After KKR denied a single against the Punjab Kings, GautamGambhir was quite satisfied and got into an argument with the 4th Umpire
On Friday, Kolkata Knight Riders had a chance to cement their second position in the Indian Premier League season 2024 points table after they reclaimed the spot on Thursday after the defeat of Sunrisers Hyderabad to Royal Challengers Bengaluru. This could also put them another step closer in the race of player-offs. But the home team got defeated by the Punjab Kings, who wrote their name in the history of T20 cricket.
Inspired by the amazing show from Jonny Bairstow, who scored a century, the Punjab Kings chased down the target of 262 runs with 8 wickets in hand and 8 balls left. While the mentor of the Kolkata Knight Riders, GautamGambhir, more or less helplessly watched the innings of the Punjab Kings, he was a bit more lively during the first innings when Sunil Narine smashed 71 runs in 32 balls and Salt scored 75 runs in 37 balls as they smoked the bowling attack of Punjab.
However, there was one incident that showed GautamGambhir losing his school during the batting innings of the Kolkata Knight Riders. It happened after the final ball of the 14th over. Rahul Chahar bowled a shorter delivery outside off as Andre Russell rocked back to cut it through cover, although Ashutosh Sharma through the ball quickly towards wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma, but the throw went wide as wrestle took a run. But the on-field umpire, Anil Chaudhary, quickly denied the single, explaining that he had already called it over when the ball was stopped by Ashutosh Sharma.
While Russel gave no reaction to KKR being denied a single Gambhir was quite annoyed as he walked up to the fourth umpire, who was standing beside KKR, and was spotted having a fierce argument with him. They talked for some time, and eventually Gambhir walked back, still unhappy.
Watch it here.
In hindsight, the single would have made little difference against the batsman of the Punjab kings, who were in beast mode. Beside the unbeaten 108 from Bairstow, PrabhSimran scored 54 runs in 20 balls in the power play before Rilee played a cameo by scoring 26 runs in 16 balls. Even the informant, Shashank Sharma, blasted eight six, only one less than Bairstow, and two boundaries to help his team secure their first victory in five games in the ongoing season of the Indian Premier League.