Mumbai Indians (MI) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) squared off in a high-stakes contest in the 51st Indian Premier League (IPL) game at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Following their victory at the toss, KKR chose to bat first and amassed a respectable total of 169 runs in the 20 overs that they were given.
As they watched Venkatesh Iyer and Manish Pandey lead an incredible comeback after early failures, KKR fans went through a rollercoaster of emotions. After Phil Salt was removed early from the batting, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, captain Shreyas Iyer, and Sunil Narine were all dismissed quickly. The outcome of KKR’s innings was in doubt at 57/5.
Venkatesh Iyer steadily led the inning by scoring a crucial 70 runs off 52 deliveries—six boundaries and three sixes—with a composed knock. The pivotal moment for KKR came when he teamed up with Manish Pandey, who came to the crease following the loss of the fifth wicket.
Pandey demonstrated his class with a fantastic performance. He is renowned for his ability to stabilize innings and accelerate when necessary. Pandey was instrumental in bringing KKR’s innings back to life with his exquisite combination of timing and power. His 42-run innings off 31 balls, which included two huge sixes and two boundaries, gave KKR’s innings much-needed impetus.
Also read: IPL 2024: MI vs KKR Today’s Match Highlights: Unmissable video recap, turning points, match analysis, stats and more
Pandey’s innings peaked in the 16th over, when he faced one of the world’s most dangerous bowlers, Jasprit Bumrah. Recognized for his precision and subtle changes in pace, Bumrah struck a ball that was only a hair’s breadth outside off-stump. Seizing the chance, Pandey unleashed a stunning shot, lofting the ball over the third-man fielder for an enormous six.
This is the footage of Manish Pandey’s incredible shot:
An upper cut to up the ante 👌
Manish Pandey with an impact in his first game for #KKR this season 👊
Watch the match LIVE on @JioCinema and @StarSportsIndia 💻📱#TATAIPL | #MIvKKR | @KKRiders pic.twitter.com/rW27LwhYd9
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 3, 2024
After the shot, Pandey’s talent and daring astounded the Wankhede Stadium audience. Even though KKR lost wickets frequently, Pandey’s innings gave them a fighting chance and presented MI with a difficult task to accomplish.
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