KKR vs RR, 31st Match at Kolkata, IPL, Apr 16 2024 - Match Result

Thank you very much for your company. From myself, Shashank, Vishal, Sudeep and Chandan, it's a very goodnight.

11.38pm Jos Buttler can't feel his arms. He has no strength left. He is soaking wet, the jersey sticking to his body like a wet towel. He's barely able to walk back, but how satisfied will he be, having helped Royals pull off a heist.

Buttler could barely strike the ball off the square in the first half of his innings, but the inherent belief that he could find his gears in the end kept him going. And when push came to shove, with the asking rate spiralling higher, he found his hitting range. Even as wickets kept tumbling, he held his own and saw off a sensational chase. Take a bow.

You wondered if Royals had erred when they sent Ashwin up the order, holding back Hetmyer and Powell. But they still found a way.

Jos Buttler is the Player of the Match for his stunning hundred. "At times, I felt like I was struggling a bit for rhythm. I've been watching golf and I saw a guy called Max Homa. Anytime the negative thoughts come, I think the complete opposite and dare to dream. That's what kept me going. At times you feel frustrated or you are questioning yourself. I was trying to tell myself I'd be okay, 'keep going, you'll get your rhythm back and try to stay calm.'There's been plenty of times throughout the IPL, you've seen crazy things happen. Guys like Dhoni and Kohli, the way they stay till the end and keep believing, you've seen it so many times in the IPL and I was trying to do the same.

"The worst thing you can do when you are not feeling your best is to fight it and try to force the issue and give your wicket away. He [Kumar Sangakkara] just tells me to stay there and at some point the momentum will change or you'll find your rhythm or one shot will get you going. That's been a big part of my play over the last few years - try to stay the course and not get in my own way."

Sanju Samson: Very happy with the win. Six down and then when Rovman came in and hit those couple of sixes, that's when we felt like we were still in the game. It's a beautiful way to come back, had some luck also. It's a very funny game. The quality of spin which they had in Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy, they bowled really well. This ground and the wicket actually was suiting them. We were wondering where can get those couple of sixes and that's when Rovman came in. Jos did what he does for us from last six-seven years, his knock should go right on top. Being an opener, if Jos gets in, we all know in the dugout that he'll be there till the 20th over. If he's batting till the 20th over, no runs are un-chaseable."

Rovman Powell: "Emotions all over the place. I didn't plan to take on Sunil, I knew he's their best bowler, but when it comes down to 80 off 30, you have to take your chances. I backed my strengths, took my chances and came off today. For the last 12 months, I've been whispering in his ears, he's blocked out everyone. Asked Pollard, Bravo, Pooran, hopefully before they select the team, they can crack his code. The morale in the team is very good, what I appreciate is communication. Even when I wasn't playing, communication was precise and clear. Guys in a very good space, hopefully may it long continue. For sure, I've been telling them 'hey I bat No. 4 and 5 for West Indies.'

Shreyas Iyer: Bitter pill to swallow, emotions were roller-coaster, didn't think this is the situation we'd get into. It's a funny game, [Rovman] was striking well. Hard to explain what happened, have to take it on the chin and move on. At this point, you have to see to it that you bowl your best deliveries, a little miss here and there and you're sent out of the ground. Glad it happened here and not in the later half of the tournamant. Need to introspect and come back stronger. Narine is a great asset to the team, showing it in every game when he comes out to bat. That kind of character, glad he's part of our team. Since Buttler was striking it clean, I thought let's take pace off and give it to Varun Chakravarthy. He was clean in his hitting as well. Just let it go, sink in, it's all about relaxing, rejuvenating. We had a tough game, within 2-3 days, important we learn from our mistakes and bounce back strong.

Scores level

3 off 2

3 off 3

3 off 4

KKR are an over short and so can have only four fielders, as against five, outside the ring.

Varun Chakravarthy to bowl the final over. KKR need to defend eight.

Anshul: "maybe Avesh will get a chance to throw his helmet down in victory celebration. Go Avesh."

Harshit Rana to bowl out

Nishant: "Buttler vs KKR now! "

Deep square comes in, point goes back