Kolkata Knight Riders Vs Rajasthan Royals Match 31 Preview and Team

Right then, the clash between the table toppers has come to a sensational end and the team at the top of the table has reigned supreme. It was Jos Buttler who struck his seventh Indian T20 League hundred surpassing the great Chris Gayle who had six to his name and pulled off the highest successful run chase in the tournament's history. Next up the caravan moves to Ahmedabad for a game between Gujarat and Delhi. That will be played on Wednesday, 17 April and will begin at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT). You can join us a lot sooner for the build-up though. Till then, take care and goodbye!

Jos Buttler is the Player of the Match for his match-winning knock. Buttler says that he kept believing which was key and was struggling for rhythm sometimes and just wanted to let go of the negative thoughts. Adds that you need to keep telling yourself that it is fine and keep calm. Mentions that the coach has told him a lot about the breaking point and just giving your wicket away and telling him to stay the course. Ends by saying that it is his best knock and it is always satisfying to see your side home.

Sanju Samson, the captain of Rajasthan is up for a quick chat and says they are happy with the win but they were a bit down with the fall of wickets but Rovman Powell did well and hit some sixes that gave them the momentum they needed and credits Kolkata as well saying they played well too. Mentions that Varun and Sunil bowled superbly and were hard to be hit against but Rovman Powell hit those boundaries at the right time. Credits Jos Buttler for his brilliance with the bat and mentions that Jos has been doing it since the last 5-6 years for them and he feels no chase is impossible if Jos stays at the crease till the 20th over.

The Presentation ceremony...

Earlier in the game, Sanju Samson won the toss and opted to field first. After losing Phil Salt early, Sunil Narine went into overdrive for Kolkata and hit every bowler for plenty. The usual spin duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravichandran Ashwin who are brilliant for Rajasthan had no answers for Narine who went on to score his maiden Indian T20 League century. Kolkata went on to score 223 which was a big score given the fact that scoring 200 plus in the second innings isn't something we have seen at Eden Gardens.

Rovman Powell, one of the chief architects of the chase is down for a chat. Powell says that the emotions are all over the place and anytime you chase down 200 plus it is a great game of cricket. Adds that he knew Sunil Narine was their best bowler and when you need 80 odd off 30 balls, you need to take him on. On Narine, he says that he has asked a lot of players to talk to him about a return to the national side and hopefully, he will listen. Mentions that morale in the team is high and he appreciates the clear and precise communication even when he isn't playing and hopefully long may that continue. Ends by joking that he is telling the management to get him up the order.

Shreyas Iyer, the captain of Kolkata says that it is a bitter pill to swallow and it was a roller coaster for them. Says that it is a funny game at the end and it is hard to explain what happened in the middle. Adds that at this point in time, a little miss here and there and the batter dispatches this over the ropes and this will give the youngsters a lot of learning and they will come back stronger. Mentions that Narine is just that kind of a character that turns up for the side and contributes with both bat and ball giving us the positive momentum right at the top. Closes by saying that they will just let it sink in and relax a bit as these were tough conditions to play in and they will look to come back stronger.

With 223 runs on the board, Kolkata went into the break pretty content and knowing the fact that no team has ever chased a total of 200 or more at this venue in this tournament. Mitchell Starc was wayward to begin with but Vaibhav Arora gave them an early breakthrough and then Harshit Rana came in and got a couple of wickets as well. Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy were brilliant after the Powerplay and Varun got two in two to hand his side the advantage. However, the pacers were pretty expensive and even when Andre Russell bowled one over, he went for 17 runs. Starc and Arora were hit for plenty and Harshit Rana couldn't hold his nerves in the 19th over. Varun had just 8 runs to play with in the final over and once that six was hit on the first ball, it was all over.

Rajasthan had a daunting target to achieve but Yashasvi Jaiswal was able to get out of the blocks. However, he fell soon and so did skipper Sanju Samson before the pair of Jos Buttler and Riyan Parag started to take on the opposition bowlers and scored 76 runs in the Powerplay. The middle phase was where Rajasthan lost momentum as Parag fell and then Dhruv Jurel and Shimron Hetmyer got out on consecutive deliveries. This affected Buttler at the other end and his strike rate took a big dip as Ravichandran Ashwin couldn't muster up runs. It was then Rovman Powell who came in and injected the necessary momentum by taking on Sunil Narine and even though he got out, he gave his side a big chance. After that, it was all Jos and his tactics as he managed to keep strike remarkably for the entirety of the last 3 overs and went on to score the match-winning hundred and limped on one leg to take his side home.

JOS 'THE BOSS' BUTTLER has taken Rajasthan to one of the most famous victories in recent times in the Indian T20 League! With that, Rajasthan equal their own record of the highest successful run chase in the competition's history. Another cracker-jack of a contest in the 2024 Indian T20 League but it is Rajasthan who have held their nerves better and have won this battle of the top two.

JOS BUTTLER HAS WON IT FOR RAJASTHAN. That's what champions are made up of. He was himself in some pain but he inflicted a lot more on the opposition tonight. Short of a length in the middle, Jos Buttler swings and connects well as the ball rolls through to deep mid-wicket and the batters cross for a single. Rajasthan wins this by 2 wickets. A game for the ages. With this win, Rajasthan have pulled off a highest successful run-chase in the history of the competition.

Full toss on off, Jos Buttler punches this to wide long off and jogs back with a stiff back and a bit of illness for the second.

This is cricket madness as Jos looks for the reverse and finds the fielder at short third. 3 needed of the last 2 now.

Short and wide of off, Jos Buttler punches this to sweeper cover and denies another single.

Fuller one on off, Jos Buttler punches this to long off and denies the opportunity of a single.

SIX! HUNDRED! This is probably the most important one for Jos. Short of a length in middle, Jos Buttler moves back and slogs this way over the fence and into the stands towards long on for a maximum.

Who will bowl the final over? 9 runs needed for the win and Shreyas Iyer has tossed the ball to Varun Chakaravarthy who has bowled in a similar situation before. However, Kolkata are behind on the over rate and will have one less boundary-rider which could be decisive as well.