Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja hurt Kolkata Knight Riders' playoff chances
With seven needed from the last two balls, Jadeja swatted Nagarkoti for back-to-back sixes to raise victory for the Chennai Super Kings
With seven needed from the last two balls, Jadeja swatted Nagarkoti for back-to-back sixes to raise victory for the Chennai Super Kings
Scorer: Chandan Duorah | Commentator: Varun Shetty
10:05pm Some warmth at the end there from Gaikwad after a sterling endorsement from his captain. And with that, I will close tonight's liver coverage. Thanks for joining us and see you tomorrow. Good night!
Ruturaj Gaikwad: Feeling good, pretty confident. thankfully they've both come in wins. I've backed myself because both innings I got out when the situations were a little tough. I knew if i get the opportunity to open and get my time, I would do well. So the confidence was there. Covid has made me tough. Our captain always says to face any situation with a smile. It was difficult but I tried to do it. It made me stay in the present. I do work hard in the gym and I have a six pack and all [smiles].
Ruturaj Gaikwad is the Man of the Match.
MS Dhoni: I think it was one game where the plans went in our favour. Needed a lot of effort from the players. Really glad the coin fell in our favour. This season Jadeja has been fantastic. He's been the only batsman in our team who has taken the job of scoring in the last few overs. Not just using his power but through point if the field is up. I feel throughout the season we needed someone by his side. [the changes] are a conscious effort. We want to give games to people who haven't played and we need them to grab those opportunities. Ruturaj we'd seen him in the nets, but then he got Covid positive and took 20 days. Unfortunate but he'll remember this season. He's one of the most talented players going around. What makes it difficult is he's not somebody who speaks a lot! So sometimes it becomes difficult for the management to gauge a player. Once he started going in the innings, you could see that he was hitting the ball the way he wants to and he was planning. When we made him play the first game, he got out, stepped out. It becomes difficult to tell whether it was the pressure that made him step out or whether that's his natural game. One ball isn't enough. We haven't performed in the tournament but we felt it's important to be relevant in the tournament. That's what we kept requesting the guys. We said you prepare how you want to, but 3-3.5 hours give your best. We are not in the position to qualify and there's plenty of takeaways and at the same time it gives a glimpse [of the talent].
Ravindra Jadeja: I was hitting it well in the nets and just wanted to do that again. The last 12 balls you don't have to think too much, just see the ball and hit the ball. I was just looking to keep my shape and back my strength. I knew if they bowl in my arc, I could hit the six, it was simple. When you play good competitive cricket and win matches for your team, you always feel happy.
Eoin Morgan: We probably played a bit well there. Probably on the wrong side of the toss with the toss. Our bowlers gave it everything, but the skills were a bit off. We'll have to move on quickly. I think the score was enough. We felt we were right in the game. Probably 165 was par if the wicket and conditions stayed the same. I actually think we had a good batting day. One world class spinner, and the other on the cusp of playing for India. They're fantastic spinners. I can't fault any bowlers. Nagarkoti probably didn't have enough runs to defend, would have liked 16-17. He's a young guy, he'll take it on the chin and move on.
SANTHOSH L N: "Looking at KKR's runrate, it is hard for them to make it to top 4 even if they win the last one. Other teams runrate is better. Apart from top 3, if any other team make 14 points then KKR will be out"
Ankit : "Really happy for Sir Jadeja. He's been there so many times (ex. vs. Afg, NZ) and couldnt get them over so this would be very heartening! "
Lucky: "The new finishing role is all but Jadeja's now"
9:41pm KKR cannot get to 16 points anymore and a lot needs to go their way for a playoff qualification. Mumbai Indians have now officially qualified. Chennai Super Kings dealing a proper blow to KKR's chances. Batting certainly looked easier during the chase, particularly when Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ambati Rayudu were out in the middle together. Their partnership - and Gaikwad's second consecutive fifty - had set things up pretty well, with only two overs of spin to come in the back end. But it was those two overs that spun the game in KKR's favour again. But they couldn't hold their nerves right at the end, particularly during Lockie's 19th over that gave Nagarkoti little to defend against a rampaging Jadeja.
The towel's out again. Deep midwicket and long-on are out. Mid-off is in. A gap at square leg. Extra cover and midwicket are close in, to run to the non-striker's end for the run-out chance.
Morgan fields and brings out the towel as he walks over to his bowler. The field has remained the same. 7 needed off 3.
Short third man is very fine this over
He's over the wicket, by the way
Nagarkoti, trusted tonight over Prasidh. Fine leg and square leg in. As are third man and extra cover.
He's shown the class of Pooran, timing of de Villiers and finishing of Dhoni. All he needs is more time in the middle
Also, should Ruturaj Gaikwad have played the full season?
With seven needed from the last two balls, Jadeja swatted Nagarkoti for back-to-back sixes to raise victory for the Chennai Super Kings
After Gaikwad's second match-winning fifty in a row, Dhoni says he is "among the most talented youngsters going around"
ESPNcricinfo's updates from the 49th match of IPL 2020