‘Curran ne crores waste nahi kiye’ – Fans react as Punjab Kings defeat Rajasthan Royals by 5 runs in Indian Premier League 2023 encounter

After winning the first game in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by 72 runs, the Rajasthan Royals (RR) locked horns against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, in Guwahati. The home team skipper Sanju Samson won the toss and elected to bowl first. Both the squads were unchanged from their last matches. The Kings won the match by 5 runs and was Nathan Ellis awarded the Player of the Match award for his brilliant performance.

If we talk about the fixture while batting first, PBKS openers Shikhar Dhawan and Prabhsimran Singh started off the innings with positive intent. They attacked each and every bowler in the powerplay, which included the likes of New Zealand veteran seamer Trent Boult, KM Asif, India’s veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, and West Indies star all-rounder Jason Holder.

Both the openers together put on a partnership of 90 runs in 58 balls before the 22-year-old was sent back to the pavilion off Holder after playing a brilliant knock of 60 runs off just 34 balls, which included seven fours and three marvelous sixes. The Punjab skipper, on the other hand, went on to score 86 runs from 56 balls with nine fours and three sixes.

Nathan Ellis guides Punjab Kings to victory

The Punjab team scored 197/4 in their allotted 20 overs. Except the openers, the wicketkeeper-batter, Jitesh Sharma scored 27 runs from 16 balls with two fours and a six. On the other hand, for Rajasthan, Jason Holder took two wickets, while the spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal took one each.

Rajasthan, while chasing a target of 198 runs, fell short by five runs. The highest scorer for the home side was Samson, who scored 42 runs off 25 balls with five fours and a six. In the end, Shimron Hetmyer and and Dhruv Jurel played good knocks but it was not enough. Hetmyer scored 36 runs off 18 balls with one four and three sixes, whereas Jurel scored an unbeaten knock 32 runs from 15 balls, which included three fours and two sixes.

For the Punjab Kings, the pick of the bowler was Australia‘s Nathan Ellis, who snapped four wickets in his spell of four overs, where he conceded 30 runs. Two wickets was grabbed by Arshdeep Singh in his spell of four overs where he conceded 47 runs.

Here’s how fans reacted to Punjab Kings victory over Rajasthan Royals:

We’re winning the IPL

— UTD Manny_LUKG ☬ (@Notori0usJatt) April 5, 2023

I feel sad for dhruv he is a gem of a player

— immortal (@mahirovirat) April 5, 2023

https://twitter.com/77thHundredwhnx/status/1643678708455337984

Curran ne crores waste nahi kiye

— SAHEZ (@sahez_22) April 5, 2023

pic.twitter.com/tKd1U4g7bE

— Rishabh Pandey (@RAVINDU_PANDEY) April 5, 2023

pic.twitter.com/xsFqOI8VyY

— Nimish Shirsat (@shirsat_nimish) April 5, 2023

https://twitter.com/natumjanonahum8/status/1643680389201022976

https://twitter.com/sumitagarwal_IN/status/1643678721759649793

Appreciation Tweet for " Sam Curran "

— An$hu (@haramii_balak12) April 5, 2023

Dhruv Jurel in place of Padikkal for the next match

— Dhaval Patel (@CricCrazy0) April 5, 2023