for a maximum.

20.27 IST: R Ashwin has the ball for KXIP now and guess what? Rana is well within his crease at the non-striker's end.

20.22 IST: Andrew Tye is the new man in with the ball for KXIP.

20.21 IST: Hardus Viljoen to Robin Uthappa, SIX! A flat maximum! What a shot! Slightly short and width on offer outside off. Uthappa pounces on it as he slaps it hard. The connection is such that it carries all the way. A biggie to end a successful over for Punjab.

20.20 IST: Hardus Viljoen to Sunil Narine, OUT!  In the air... taken! Both the openers are now back in the hut. Another skier has been pouched, this time by KL Rahul. Suddenly now, Kolkata are in a spot of bother. It is once again the short ball which does the trick. It is on the body. Narine looks to pull but only manages a top edge. It goes behind Rahul who turns and runs across to his right, initially he seems to misjudge it but then takes it by stretching out his hands near short fine leg. Viljoen makes an impact straightaway and the bowling change has worked wonders here.

20.17 IST: Debutant Hardus Viljoen is on now for Punjab.

20.14 IST: Mohammed Shami to Sunil Narine, DROPPED! A really tough one for the bowler. Short and on off, Narine stays back to flat-bat it down the ground but fails to connect properly. Still he hits it with a lot of power and Shami drops it in his followthrough. Would have been a great catch and even greater moment for Punjab to get both the danger men within two balls.

20.14 IST: Robin Uthappa is the new man in.

20.13 IST: Mohammed Shami to Chris Lynn, OUT! Shami gets his revenge! It's a brilliant catch from David Miller. A shortish ball again, it's around off, Lynn sticks back to power it across the line again but it catches the top edge and goes high up in the air. Miller calls for it from extra cover and completes the catch next to the pitch, to be precise. A big breakthrough, this.

20.11 IST: Mohammed Shami to Chris Lynn, FOUR! Clubbed away! Nearly took the head of his partner at the other end. Shami goes short and wide outside off, Lynn packs a punch and powers it over Narine for a boundary at long on.

20.10 IST: Mohammed Shami to Chris Lynn, FOUR! Lynn joining the fun! A little bit of width on offer outside off, the Aussie latches onto it and slams it over cover-point for a boundary.

20.09 IST: Varun Chakravarthy to Sunil Narine, SIX! Consecutive maximums! 25 from Varun's first over. Welcome to the Indian T20 League. Another delivery which is asking to be hit. Down the leg side, Narine whips it over the square leg fence for another biggie.

20.08 IST: Varun Chakravarthy to Sunil Narine, SIX! He has picked the bones out of that one. That is colossal. Goes down on one knee and slog sweeps it. It is right off the middle and it sails into the mid-wicket stand.

20.08 IST: Varun Chakravarthy to Sunil Narine, FOUR! Poor ball and put away! Short and on middle, Narine rocks back and pulls it all along the ground through mid-wicket. Long on runs to his left, dives but fails to stop it. 13 from the first 4 balls. Pressure on the debutant.

20.07 IST: Varun Chakravarthy to Sunil Narine, DROPPED! A very, very difficult chance that! Another flighted delivery and it is full again. Narine this time looks to go to the left of the bowler. He hits it uppishly and powerfully. Varun sticks his hands out but fails to hang on. It goes wide of long on and the batters take two. That needed to stick and this time it did not.

20.07 IST: Varun Chakravarthy to Sunil Narine, SIX! All the way! Narine does not want a sighter against the debutant. He straightaway goes after him, Varun is guilty of bowling it too full. Narine thumps it over the long off fence for a biggie. First for the game and Narine is off the mark in style.

20.06 IST: Varun Chakravarthy to bowl from the other end.

20.04 IST: Great first over from Shami. Just one run coming off it.

19.58 IST: We are all set for the action to begin. Andre Russell rings the bell and then, the umpires make their way out. The Punjab players are in a huddle. Now they make their way out to the middle. Behind them walk the Kolkata openers, Chris Lynn and Sunil Narine who is back at the top of the order.

19.39 IST: Teams:

Kolkata Knight Riders: Chris Lynn, Sunil Narine, Robin Uthappa, Nitish Rana, Shubman Gill, Dinesh Karthik (C & WK), Andre Russell, Piyush Chawla, Kuldeep Yadav, Lockie Ferguson, Prasidh Krishna

Kings XI Punjab: Chris Gayle, KL Rahul (WK), Mayank Agarwal, Sarfaraz Khan, David Miller, Mandeep Singh, Andrew Tye, R Ashwin (C), Mohammed Shami, Hardus Viljoen, Varun Chakravarthy

19.33 IST: KXIP's mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy will make his debut.

19.32 IST: KXIP win toss and opt to bowl first in Kolkata

19.26 IST: Who are you rooting for?



19.20 IST: KL Rahul opens up on mindset after 'Koffee with Karan' controversy ahead of KKR clash

"I couldn't help but doubt myself, doubt my own character," said Indian cricketer K L Rahul as he reflected on the storm triggered by his and Hardik Pandya's sexist comments on a TV show.  [Read full story]

19.05 IST: Andrew Tye shares his experience of playing at Eden Gardens

https://twitter.com/lionsdenkxip/status/1110836499761643522

18.59 IST: Final preparations before the match





18.54 IST: Lockie Ferguson reveals the reason behind his twirly moustache



18.41 IST: What to expect and Predicted Playing XIs of Kolkata Knight Riders vs Kings XI Punjab

The Universe Boss, who will retire from ODIs after the 2019 World Cup, has been in sensational form, smashing 39 sixes in the five-match ODI series against England and set the record for most sixes by a batsman in international cricket. A former KKR player, Gayle knows Eden Gardens like the back of his hand as he would look to continue his assault on the spin-oriented KKR attack. [Read full story]

18:30 IST: Squads:

Kolkata Knight Riders: Chris Lynn, Nitish Rana, Robin Uthappa, Dinesh Karthik (WK/C), Shubman Gill, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Piyush Chawla, Kuldeep Yadav, Lockie Ferguson, Prasidh Krishna, Rinku Singh, Nikhil Naik, Joe Denly, Shrikant Mundhe, Carlos Brathwaite, Sandeep Warrier, Harry Gurney, Yarra Prithviraj, KC Cariappa

Kings XI Punjab: Lokesh Rahul, Chris Gayle, Mayank Agarwal, Sarfaraz Khan, Nicholas Pooran (WK), Mandeep Singh, Sam Curran, Ravichandran Ashwin (C), Mohammed Shami, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Ankit Rajpoot, Karun Nair, David Miller, Simran Singh, Murugan Ashwin, Andrew Tye, Hardus Viljoen, Arshdeep Singh, Moises Henriques, Varun Chakravarthy, Darshan Nalkande, Agnivesh Ayachi, Harpreet Brar