Russell Roars, Prabhsimran Pulsates as KKR and PBKS Keep Playoff Dreams Alive
When the Big Man Roars, Kolkata Listens
Andre Russell doesn’t walk onto the field. He arrives like thunder. At Eden Gardens on a sultry evening, Russell turned back the clock with a brutal, unbeaten 57 off 25 balls to lift Kolkata Knight Riders to 206/4 against the Rajasthan Royals. It was the kind of innings Eden remembers, sixes disappearing into the night sky, fielders turning spectators, and the crowd erupting with every swing.
But Russell wasn’t alone in the act. Angkrish Raghuvanshi (44 off 31) showed maturity beyond his years, Rahmanullah Gurbaz scored 35, and Rinku Singh finished things with a 6-ball 19*. The final five overs yielded a jaw-dropping 73 runs as Kolkata ended with a flourish, looking every bit like a side peaking at the right time.
Parag’s Blaze in a Losing Cause
Rajasthan’s reply started in rubble, 71/5 in eight overs. Moeen Ali struck twice, and Varun Chakravarthy’s tight lines (2/32) choked the Royals. But Riyan Parag, donning the captain’s armband in Sanju Samson’s absence, launched a lone, furious counterattack. His 95 off 45 balls, carved with six fours and eight sixes, and made history as he became the first batter to smash six sixes in six deliveries, but it wasn’t in the same over.
Together with brief cameos from Hetmyer and a crucial late push from Shubham Dubey, Parag ignited Rajasthan’s comeback. His 95 off 45 balls was the heartbeat of the chase before falling in the 18th over. From there, it was Dubey who steered the ship through stormy waters, dragging RR to within striking distance, three runs needed off the final ball. But Vaibhav Arora, with nerves of steel, nailed the perfect yorker to seal a one-run thriller. The win keeps KKR ticking in the upper half of the table, while RR are left ruing what-ifs once again.
Dharamsala Erupts: Prabhsimran Lights Up the Hills
Punjab Kings delivered a batting masterclass of their own. Prabhsimran Singh was in a mood, and Lucknow paid the price. His 91 off 48, a blitz filled with six fours and seven sixes, headlined a mammoth 236/5, Punjab’s highest of the season.
After losing Priyansh Arya early, Josh Inglis (30 off 14) kept the tempo high, before Shreyas Iyer (45 off 25) and Prabhsimran combined for a 78-run stand that set the stadium alight. The closing burst was pure carnage: Punjab piled on 50 runs in the final 3 overs, with Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, and Nehal Wadhera all chipping in during a blistering finish that kept their run rate soaring at 11.80.
Arshdeep’s Powerplay Punch
Arshdeep Singh ripped through the top order with a searing powerplay burst, removing Marsh, Markram, and Pooran to leave LSG reeling at 27/3. A spirited fightback came from Ayush Badoni (74 off 40) and Abdul Samad (45 off 24), whose 92-run stand gave the chase a brief pulse. But once Samad fell in the 17th over, so did any real hope.
Badoni kept swinging, but the target remained distant, and though Avesh Khan (19* off 10) added late runs, LSG finished on 199/7, falling 37 short. The defeat highlighted glaring flaws in their bowling effort, particularly from Avesh and Mayank Yadav, who together leaked 117 runs in just 8 overs.
For Punjab, it wasn’t just a commanding win, it came with a significant net run rate boost.
Talking Points from a Blockbuster Sunday
- Andre Russell’s vintage carnage: KKR’s finisher turned a steady platform into a match-winning total in a matter of minutes.
- Prabhsimran Singh’s defining innings: Punjab’s opener delivered a signature performance at a crucial juncture of the campaign.
- Arshdeep’s triple strike: Three powerplay wickets swung the game irreversibly Punjab’s way.
- LSG’s pace attack unraveling: Mayank Yadav and Avesh Khan leaked 117 runs combined, with zero wickets, a glaring weak link as the playoffs approach.
Are PBKS peaking at the perfect time to make a surprise top-four push?
