Indian Premier League 2016, Highlights, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) vs Delhi Daredevils (DD): Gautam Gambhir Leads Hosts to Nine-Wicket Win
Kolkata Knight Riders comprehensively defeated the new-look Delhi Daredevils side by nine wickets and 5.5 overs to spare at the Eden Gardens. KKR are two-time Indian Premier League champions while Delhi Daredevils have endured a torrid couple of seasons. Catch all the highlights here
Two-time IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders recorded a comprehensive nine-wicket victory against the Delhi Daredevils. They begun Sunday's match on a great note by bowling out the Daredevils for 98 in 17.4 overs with Andre Russell and Brad Hogg taking 3 wickets apiece. In reply, a 69-run opening wicket partnership between Robin Uthappa and Gautam Gambhir guided the home side to triumph. Catch all the highlights here (SCORECARD | NEWS | PHOTOS | VIDEOS | STREAMING)
23:20 hrs IST: Alright folks. That's that for tonight. Join us for Monday's clash between Indian Premier League debutants Gujarat Lions and Kings XI Punjab.
© BCCI
23:12 hrs IST: Expectedly Andre Russell, who took 3/24 from his four, is man of the match. "We just have to adjust to any surface. That is where professionalism comes into play. It wasn't the fastest of wickets, it wasn't slow either. If I get a chance to bat, I'd go out there and do something destructive. When things are going your way, you need to find ways to stay up there. I thought the wicket wouldn't spin that much, but credit to Brad Hogg and Piyush Chawla for backing me up. Well played to captain and Uthappa as well," said Russell.
Huge congrats to @Russell12A for being man of the match! A well deserved title with his best bowling figure of 3/24 in IPL. #AmiKKR #KKRvDD
- KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) April 10, 2016
23:11 hrs IST: Winning skipper Gautam Gambhir says his team delivered a very professional performance. "Russell got to Kolkata this morning. The way he started with the ball was commendable. He is a quality player. Once we restricted them to 98, it was half the job done. We aren't used to playing on these kind of wickets, that is why we decided to bowl first. In our chase, someone had to bat through. That is what professional teams do. It was my responsibility to do that. Robin was unbelievable, to give us that kind of start was fantastic. We've covered most of our bases, so we are happy with whatever surfaces we get."
23:06 hrs IST: Some more stats for youÂÂ
With this win against #DD this is the 4th time #KKR have won by 9 wickets in IPL #KKRStats #KKRvDD
- KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) April 10, 2016
23:02 hrs IST: Losing skipper Zaheer says: "You learn every day. I was trying to swing the ball too much. I was playing after a long time. I was happy to see the effort of the fast bowlers. Every team is going to have one bad game, hopefully we've got that out of the way. We're just giving our young batting line-up freedom. They are quick learners, they've got the energy. We are happy with our plans and preparation. It's just about letting this team express themselves on the field freely."
And, thanks to all the #DD fans for supporting us. We will come back stronger in next games. #DilDilli
- Delhi Daredevils (@DelhiDaredevils) April 10, 2016
22:57 hrs IST: And that's it! Victory for KKR by 9 wickets! A wide and a short tap-and-run by Gambhir helps the two-time champions earn a win in their opener with as many as 35 balls to spare!ÂÂ
Match 2. It's all over! Kolkata Knight Riders won by 9 wickets https://t.co/7RURk61yZ1 #KKRvDD
- IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 10, 2016
22:53 hrs IST: 2 back to back boundaries by Pandey. KKR now need 2 from 36!
22:50 hrs IST: A wide from Nathan Coulter-Nile. KKR need only 10 off 39 balls. They can waste so many deliveries.
22:44 hrs IST: KKR need 17 off 48.
#Gauthappa are now the second best opening pair in #IPL in terms of runs. 962 of 25 innings #KKRStats #AmiKKR #KKRvDD
- KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) April 10, 2016
© BCCI
22:38 hrs IST: Despite losing Uthappa, Knight Riders still cruising at 76/1 off 11 overs. Skipper Gambhir batting at 26. KKR need 23 off 54. Seem easy with 9 wickets remaining.
22:31 hrs IST: OUT! Finally a wicket for the visiting team. Straight from the middle of the bat, Uthappa strikes it well but doesn't get the distance. Caught by Chris Morris at long-off. The opener scored 35 off 33. Mishra the lucky bowler. KKR 69/1 in 9.4 overs.
22:27 hrs IST: The skipper has been quite successful for KKR, hasn't he?ÂÂ
Captain Gautam Gambhir is just one of two players to score more than 50 runs 26 times. #KKRStats #AmiKKR #KKRvDD pic.twitter.com/rHFe1vNeN1
- KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) April 10, 2016
22:24 hrs IST: BEAMER! Immediate warning to Brathwaite who bowls an above the waist delivery to Uthappa. Raises both his arms in apology. 62 for no loss in 9 overs. Strategic time-out and drinks. Refill your pop-corn bowls and cola glasses before the action starts again.
22:20 hrs IST: Zaheer Khan brings in leg-spinner Amit Mishra. Daredevils desperately needs wickets or they are losing this.
22:18 hrs IST: Uthappa and Gambhir have hit nine boundaries so far for the Knight Riders. The home team cruising at 49 for no loss from 7 overs.
22:10 hrs IST: KKR taking it easy, cruising at 42 for no loss in 5 overs.
© BCCI
22:02 hrs IST: Four! It is raining boundaries. In the air and Uthappa's shot went straight for the deep midwicket boundary.
21:59 hrs IST: Back to back boundaries from Robin Uthappa who takes KKR's score to 29 for no loss in three overs. The second boundary was a cracker of a shot. Caressed past the cover for four beautiful runs.
21:56 hrs IST: A new milestone for Uthappa; completes 3,000 runs in the Indian Premier League.
A huge congratulations to @robbieuthappa for completing 3000 runs in #IPL. Knight Riders joins us in our wishes! #AmiKKR #KKRvDD
- KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) April 10, 2016
21:54 hrs IST: Interesting stat for IPL fans. Gautam Gambhir scored 60 off 49 balls in last year's IPL match against the Daredevils at the Ferozeshah Kotla. Favoured opposition?
21:48 hrs IST: Decent start for KKR. 4 runs in the first over without losing any wicket.
21:45 hrs IST: KKR openers Robin Uthappa and skipper Gautam Gambhir have come out to chase down the target of 99.
Our Knights step into battle. Opening for #KKR are @robbieuthappa and Captain Gautam Gambhir! Cheer for them! #AmiKKR #KKRvDD
- KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) April 10, 2016
21:42 hrs IST: Does this stat make the chase for KKR a bit more comfortable?
#KKR have bowled out their opponents 7 times in the IPL. They have won all 7 games. #KKRStats #AmiKKR #KKRvDD
- KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) April 10, 2016
21:34 hrs IST: KKR in the driver's seat having bowled out the Daredevils for a meagre 98.
The Knights have attacked and how! KKR have restricted #DD to 98 runs and need just 99 to win! #AmiKKR #KKRvDD pic.twitter.com/AUohBoSYT7
- KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) April 10, 2016
21:25 hrs IST: ALL OUT! Zaheer Khan skies the ball and is caught by Manish Pandey for 4. Not the start the captain would have wanted. Daredevils all out for 98 in 17.4 overs. Dismal performance from the visitors with de Kock the highest scorer at 17. Hogg and Russell clinch 3 apiece while Chawla and Hastings end with a brace each.
© BCCI
21:23 hrs IST: Hogg (3/19) and Chawla (2/21) finish their quotas of 4 overs each. They have been a handful, haven't they? Together their figures stand at 8-1-40-5. Skipper Gambhir will be pleased.
21:19 hrs IST: Wicket-maiden from the 'young' old man Brad Hogg. Daredevils 92/9 in 16 overs.
21:18 hrs IST: Daredevils skipper Zaheer Khan comes out to bat. Two slips placed for him. What can he do?
21:14 hrs IST: OUT!!! Amit Mishra (3) caught at slip by KKR skipper Gambhir. Third wicket by Hogg and five in total for spinners at the Eden Gardens wicket. Daredevils 92/9 in 15.4 overs.
21:10 hrs IST: Will the Daredevils, currently at 89/8 in 14 overs, last the 20 overs?
21:06 hrs IST: OUT!!!! It is a field day for Australian Hogg, who takes his second wicket of the night. Daredevils rattled at 84/8 off 13.1 overs.
21:02 hrs IST: OUT!!!! That's another for Chawla. That was a top-spinner which rattled the stumps. Chris Morris exits for 11. Daredevils struggling for 84/7 in 12.4 overs.
21:01 hrs IST: Hogg and Chawla, two wrist openers, operating from opposite ends, not something you see regularly in Twenty20 cricket.
20:55 hrs IST: OUT!!!!! Brathwaite survives for only one six and four balls as leg-spinner Piyush Chawla finds him LBW. It was a googly which deceived the West Indian, who only one week back won the World T20 for the Caribbean side hitting four consecutive sixes in the last over at the Eden Gardens. Daredevils 67/6 in 10.5 overs.
20:54 hrs IST: SIX!!!! Brathwaite mentally still in the World T20 mould. Six off his 1st ball! Huge heave over the leg side and the ball goes into the stands.ÂÂ
20:53 hrs IST: We all know his name. Carlos Brathwaite comes in to bat!
20:51 hrs IST: And takes a WICKET!!!!! in his first over. Negi comes down the track, Hogg pitches it short, fools the batsman and Negi is stumped for 11. Daredevils 55/5 at the end of the 10th over.
20:48 hrs IST: Change in bowling. Gambhir introduces spin, brings in Brad Hogg for the 10th over.
20:45 hrs IST: And the first Time-out of the contest. Daredevils 53/4 at the end of 9 overs. Time to refill your pop-corn bowl.
20:42 hrs IST: Some entertainment from the ever-smiling Brad Hogg. Always willing to stick out his tongue.
Just for laughs - The @Brad_Hogg's famous tongue out bowling action @KKRiders #IPLhttps://t.co/fxvHL3hdA6
- IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 10, 2016
20:41 hrs IST: "It was a good decision to bowl," says Sanjay Manjrekar. What say Mr.Gambhir?
20:40 hrs IST: At the end of the eighth over, the Daredevils are in a precarious position at 49/4.
20:39 hrs IST: Maximum! 6 runs from Negi. Good, strong, flat hit over long-off.
20:37 hrs IST: Bowling change. New Zealander Colin Munro comes in to roll over his arm!
20:34 hrs IST: Oh my! That was almost a fifth wicket twice! First confusion between Pawan Negi and Sanju Samson almost resulted in a run out. Next ball thick edge from left-handed Negi and just wide off the slip. Daredevils living right on the edge!
20:32 hrs IST: Wicket-maiden from Hastings to finish off the Powerplay. The visitors 35/4 off 6.
20:29 hrs IST: OUT!!! Daredevils are gifting away wickets. This time Karun Nair (3 off 8) square drives straight into the hands off Manish Pandey at point. Daredevils 35/4 in 5.3 overs. First non-Russell wicket as Hastings shares the spoils.
20:26 hrs IST: Next ball Sanju Samson's on drive on his first ball goes for a boundary! The visitors 35/3 in 5 overs.
20:25 hrs IST: Another WICKET!!!! 3 for Russell. Opener Mayank Agarwal (9 off 11) goes for an ambitious shot, gets caught Brad Hogg at thirdman. Daredevils 31/3.
20:23 hrs IST: Look at Yusuf Pathan juggle the ball but eventually holding on to the catch.
Whoopsie doopsie @iamyusufpathan @kkriders #IPL https://t.co/nOxovkWNWp
- IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 10, 2016
20:21 hrs IST: Brilliant fourth over from John Hastings. Five dot balls and only one off that over. Daredevils 26/2 off 4 overs.
20:15 hrs IST: OUT!!! Russell strikes again. This time it is Shreyas Iyer who get out for a golden duck! LBW! Daredevils 25/2 at the end of 3 overs.
Not a good over for us. @shreyaasiyer03 departs too. Another wicket for Andre Russell. #DilDilli #KKRvDD #IPL
- Delhi Daredevils (@DelhiDaredevils) April 10, 2016
20:12 hrs IST: And that's OUT!!! Danger man Quinton de Kock out for 17 off 10 deliveries! The South African tried to go for a big one but landed right in the hands of Yusuf Pathan at mid-off, who juggled the ball but eventually managed to hold on to it.  Daredevils 24/1 in 2.2 overs.
20:10 hrs IST: A four and a six, both by de Kock, off that Umesh Yadav over. Daredevils 23 for now loss in 2 overs.
20:08 hrs IST: Doesn't Gambhir look happy to have won the toss?
TOSS! #KKR elect to bowl first! Watch #KKRvDD on Hotstar: https://t.co/IizbPTxxqD #VIVOIPL pic.twitter.com/SVFrvHdJHP
- hotstar (@hotstartweets) April 10, 2016
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20:06 hrs IST: Umesh Yadav comes in to share the new ball with Russell
20:04 hrs IST: Overthrow and FOUR on the last ball of the first over. 5 runs off that last ball and Daredevils 13 for no loss. Manish Pandey fielded brilliantly to stop a single but his throw ended up giving four more to the batting team.
20:02 hrs IST: Third ball, Russell pitches it short and the ball zooms past over the head of Mayank for a wide.
20:01 hrs IST: FOUR!!!! Confident start from Mayank who lifts the ball over extra cover for a boundary on the first  ball of the match.
20:00 hrs IST: West Indies' World T20 winner Andre Russell to start proceedings in the second match of IPL-9!
19:58 hrs IST: Umpires step on to the ground. KKR players in a huddle and Daredevils openers Quinton de Kock and Mayank Agarwal walk out. Game about to start.
19:54 hrs IST: "Really happy to have Zaheer Khan as captain and Rahul Dravid as mentor," says Delhi Daredevils leg-spinner Amit Mishra moments ahead of the match.
19:48 hrs IST: Now that is an interesting piece of stat for all IPL lovers.
Since 2014, out of 16 matches at Eden Gardens, teams who chose to bat 1st won 7 games and teams who chose to chase won 9. #KKRStats #KKRvDD
- KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) April 10, 2016
19:42 hrs IST: "Teams batting second have done well here," says Sunil Gavaskar. Advantage KKR?
19:40 hrs IST: And the teams have been announced. Here they are:
Kolkata Knight Riders: Gautam Gambhir (captain), Robin Uthappa, Manish Pandey, Colin Munro, Suryakumar Yadav, Yusuf Pathan, Andre Russell, Piyush Chawla, John Hastings, Brad Hogg, Umesh Yadav
.@KKRiders Playing XI #KKRvDD #IPL pic.twitter.com/gy5hOgqGra
- IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 10, 2016
Delhi Daredevils: Quinton de Kock, Mayank Agarwal, Shreyas Iyer, Karun Nair, Sanju Samson, Pawan Negi, Carlos Brathwaite, Chris Morris, Zaheer Khan (captain), Amit Mishra, Nathan Coulter-Nile
.@DelhiDaredevils Playing XI #KKRvDD #IPL pic.twitter.com/mDymXBzsrP
- IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 10, 2016
19:36 hrs IST: Pakistani pace legend Waqar Younis while commentating calls the Knight Riders a "champion team!"
19:34 hrs IST: Gambhir, on winning the toss, said: "Wicket won't change much. Hopefully we can start Jacques' coaching career on a winning note. There will be plenty of runs on this wicket."
19:32 hrs IST: Delhi Daredevils captain Zaheer Khan says they got what they wanted. The Delhi team wanted to bat!
19:31 hrs IST: KKR skipper Gautam Gambhir elects to bowl!
19:30 hrs IST: Toss time!!!!
19:28 hrs IST: For all your live information on the match, click here.
19:24 hrs IST: Coach Jacques Kallis and bowling coach Wasim Akram, two greats of the game, during a conversation ahead of the second IPL-9 match.
The King @jacqueskallis75, the Sultan @wasimakramlive and the @KKRiders boys #KKR #IPLhttps://t.co/LoaHm62nSi
- IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 10, 2016
19:20 hrs IST: Will Gautam Gambhir, who has led KKR to 2 IPL titles, continue his great form for KKR when he takes on his former team Daredevils?
Gautam Gambhir has played 77 innings for KKR, scored 2036 runs with an avg strike rate of 124 and scored a half century 18 times. #KKRStats
- KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) April 10, 2016
19:12 hrs IST: Speculation has ended. KKR's mystery spinner Sunil Narine will not play tonight's match. The West Indian went back home earlier this week following the death of his father.
19:10 hrs IST: Hello and welcome to the second match of the Indian Premier League Season 9. Two-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders take on perennial under performers Delhi Daredevils at the Eden Gardens this evening.
© BCCI
Kolkata Knight Riders hold a 9-6 advantage over Delhi Daredevils in IPL encounters. The two-time champions have a good balance in both the batting and bowling departments. Unlike previous seasons, Delhi Daredevils have some wonderful additions and they will be expected to put up a good show. (Expect Sunil Narine to be Dangerous: Gautam Gambhir)
Kolkata Knight Riders High On Confidence
KKR received a shot in the arm when Sunil Narine's bowling action was cleared by the ICC. However, he will miss the first match as he has returned to the West Indies following his father's death. However, they have ample resources in Shakib Al Hasan and Brad Hogg. In the batting, the likes of Robin Uthappa, Yusuf Pathan and Andre Russell make for a formidable line-up. The power-hitting of Russell and Pathan will be a force to reckoned with.
Focus on King Carlos at Eden
For Delhi Daredevils, they enter the tournament under the mentorship of Rahul Dravid and under the captaincy of Zaheer Khan. However, the focus will be on Carlos Brathwaite. The West Indies dasher blasted four consecutive sixes off Ben Stokes as West Indies sealed their second World T20 title at the Eden. In addition to Brathwaite, the team will be boosted by Shreyas Iyer, who was the leading run-scorer in the 2015/16 Ranji Trophy. If Delhi Daredevils show consistency in their batting and bowling, they can pose a big challenge.