The Punjab Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders are two of the most popular teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Both teams have had their share of successes and failures over the years, and their matches have always been highly anticipated by cricket fans around the world. In this post, we will take a closer look at the rivalry between these two teams and what makes them so special.
Date: 01 APRIL 2023
TIME: 06:00 AM ET
03:30 PM IST
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Punjab Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders begin IPL 2023 with some similarities. After a disappointing previous season, they both have a new captain and coach combination this year – Shikhar Dhawan and Trevor Bayliss for Punjab, and Nitish Rana and Chandrakant Pandit for KKR – though Kolkata’s leadership change was forced upon them because of Shreyas Iyer’s injury.
The Kolkata Knight Riders, on the other hand, have been one of the most consistent teams in the IPL. They were founded in 2008 and are owned by Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, actress Juhi Chawla, and her spouse Jay Mehta. The team has won the tournament twice, in 2012 and 2014, and has reached the playoffs in all but three seasons.
The rivalry between the Punjab Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders started in the very first season of the IPL. The two teams faced each other in their second match of the season, which was held at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Punjab won the toss and elected to field first. Kolkata put up a competitive total of 158 runs on the board, thanks to a half-century by Sourav Ganguly. In response, Punjab fell short by just three runs, despite a brilliant half-century by Yuvraj Singh.
In the second season of the IPL, the two teams faced each other twice again. The first match was held in Kolkata, where the Knight Riders were playing their home games. Punjab won the toss and elected to bat first. They put up a competitive total of 158 runs on the board, thanks to a half-century by Shaun Marsh. In reply, Kolkata chased down the target with ease, winning the match by six wickets.
The second match between the two teams that year was held in Durban, South Africa, where the tournament was shifted due to security concerns. This time, Kolkata won the toss and elected to field first. Punjab put up a decent total of 150 runs on the board, with Kumar Sangakkara top-scoring with 38 runs. Kolkata’s reply got off to a poor start, with both their openers getting out cheaply. However, Brad Hodge played a brilliant innings, scoring 71 runs to take Kolkata to victory.
Over the years, the rivalry between the Punjab Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders has grown stronger. Both teams have some of the best players in the world, and their matches are always highly anticipated by cricket fans around the world. Some of the most memorable moments of the IPL have come from their matches, including the thrilling last-ball finish in 2009 and the historic 200-run partnership between Chris Gayle and Brendon McCullum in 2011.
In conclusion, the rivalry between the Punjab Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders is one of the most exciting in the IPL. Both teams have a rich history in the tournament, and their matches are always highly anticipated by cricket fans around the world. With the IPL growing in popularity each year, it will be interesting to see how this rivalry evolves in the future.