KKR vs PBKS, 45th Match at Dubai, IPL, Oct 01 2021 - Match Result

Right then, it was yet another of those thrilling finishes for Kings! But they are up to No. 5 now on the points table, and very much in the race for a playoffs spot. Anyway, don't forget to join us for the double-header tomorrow. Until then, it is goodnight and goodbye from our side! Take care.

KL Rahul, the Orange Cap holder, is the Player of the Match: "We are used to this, but I'll take the two points. We played brilliantly and smartly. We realised it was a decent wicket. There wasn't much spin. The bowlers felt we can make the batsmen sideways... Really happy that we could get over the line. Obviously, I would want to finish games... [Leaving out Brar?] These are things that kill me as a captain - leaving out young Indian boys. Chris has left the bubble, so we had to make a few changes to see what would be our best XI. But we go to Sharjah for next game, and we'll see... Shahrukh worked really well with the batting coaches, asking a lot of questions, and developed a game where he can play at 170-180 without taking many risks. We know he can hit the ball a long way. He has done that for Tamil Nadu. Not to worry about results. Often times, we have put pressure on ourselves... Everybody knows we are a far better team. Putting pressure on ourselves is not helping. These four games in the UAE have a perfect example. It is a good learning for a young team like us."

Time for the presentations

samriddhi: "Bishnoi is also a vey strong contender for MoM "

GP: "This is the right team for Punjab, Jordan/Allan depends on the pitch. Gayle is a gamble most of the time no luck."

By the way, Kings' win today confirms Capitals' spot in the playoffs too.

srik: "MoM should go to Shami and Arshdeep .. !!" --- To both of them?

Shahrukh after that winning six: "It would have been easier for me to take on the bowlers... I thought I had it [the last ball] well. I was brave enough to take shot. As soon as I go into any situation such as this, that method is really working. We needed three wins on the trot, and have started off well..."

Eoin Morgan, losing captain: "Initially we didn't field as well, put catches down. Myself early too. We probably had a par score on the wicket. Kings played well, we fought back, but catches have cost us. I thought in real-time that the Tripathi catch was out. But when you slow it down, the third umpire decided otherwise. We got on with it once he made his call. Hopefully we play hard in the back end, get a few results and qualify into the playoffs."

10pm How about that? The points table gets even closer as the Kings not only stay alive but also give a few more sides hope. Shahrukh Khan's nine-ball 22 to take the Kings over the line begs just one question: why didn't he play earlier?

You'd also have to think if the Knight Riders allowed the match to (pardon the pun) slip out of their hands? Morgan's drop of Agarwal early on, The Iyer fumble on the boundary line for six. The Tripathi catch that the umpire said was not out, and the Tripathi attempt off the last ball.

But the win will leave the critics away from KL Rahul. His 55-ball 67 was the anchor around who Agarwal, Markram and Shahrukh could play. Kudos also to Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Shami and Arshdeep Singh - they helped restrict the Knight Riders to 165, and conceded only 44 runs in the last five overs.

Fabian Allen, at the non-striker's end.

Five to win. But Kings have lost games from here.

Suresh: "What ws the soft signal for the review ?" -- Soft signal has been abolished in IPL. The whole decision is left to the TV umpire. Here's Iyer. Shahrukh on strike.

SuGP: "As a neutral, 18.3 is out. "

Sudipta : "18.3: Did it hit the highest number of words spent to describe a single delivery?" -- Stokes' ricochet for four in the final over of the 2019 ODI World Cup was more for sure!

Very tricky call from the TV umpire there: KKR will surely feel that was out. Rahul will take the TV umpire's decision. Its so hard making a 100% accurate decision in such decisions.

They are checking who should be on strike. Since the ball went dead with the catch, Rahul will retain strike.

Sarah : "I dunno, that looked very out to me. "

Joynul : "Bring back Shakib next match for Morgan, he can bat(can't do worse than morgan), also guarantee tidy 4 overs. DK can take the mantle for time being."

perfect start to the over for the Kings.

Kings need 15 off 12 - and the mood in the ground clearly suggests advantage Punjab. The ground DJ is playing Punjabi music for the last few overs. Ishq Tera Tadpave between the overs. Mavi to bowl.

Neeraj: "Bhai, your description is being kind to DK. Didn't dive or time his run at all... That's a dropped catch" -- Think he pulled out of the dive since another fielder was near his face!

Riad: "Despite having extra batsman and being at good situation , KKR failed to post 180 and they are feeling the heat of not taking 5th bowler ." -- Spot on. They made just 44 runs for the loss of 4 wickets in the last five.

Gopal: "Sharukh Khan was pulling some weight in the first half of IPL. He's been pulling some huge jailbreaks in TNPL. Hoping to see him pull Kings through today!"

Kammo: "No worries - Shahrukh Khan is here - He's saying "Main Hoon Na""

Shahrukh Khan. Back into the side after a longish break out of the team.