IPL 2023: Lockie Ferguson’s entry, Venkatesh Iyer returns and Rinku Singh’s stunning sixes

Lockie checks in

Mark Wood, Anrich Nortje have already breathed fire with their intimidating pace and Sunday saw the arrival of Lockie Ferguson. Traded from Gujarat Titans ahead of the player auctions, Ferguson made his second debut for Kolkata Knight Riders at Ahmedabad. He started with 149 kmph before touching 154.1 kmph off the next. The next two deliveries were 150.5 and 151.4. Ferguson gave away only six runs of his first over, but had to wait for his second as Nitish Rana chose to use him in short busts that can make a difference instead of bowling two on the trot under the scorching heat.

𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗞𝗨 𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗛! 🔥 🔥

𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗔𝗯𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸! ⚡️ ⚡️

Take A Bow! 🙌 🙌

28 needed off 5 balls & he has taken @KKRiders home & how! 💪 💪

Those reactions say it ALL! ☺️ 🤗

Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/G8bESXjTyh #TATAIPL | #GTvKKR | @rinkusingh235 pic.twitter.com/Kdq660FdER

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 9, 2023

Job half done

Right through the afternoon, Shubman Gill looked in total control. Having allowed Wriddhiman Saha to tee off and with Hardik Pandya missing, Gill was slowly, but steadily shifting his gears. When Kolkata turned to their mystery spinners Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy,  Gill straight away put them under pressure. Using his long stride, he drove Varun for a couple of gorgeous cover-drives before going inside-out against Narine and allowing his younger partner Sai Sudharsan to settle. After a brief lull, he once again tried to take on Narine, but could only find Umesh Yadav at long on, as his innings ended at 39 runs.

VJS show

The past IPLs have not been easy on Vijay Shankar.  Even one innings, he has trended for all the wrong reasons with former chief selector MSK Prasad’s 3D player comment coming to haunt them. And truth to be told, he has never really been in his elements, often featuring in the IPL with a niggle or two. Last season, he underwent a shoulder surgery and missed a major chunk of domestic season before making a comeback in the Ranji Trophy. Scored three successive centuries and came into the IPL high on confidence. After starting off on an impressive note against Chennai Super Kings, Vijay Shankar played a cameo against Delhi Capitals. And in this match, coming ahead of David Miller, he injected a much needed momentum to Gujarat Titans innings at the death. Playing text book shots he was slowly increasing the tempo before taking on Lockie Ferguson in the 19th over for 25 runs and hitting Shardul Thakur for three successive sixes in the last over. Vijay Shankar remained unbeaten on 63 off 24 deliveries.

Cautious approach 

For a team that is chasing a huge target, the lack of batting depth explains why Kolkata Knight Riders are a bit cautious in their approach. Needing over 10 an over the early dismissal of Rahmanuallah Gurbaz — their accelerator at the top — made it all the more challenging for Kolkata. With the likes of Andre Russell yet to find form this season, Venkatesh Iyer and Nitish Rana have been a bit restrictive while playing big shots and cutting down all the risks..that Gujarat have bowled a few freebies have helped them find boundaries. It is sensible cricket as well and one that keeps them in the game till the end where Russell could play the sort of knock he used to do before.

End of Venkatesh Iyer’s sophomore blues

Last season Venkatesh Iyer suffered what is mostly known as the second season syndrome. Having played a vital role in Kolkata Knight Riders entry to the final in the 2021 season, last year was a tough one for this Rajnikanth fan. This season he has come as an Impact Player twice — including this game — with his bowling taking a back seat. On Sunday, after the early dismissal of the openers, Iyer took the lead in not only steadying Kolkata, but also keeping them in the chase by scoring a typically strokeful half century. Those lofted shots which make him challenging to bowl to were to the forefront again as he brought up his fifty off 26 deliveries.

Russell Mania non-existent

Totally quiet with the ball up until the fourth over, which he delivered with KKR needing 50 off the final four overs, stand-in captain Rashid Khan seemed to seal the tie in Gujarat Titans favour of his final over. Having conceded 35 runs without a wicket, he took the ball in his hand with Andre Russell on strike. With the Caribbean not in the best of form and knowing fully he would look to attack him, he slowed down the googly a bit and as Russell got early into the shot, the ball took the edge and KS Bharat did the rest. Then off his next delivery had Sunil Narine caught at mid-wicket. In the hat-trick ball, he once again delivered a googly that had Shardul Thakur plumb in front as Rashid went on a celebratory run.