‘Kabhi Rinku to kabhi Shankar’ – Fans react as GT defeat KKR by 7 wickets in IPL 2023 clash

The defending champions Gujarat Titans finally settled the score with Kolkata Knight Riders after they defeated them by 7 wickets in match number 39 of IPL 2023 at the Eden Gardens. Batting first, KKR posted a total of 179 runs for the loss of 7 wickets, powered by fiery innings by Rahmanullah Gurbaz. In reply, GT chased 180 runs in 17.5 overs losing 3 wickets.

KKR lost their first wicket in 2.5 overs with Narayan Jagadeesan getting out leg-before by Mohammed Shami. A couple of overs later, Shardul Thakur went back to the pavilion for a duck. Venkatesh Iyer also couldn’t score big this time and the skipper Nitish Rana got out after hitting a boundary.

With wickets falling from the other end, Gurbaz kept striking the ball and went on to score his second half-century of the season. He also added 47 runs with Rinku Singh (19 off 20) for the fifth wicket. Gurbaz got out in the 16th over after smashing 81 runs off just 39 balls hitting five fours and seven sixes.

After Gurbaz’s dismissal, Andre Russell took charge of the KKR innings and scored a quickfire 34 runs off 19 balls with two fours and three sixes before getting out on the last ball of the innings. For GT, Mohammed Shami scalped 3 wickets conceding 33 runs in his four overs, while Joshua Little and Noor Ahmad shared 2-2 wickets each.

Chasing the winning total, GT looked to get a flying start as Shubman Gill and Wriddhiman Saha added 41 runs for the first wicket in 4.1 overs. After that, Gill and the skipper Hardik Pandya put up a partnership of 50 runs for the second wicket. However, GT lost both of them in a couple of overs as Pandya got out in the 11th over after scoring 26 runs off 20 balls. In the very next over, Gill also lost his wicket after scoring 49 runs off 35 balls, hitting eight boundaries.

After that, Vijay Shankar and David Miller took charge of the innings and put up an unbeaten partnership of 87 runs for the fourth wicket and won the game for GT with 13 balls to spare. Miller remained unbeaten on 32 runs off 18 balls hitting two fours and two sixes, while Shankar smashed 51 runs off just 24 balls as GT won the game by 7 wickets.

Here’s a look at fans reacted to the win:

https://t.co/ibLznXGrKQ

— TENET REDDY ™ (@99999sanjay) April 29, 2023

When you know it's the world cup year.
Selectors to 3D boy Shankar.. pic.twitter.com/EdZtYHfply

— Ajit Solanki (@Ajitsolanki13) April 29, 2023

3D Vijay Shankar is back… pic.twitter.com/FODHAEnW28

— MerryBoy 🇮🇳 (@techie_style) April 29, 2023

Vijay Shankar in World Cup Year pic.twitter.com/KbVq19ud4R

— Adarsh (@Adarsh21_08_04) April 29, 2023

pic.twitter.com/tMnJp6Wqwe

— Himanshu Pareek (@Sports_Himanshu) April 29, 2023