Bollywood’s Baadshah, Shah Rukh Khan beamed with joy as his co-owned IPL franchise, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), delivered a stunning performance that had spectators on the edge of their seats.
KKR: King Khan’s Reigners
In the clash at Vizag’s ACA-VDCA Stadium in Vishakhapatnam, Kolkata Knight Riders dominated their rivals, the Delhi Capitals, securing a resounding victory by a margin of 106 runs.
This triumph marked KKR’s third consecutive win of the season, showcasing their strong form in the tournament.
Following KKR’s victorious match against Delhi Capitals, Shah Rukh graced the stadium to extend personal congratulations to the players, even sharing a heartwarming moment with Rishabh Pant by planting a kiss on his head.
Shah Rukh Supporting KKR
Shah Rukh Khan, accompanied by his manager Pooja Dadlani, landed in Vizag ahead of the match between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Delhi Capitals (DC).
The actor was spotted in the VIP gallery, clad in a purple shirt, eagerly anticipating the thrilling encounter at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium.
From the stands, Shah Rukh passionately cheered for his team, showing unwavering support throughout the match.
Following Kolkata Knight Riders’ victory, Shah Rukh made his way onto the field to personally congratulate his team. As he approached Rishabh Pant, the cricketer appeared alert, but Shah Rukh reassured him, sharing a warm hug before planting a kiss on the side of his head.
SRK’s Sweet Gesture for Pant
Amidst the success celebration, SRK’s lovely gesture towards the opposing team captain, Rishabh Pant, is winning fans.
The actor wanted Rishabh to sit and rest as he tried to get up, and SRK walked towards him. The moment went viral on social media as fans hailed the actor for his behaviour.
SRK is seen hugging skipper Shreyas Iyer following a sensational hat-trick win in the match.
In the next one, the actor is having a casual chat with former Knight player Kuldeep Yadav.
Additionally, he took the time to sign autographs for members of the losing team.
The official social media account of KKR shared a video from the match, capturing SRK’s enthusiastic support for the team.
The footage showed Shah Rukh visibly delighted as the players delivered an exceptional performance. Accompanying the video was the theme track from the 2006 film “Don.’
The Exhilirating Match
Chasing 273, DC were bowled out for 166 in 17.2 overs in a one-sided affair. Despite his side’s defeat, Pant bagged a half-century, smacking 55 runs off 32 balls, clattering four fours and five sixes.
Meanwhile, Tristan Stubbs (54) also got a half-century for Delhi. For KKR’s bowling department, Vaibhav Arora and Varun Chakravarthy took three wickets.
KKR delivered an exemplary performance, amassing a formidable total of 272 runs in 20 overs. Opener Sunil Narine clobbered 85 runs off 39 balls, giving KKR a good platform.
Meanwhile, Angkrish Raghuvanshi slammed 54 off 27 deliveries.While impactful cameos by Andre Russell, and Rinku Singh, propelled KKR to the second-highest team score in IPL history, falling just short of surpassing the record set by Sunrisers Hyderabad earlier in the season.
However, it took a brilliant final over by Ishant Sharma to prevent KKR from eclipsing the all-time IPL team score.
“We could have done better”: Pant
Following the match, Pant expressed his disappointment with his team’s bowling performance, stating, “We were just all over the place with the ball, we could have done better, and it is one of those days I feel.”
He emphasized the batting unit’s strategy of going hard after the target, highlighting the importance of aggressive play.
Pant acknowledged the challenges faced during the match, including issues with the venue’s atmosphere and technical difficulties with the screen.
Despite the setbacks, he emphasized the need for reflection and improvement, both individually and as a team, looking forward to the next game.
Regarding his fitness and comeback, Pant stated, “I am enjoying each and every day,” recognizing the inevitable highs and lows in cricket and his commitment to giving his best.