Right then, that is it from this absolute run fest where Lucknow Super Giants just got the better of Kolkata Knight Riders. Don't go anywhere, as it is a doubleheader in the IPL , and the second game is already underway. It is the battle of the Kings as Punjab Kings take on the Chennai Super Kings. You can just switch tabs to enjoy all the coverage of the match. Cheers!

Nicholas Pooran is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his smashing knock of 87 off just 36 balls. He says that he practices a lot for his six-hitting and at the moment, it is coming off nicely in the games as well. Adds that the bowlers are now trying different things to stop the batters, so he tries to stay ahead of them to take advantage. Says that Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh have been great for us this season, and that is one of the reasons they have scored so many runs. Mentions that he tries to take down his match-ups and when the opportunity arises, he wants to do well all the time.

The victorious skipper of Lucknow Super Giants, Rishabh Pant, says that they didn’t realise the game would get this close when they batted in the first inning, but in the second inning, as the batters of KKR were batting, they knew that it would go close for sure. Adds that there were a lot of turning points in the game as after the first strategic break, they told the bowlers to stick to their game plan and not try to overdo things. Mentions that to try to get the game to slow down was obviously a conscious decision from them, and they know that the batters get groove and a rhythm, which they wanted to break, and he is happy that their plans worked today. States that their plan was to have a left-hand and right-hand batter at the crease as KKR spinners were bowling well. Says that his back is better now.

The captain of Kolkata Knight Riders, Ajinkya Rahane, says that this match was a really tight one, and as he said earlier, this wicket looks good to bat on, and they fought well as they fell short of just 4 runs in the end, but overall, it was a great game. Adds that when you are chasing 230 plus, you are bound to lose wickets in the middle as the intent was always there to just go for the boundaries. States that everyone batted really well and it was really tough for the bowlers to contain here. Tells that the boundary was very short at one end of the square, and there is no complaint about the bowling attack, and Varun also bowled really well despite every bowler getting hit for the boundaries.

Presentation Time...

Aiden Markram is up for a quick chat. He says that they have got a few freaks in the team and that the knock from Nicholas Pooran helped them get over the line. Adds that they gave their best in the Powerplay, but sometimes the shots work sometimes they do not. Says that with Mitchell Marsh, they are finding a nice groove together, and they have now got two crucial wins against quality sides and hope to continue like this.

Lucknow Super Giants will be relieved after sneaking home with a 4-run win despite posting a massive 238. On a flat pitch with short boundaries, their bowlers had little margin for error and came under pressure early. But credit to them for sticking to their plans - Digvesh Singh was impressive again with a key, economical spell, Shardul Thakur and Akash Deep picked up two wickets each at crucial moments, and Ravi Bishnoi held his nerve in a tense final over to get the job done.

Earlier in the day, LSG piled on a massive total, powered by blistering knocks from Mitchell Marsh and Nicholas Pooran, both hammering their way into the 80s. Aiden Markram also chipped in with a handy cameo at the top, setting the tone early. KKR's bowlers had a tough time containing the flow of runs, with only Vaibhav Arora and Varun Chakaravarthy managing to keep things somewhat tight. Harshit Rana picked up a couple of wickets, while Andre Russell chipped in with one, but overall, it was a tough outing for the bowling unit.

KKR came out all guns blazing, racking up 90 runs in the Powerplay for the loss of just one wicket. They kept pace with the required rate, thanks to classy and explosive hitting from Ajinkya Rahane and Sunil Narine. After Narine’s departure, Venkatesh Iyer took over the charge, maintaining the tempo alongside the skipper, who brought up a well-crafted half-century. But the game took a sharp turn after Rahane’s dismissal. From a strong position at 162/2, KKR slumped to 185/7, losing their grip on the chase. Rinku Singh tried to revive hopes with a few powerful strikes, but the task proved just a bit too much in the end.

What a contest! LSG edge out KKR in a thriller at the Eden Gardens! This match had it all - drama, momentum shifts, and some high-quality cricket from both sides. Full credit to the players for putting on a show and to the fans who got every bit of their money’s worth. The game swung like a pendulum, but when the dust settled, it was Lucknow who held their nerve to walk away with two vital points. A valiant effort from the hosts, but they fell agonizingly short by just 4 runs.

Ravi Bishnoi will bowl the last over. He has to defend 23 runs here, but good thing for him is that Rinku Singh is off strike.