IPL 2024: Gautam Gambhir praises RCB for 'phenomenal display of character' against KKR

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) mentor Gautam Gambhir praised Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) after his side stole a one-run win in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on April 21. Gambhir, after the match, applauded RCB for showing 'great character' in the match which saw multiple twists and turns.

With the win, KKR are now second on the points table with five wins in seven games while RCB sank further with their seventh loss in eight games. Chasing a huge total of 223, RCB were in command with Rajat Patidar (52) and Will Jacks (52) on the crease. Andre Russell and Sunil Narine then turned the game around with two wickets each in one over.

Dinesh Karthik and Suyash Prabhudesai then took the game till the 19th over, leaving 21 for the last over. RCB spinner Karn Sharma then hit Mitchell Starc, the multi-million KKR bowler, for three sixes. Sharma, however, lost his wicket on the fifth ball of the penultimate over, thanks to a superb return catch by Starc in his follow-through.

With three needed off the last ball, Lockie Ferguson did his best to steal a second run to take the game into the super over, but KKR keeper Phil Salt dived to collect a 'rubbish' throw and break the stumps to help his team win.

Earlier, the match saw a controversial decision with RCB batter Virat Kohli being given out caught on a waist-high full-toss. The decision was referred to the third umpire who deemed that the ball would have been under the waist had Kohli been standing inside the crease.

The RCB batter was clearly not happy with the decision and had a heated argument with the on-field umpire before going back into the hut. With seven losses and only one win to their name, RCB is now only alive mathematically in the tournament with six more games left for them to play.