Gayle converts cricket ball into a rocket to shoot down Kolkata

By K.R. Nayar

Kings XI Punjab comeback show was another exhibition of a combined effort with a focus to win.

Kings XI Punjab’s Chris Gayle converted the cricket ball into a rocket and created fireworks at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Monday night to down Kolkata Knight Riders. Gayle continued to lead Punjab’s stunning comeback through a quick 51 made with five sixes and two boundaries.

Punjab’s comeback show is so inspiring that they would be creating envy among the other IPL teams.  It was another exhibition of how a combined effort can outplay any opponent.  In the process, they have silenced all the critics who had written them off when they were languishing at the bottom of the table.

Egged by their shrewd coach Anil Kumble, the players have been performing well in the roles expected of them. Starting from Mandeep Singh, who cracked an unbeaten 66, one could see the commitment and focus in the players to win matches.  Singh had lost his father last Friday but opted to stay on and play in the IPL. He dedicated his knock to his father stating that whenever he batted his father used to insist that he remain unbeaten.

Gayle wants to ensure that since his inclusion in the eleven his team keeps winning. He played his habitual aggressive knock and walked away with the player of the match award.  Punjab pacer Mohammad Shami, who is keen to prove that he is the best bowler in the IPL, removed the cream of Kolkata’s batting to ensure his team faces a target of only under 150 runs.  Skipper K. L. Rahul, who has been elevated to the position of Indian’s vice-captain for the oncoming Australian tour, too chipped in with 28 runs.  Rahul elected to bowl after winning the toss and inflicted an early blow on Kolkata by reducing them to 10 for 3. Thereafter, all his bowlers contributed to restricting Kolkata to a gettable total.

Kolkata skipper Eoin Morgan deserves to be lauded for his counter attack amidst the pressure of losing early wickets. Though Morgan hit 40 runs and opener Shubham Gill cracked a fluent 57, that wasn’t enough to pose a challenging total.  Punjab’s 20-year-old leg spinner Ravi Bishnoi not only took the prize wicket of Morgan but also dismissed the aggressive Pat Cummins. Be it pacers Chris Jordan and Arshdeep Singh, or spinners Murugan Ashwin and Glenn Maxwell, everyone bowled tightly, and to a plan, to choke Kolkata’s run flow and their hopes of a win.  As Rahul remarked after the match, it is now important for Punjab to “keep the confidence going and keep the intensity and energy going till the end.”