SRH v KKR: Top 5 Performers of the Match!

Kolkata Knight Riders began their IPL 2021 campaign with a 10 run win against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Both teams had their moments and pulled each other down at any given opportunity – but it was the men in purple who emerged victorious. SRH is yet to win at Chennai.

Here are our top performers from the SRH v KKR fixture.

Nitish Rana

KKR opened the innings with Shubman Gill and Nitish Rana. Rana faced the first ball of the innings and struck a boundary off Bhuvneshwar Kumar to set the tone. He kept tonking the SRH bowlers and pushed them to back foot.

He along with Rahul Tripathi put on a 93 run partnership in 8.2 overs!

Rahul Tripathi

Rahul Tripathi walked in to bat at one down and he showed intent through out!

A 29 ball 53 totally stunned the mighty SRH bowling attack. Tripathi smacked 5 fours and 2 sixes at a strike rate of 182.76. He won the Super Strike Award!

Dinesh Karthik

The former KKR captain was the difference in the end. SRH bowlers made a come back by picking some quick wickets at the backend and looked to restrict KKR to a score less than 180. But Dinesh Karthik pushed the top gear smoothly to score a 9 ball 22 – with the help of 2 fours and 1 six.

He later took the all important catch of David Warner in powerplay.

Jonny Bairstow

Sunrisers were struggling at 10-2 in 2.1 overs when Jonny Bairstow walked in to bat. He kept the run coming in commanding fashion.

He along with Manish Pandey put on a  92 run partnership in 11 overs to put SRH in the realm of possibility in the chase. Bairstow scored 55 runs in 40 balls with the help of 5 fours and 3 sixes. He fell to Pat Cummins in an over which he struggled scoring runs.

Manish Pandey

Manish Pandey who hardly had much of a game time this year struck a unbeaten 61 in 44 balls but it was not enough for the Orange Army to cross the line. Nevertheless, the innings was important to keep SRH alive in the chase.

The knock is a huge positive for SRH going forward with their middle order intact.