Lucknow Super Giants beat Kolkata Knight Riders by one run in their final league stage match of the IPL 2023 on Saturday (May 20) to confirm a place in the IPL 2023 eliminator clash. The Krunal Pandya-led side successfully defended the 177-run target. After LSG’s win, Gautam Gambhir’s animated celebration video went viral.
Lucknow Super Giants became the third team to confirm a place in the IPL 2023 playoffs after defeating Kolkata Knight Riders in their 14th and final league stage match of the ongoing season on Saturday (May 20). The Krunal Pandya-led side beat KKR by one run in Match No. 68 of the IPL 2023, which was played at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. In a must-win match for both teams, the Super Giants were invited to bat first, and they rode on Nicholas Pooran’s 58-run innings from 30 balls to post a fighting total of 176 runs on the board for the loss of six wickets. In reply to that big total, KKR could only manage to reach 175, which was also only possible due to Rinku Singh’s gem of an innings. The left-handed batter remained unbeaten on 67 runs from just 33 balls.
KKR needed to chase down the target in less than 8.2 overs to stand any chance of reaching the playoffs, but they failed to do so. They got off to a good start in the 177-run chase but then lost steam by the close of the powerplay. For KKR, opening batter Jason Roy also looked in good touch, and with the help of seven fours and one six, he scored 45 runs from just 28 balls.
Till the time he was at the crease, KKR looked in the game, but after his dismissal on the last ball of the 10th over, things changed for the hosts. The English batter was bowled out by Krunal, and after his dismissal, LSG mentor and former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir was caught celebrating his wicket in an animated manner in the team’s dugout, the video of which immediately went viral on the internet.
Gambhir, who led KKR to two title triumphs as captain during his playing days, was welcomed by the local fans. And after LSG beat KKR to confirm a place in the IPL 2023 eliminator clash on Wednesday (May 24), Gambhir was seen celebrating that moment as well.
LSG, which made its IPL debut last year, became only the fourth team after CSK, Delhi Capitals (formerly Delhi Daredevils), and Gujarat Titans to reach the playoffs in their first two editions of the cash-rich league.
