As Kolkata started with a monumental chase today that saw them being pitted against a formidable Chennai Super Kings, things started going downhill much faster than expected.
Half of Kolkata’s line-up was cleaned up even before the powerplay ended and they were staring at a dead drop into a thousand miles of humiliation.
After the arrival of Andre Russell, things started changing rapidly as he joined forces with Dinesh Karthik for the sixth wicket that saw the duo not mincing any of their emotions and smacking the bowlers in magnificent fashion.
Russell’s smooth sailing came to an abrupt halt when Sam Curran managed to angle the delivery into him and the big Jamaican couldn’t really gauge the sting of the ball and ended up losing his wicket.
The next man to the crease was Pat Cummins and it was needless to say that the onus fell upon Dinesh Karthik to carry on the battery if there had to be the minimal chance of Kolkata sailing through.
The duo did manage to travel a few miles but shortly came a cropper when Lungi Ngidi’s pace outclassed Karthik and the ball rolled onto his pads.
With all hopes lost, the fans from Kolkata were seemingly turning off their tellies only for Pat Cummins to ask them to hold on to their hopes. The Australian fast bowler started carving a few exquisite strokes that once again started casting shadows of hope along the darkness.
Sam Curran, the bloke who rattled Russell’s stumps, was taken to the cleaner by Cummins as he hammered him for 30 runs in an over which also saw KKR fighting back from nowhere.
Despite, a desperate attempt from Cummins, KKR failed to cross that finishing line as support at the other end ran out and all they could manage was 202. Cummins stayed unbeaten on 66 from 34 balls that saw him clubbing 4 fours and 6 sixes.
Twitter showered the best of accolades for this fiery fast bowler who ensured that cricket was served at its magnificence.
Pat Cummins is a lovely hitter of the cricket ball, even in IPL 2020 he smashed Jasprit Bumrah for 4 sixes in an over. A really good asset in the team.
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) April 21, 2021
Pat Cummins in today’s match be like:#CSKvsKKR #IPL2021 pic.twitter.com/qRe4vnMtUB
— Prince Pandey?? (@princepandey_) April 21, 2021
So near yet so far. That was an incredible innings from Pat Cummins. Could have been the greatest ever IPL chase. But to get from 31 for 5 to 202, @KKRiders can be very proud. Congratulations to @ChennaiIPL on the win. They are on a roll. #CSKvsKKR pic.twitter.com/miAqq1Fwb6
— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) April 21, 2021
2,6,6,6,4,6 by Pat Cummins against Sam Curran #CSKvsKKR pic.twitter.com/aVeut9dJfp
— ? कालू ? (@sumitkarn111) April 21, 2021
THIS IS AN APPRECIATION TWEET FOR PAT CUMMINS . pic.twitter.com/APwe2l06kT
— Aldrin Xavier Ax (@Aldrin_Ax) April 21, 2021
Scores 50 with the ball, scores 50 with the bat. Pat Cummins ? pic.twitter.com/8dBHiJ1ZwL
— Pratik (@Prat1k_) April 21, 2021
https://twitter.com/Zero_humour/status/1384929338114650115?s=19
Me after seeing Pat Cummins hitting pic.twitter.com/t21CbE6q6D
— Aatma Churane Wala (@Darkwolfjazz1) April 21, 2021
https://twitter.com/Nidavellir____/status/1384930465212141569?s=19
Pat Cummins to the last KKR batsman #CSKvsKKR pic.twitter.com/fg4VPlooaV
— Myra (@the_indianstuff) April 21, 2021