And the inevitable has happened. Punjab win by 7 runs as the rain gods did allow the game to go further. Good start by them. They first got off to a decent total with everyone contributing. In the second innings, KKR tried staying in the chase but were little far. Russell and Venkatesh were keeping them in hunt but after the fell, it looked difficult. The rain came down as players went off. So PBKS get a win as we now move to the other contest of the day between LSG vs DC. Join Aditya Kukalyekar for that coverage here
Umpires are seen along the fence with umbrellas with them. They have a chat with KKR captain Rana.
KKR would be praying for rain to stop. Their fans might be having hands joined as well. Meanwhile, take a look at this post shared by the team.
It is still puring heavy as we wait for the action. Till 7:54, we can have the full remaining game but after that we will lose overs.
And now it has gone heavier as the play has to be stopped. Punjab won't be complaining as Kolkata are 7 runs behind DLS and they will win if the game does not start.
And Sam Curran has got the big fish Russell. He wanted to go over the mid-wicket but could not clear the field this time. Russell is in anger with himself. This was probably set for him today but a killer blow for KKR now. Thakur comes in with Narine in the dugout.
It's drizzling a bit in Mohali. Rain was forecasted for evening and it has come down. But it is good to go for now as play has not been stopped.
Russell and Venkatesh are fighting. They have hit Ellis for 18 runs in the 14th over in which Russell was dropped and Ellis bowled a couple of no balls. 74 needed off 36 as we head into a time-out.
Kolkata have gone past 100 in 13 overs. Andre Russell and Venkatesh are in the middle. 92 needed off 42. Can Russell get this?
And Rinku Singh goes without spending much time in the middle. Rahul Chahar bowled a wrong'un on full as Rinku tried to slog sweep. Gives it straight to deep mid-wicket. Now comes the big man- Andre Russell. Can this be his day?
As only when they were looking to, Raza has found a crucial wicket of KKR captain Nitish Rana. This was a quick, good length ball outside off stump. It was asked to be cut but Rana could not keep it down, and he could have found the gap as he gifts it to the backward point. Rinku Singh comes in.
Venkatesh and Nitish are taking on PBKS impact player Rishi Dhawan. They have got 15 off his first over. We head to time-out now as 75/3 after 9. 117 runs are needed off 66 now. Not easy but they are looking to take the attack.
Not a great start for Kolkata. They have lost three wickets- Gurbaz, Mandeep and Anukul inside the first six. Venkatesh is joined by captain Nitish Rana and they need a partnership but at a good pace too.
Ellis now breaks into the wickets column as he has cleaned the dangerous looking Gurabz on 22. Powerplay is still on and KKR have lost 3. Captain Rana now comes in.
KKR have made their change as well. Venkatesh Iyer comes in for Varun Chakravarthy. He comes out to bat at No.4.
Make it two please. He has got Anukul and a big deadly stare by the young pacer. He pitched this short as Anukul wanted to go over the leg side. He could not time it and hands it to mid-wicket.
And soon after the 13-run opening over, Punjab have replied strongly. Arshdeep gets wicket on his first ball of the season as he has got Mandeep caught out at square leg. Arshdeep's airplane flies in Mohali.
Play has resumed as Kolata begin the chase. Mandeep and Gurbaz look for solid start. Oh my God, Gurbaz has smoked one over long on to a 101-metre six.
The start of the chase has been delayed due to floodlight failure. Light is flickering. 6 towers are lighted, others are not. Meanwhile, Punjab have made introduced their impact player- Rishi Dhawan comes in for Rajapaksa. The visuals show almost all towers are lit, only a couple are left as we wait a bit for action.
So Punjab have scored a decent 191-run total. Good batting display by Dhawan's side. They lost an early wicket but Rajapaksa was a star with the bat as he smashed a fiery fifty. Dhawan anchored the inning well but fell short of his fifty. In the end, Curran powered them to 191. Back with the reply.
After a promising start, Sikandar Raza falls on 16. Sunil Narine gets his first as Raza has not got any timing on this one. He was looking to put his side to a good score but the workload now shifts to Curran and the new batter Shahrukh.
And Chakaravarthy has got his first as well. He has cleaned up the PBKS skipper on this quicker and straighter one. Dhawan probably did not expect it to come as quick as he was trying to work the ball on the leg side. Punjab are 4 down now and Sam Curran comes in. Two new batters and KKR are coming into it now.
And now Jitesh Sharma fells to a slower one. He was playing such a a fabulous cameo. But is outdone as Southee pitches this off-cutter around off. Jitesh charges down the track and gets a thick edge which settles to the third-man fielder. Raza now comes.
Ohh, he falls soon after hitting that fabulous fifty. KKR have finally got some smiles as they break the 86-run stand. Umesh Yadav outfoxed the batter on this slower one as Rajapaksa came down the ground and tried to slog it. But gets a toe end as the catch is taken at long-on.
This is some show by Rajapaksa and Dhawan. They are piling pain on KKR bowlers. 100 up in 10 overs and only 1 wicket is down. Rajapaksa gets to his fifty now.
Bhanuka Rajapaksa is going all guns blazing. He has is striking around 200 and is eyeing to score a fifty here. KKR if you are hearing, your need to get this man as soon as you can.
Shikhar Dhawan and Rajapaksa are leading the team well in the start. Even after Prabhsimran Singh's wicket, Punjab are going well and strong at the moment. Southee has taken one wicket but KKR need more from their key bowlers.
Tim Southee gets his name into the wickets. Prabhsimran was hitting them sweet. But has to walk back on a caught behind
Prabhsimran and Dhawan begin Punjab's batting as they look for a solid start.
Rishi Dhawan, Taide, Short, Bhatia and Rathee are PBKS substitutes.
Suyash, Arora, Jagadeesan, V Iyer and Wiese are four substitues of KKR
Shikhar Dhawan (capt), Prabhsimran Singh, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Sikandar Raza, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Shahrukh Khan, Sam Curran, Nathan Ellis, Harpreet Brar, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh
Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Mandeep Singh, Nitish Rana(c), Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Shardul Thakur, Sunil Narine, Tim Southee, Anukul Roy, Umesh Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy
We would have bowled first as well. We have got a balanced team and hopefully we will do good. The team preparation has been decent and we will aim to dominate the game, hoping for a great season ahead. We are eager to win the title and I am looking to lead my team from the front. My overseas players are - Bhanuka, Nathan Ellis, and Sam Curran, don't remember the fourth name,
We will be bowling first, it has rained in the last two days so there would be some moisture in the wicket. (On captaincy) I am excited because very few people get this opportunity. It is a game of cricket so there is not much pressure on us. The impact players rule is in its initial phase. We have to see that and take decisions that prove to be right. Russell, Narine, Gurbaz and Southee are our overseas players.
Kolkata have won the toss and they will be bowling first in Mohali.
Venkatesh Iyer, Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Nitish Rana(c), Rinku Singh, N Jagadeesan, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Shardul Thakur, Lockie Ferguson, Varun Chakaravarthy, Umesh Yadav, David Wiese, Mandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Kulwant Khejroliya, Vaibhav Arora, Harshit Rana, Suyash Sharma
Shikhar Dhawan(c), Matthew Short, Harpreet Singh Bhatia, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Shahrukh Khan, Prabhsimran Singh(w), Sikandar Raza, Sam Curran, Rishi Dhawan, Harpreet Brar, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh, Raj Bawa, Nathan Ellis, Baltej Singh, Jitesh Sharma, Atharva Taide, Vidhwath Kaverappa, Mohit Rathee, Shivam Singh
After having a below-average season in the IPL 2022, PBKS and KKR look for a good IPL 2023. The teams are new-look with new captains and new coaches. Shikhar Dhawan will lead PBKs, while Nitish Rana will captain the side in Shreyas Iyer's absence. Toss coming at 3 PM as I Varun Malik, take you across this second game of the tournament.
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