Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Live Score, IPL 2023: Shikhar Dhawan, Bhanuka Rajapaksa Solid For 1-Down PBKS Against KKR

PBKS vs KKR Live: SIX

SIX!!! Bhanuka Rajapaksa ruthlessly hits a huge six off Shardul Thakur’s delivery. Rajapaksa makes a good connection with the ball and hammers a flick shot to clear the fine leg for a brilliant six. 

PBKS 68/1 (6.4 overs)

PBKS vs KKR Live: FOUR

FOUR!! Bhanuka Rajapaska is just unstoppable today as he hits another boundary and this time Shardul Thakur becomes his prey. He smashes it hard at the back of the length as the ball dodges Umesh Yadav and goes for a four. 

PBKS 62/1 (6.2 overs)

PBKS vs KKR Live: FOUR

FOUR!!! Shikhar Dhawan hits a boundary and spoils a decent over by Varun Chakaravarthy. Dhawan ruthlessly hammers a shot towards the off-side for a four as Punjab complete the powerplay on a dominating note. 

PBKS 56/1 (6 overs)

PBKS vs KKR Live: SIX, fifty for PBKS

SIX!!! Bhanuka Rajapaksa thrashes Sunil Narine with a huge six in the same over. He lifts it down the ground for a maximum. With this shot, PBKS have crossed the fifty-run mark in just five overs. 

PBKS 50/1 (5 overs)

PBKS vs KKR Live: Back-to-back fours

Bhanuka Rajapaksa joins the party and smashes two back-to-back fours off Sunil Narine’s delivery. The first one comes after he lifts it up on the long-off for a on-bounce four. The second one comes after he perfectly places a shot towards the short fine leg. 

PBKS 50/1 (6 overs)

PBKS vs KKR Live: Back-to-back fours

Shikhar Dhawan finally opens his arms and smashes two back-to-back fours on Tim Southee’s delivery. The first one comes after he finds the gap in the covers while the second one comes after he makes a good use of the back of the length delivery and steals four runs. 

PBKS 32/1 (3.2 overs)

PBKS vs KKR Live: Good over from Umesh

After getting hit for nine runs in the first over, Umesh Yadav redeems himself and concedes only 1 runs in his previous over. Shikhar Dhawan and Bhanuka Rajapaksa are trying to get a big score for PBKS.

PBKS 24/1 (3 overs)

PBKS vs KKR Live: OUT

OUT!!! What a comeback from Tim Southee. After getting hit for fours and a six, Southee redeems himself and removes Prabhsimran Singh for 23. The ball touches the edge of the bat and goes straight into the hands of Rahmanullah Gurbaz, behind the stumps. Big breakthrough for KKR. 

PBKS 23/1 (2 overs)

PBKS vs KKR Live: SIX

SIX!!! Prabhsimran Singh thrashes a huge maximum in the same over of Tim Southee. He just comfortably swings the bat and send the ball straight into the crowd. What a powerful batting from the youngster. 

PBKS 23.0 (1.5 overs)

PBKS vs KKR Live: Back-to-back fours

Prabhsimran Singh continues his carnage in the second over and smashes two back-to-back boundaries off Tim Southee’s delivery. The first one comes after he places a shot towards the fine leg. The second one comes after he makes a good use of his feet and the shot goes past the fielder of the mid-on for a four. 

PBKS 17/0 (1.2 overs)

PBKS vs KKR Live: Good start for PBKS

Punjab Kings are off to a good start after Prabhsimran Singh smashed a brilliant six off Umesh Yadav’s delivery. At the end of the first over, PBKS’ score read at 9/0 with Prabhsimran and Shikhar Dhawan standing at the crease.

PBKS vs KKR Live: SIX

SIX!!! Prabhsimran Singh smashes a huge six off Umesh Yadav’s delivery. He places a shot towards the backward square leg and sends the ball straight into the crowd. Great start for PBKS.

PBKS 8/0 (0.4 overs)

PBKS vs KKR Live: We are underway

The IPL 2023 match between Punjab Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders begin with Shikhar Dhawan and Prabhsimran Singh opening for PBKS while Umesh Yadav bowls the first over for KKR. 

PBKS vs KKR Live: Punjab’s Playing XI

Punjab Kings (Playing XI): Shikhar Dhawan(c), Prabhsimran Singh(w), Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Jitesh Sharma, Shahrukh Khan, Sam Curran, Sikandar Raza, Nathan Ellis, Harpreet Brar, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh

PBKS vs KKR Live: Kolkata’s Playing XI

Kolkata Knight Riders (Playing XI): Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Mandeep Singh, Nitish Rana(c), Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Shardul Thakur, Sunil Narine, Tim Southee, Anukul Roy, Umesh Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy

PBKS vs KKR Live: Here’s what Shikhar Dhawan said at the toss

We would have fielded first. We have got a balanced side, so hopefully we will do good. The team preparation has been good and we will look to dominate the game, hoping for a great season ahead. We are eager to win the trophy and I am looking to lead from the front. My overseas players are – Bhanuka, Nathan Ellis, and Sam Curran, don’t remember the fourth name

PBKS vs KKR Live: Here’s what Nitish Rana said at the toss

We will bowl first, it has rained in the last two days so there would be some moisture. I am excited because very few people get this opportunity. It is a game of cricket so there is not much pressure. The impact player rule is in its initial stage. We have to see that the decisions we take prove to be right. Russell, Narine, Gurbaz and Southee are our overseas players.

PBKS vs KKR Live: KKR win toss, opt to bowl

Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Nitish Rana wins toss and opts to bowl against Punjab Kings in the IPL 2023 match. 

PBKS vs KKR Live: Here’s the pitch report

Average first innings score in afternoon matches here is 159, nine runs less than evening matches. Also, 80 percent matches have been won by teams chasing. A lot of that has to do with the moisture in the surface. However, this pitch is light brown in colour which tells me there’s not a lot of moisture. It’s also very hard, so it might be more even for teams batting first and chasing. There’s a good covering of grass, looks quite even. Dimensions of the ground are unique. If you go to the eastern side, it’s the larger of the two boundaries – 72 meters in distance, and also against the wind. That’s not where you want to hit. Down the ground is 77 meters. Spinners would want to capitalise on that

PBKS vs KKR Live: New captains for both teams

Punjab Kings will be led by Shikhar Dhawan while KKR will be led by Nitish Rana, in the absence of Shreyas Iyer. 

PBKS vs KKR Live: Hello

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Match 2 of the IPL 2023 between Punjab Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders, straight from PCA Stadium in Mohali. Stay tuned for all the live updates.