5 memorable moments from the Kolkata Knight Riders-Delhi Daredevils match that don't fade away

This was always meant to be a one sided affair. While Delhi’s team have some quality players, KKR just beat them in every department in terms of talent. In the IPL, KKR are one of the most balanced team and today they once again showed us why.

In the game, KKR absolutely smashed Delhi Daredevils out of the park. The DD team must be worried because they really lack balance and they need to sort things out quickly before it is too late.

Here are the 5 moments from the game that don't fade away, just like the Axe Signature range of body perfumes:

Old is Gold

Most 45-year-old sportsmen are hitting it in the Caribbean, enjoying their retirement with family and friends. Not Brad Hogg, for he is the hipster senior citizen that everyone aspires to be like.

Shakib al Hasan was supposed to be the first choice left-arm spinner. However, Gambhir went with Brad Hogg today and it paid off. In his 4 overs, he gave away only 16 runs and took 3 wickets and showed that age is only just a number.

Also, the fact that he is the only legit chinaman bowler out there makes him somewhat of a unique weapon for KKR.

Quinton de Kock’s start

Quinton de Kock [Image courtesy: KKR]

Quinton de Kock is among the best wicket-keeper batsmen in the world. In fact, after Adam Gilchrist and MS Dhoni, one can’t remember when was the last time a wicketkeeper with such so much ability with the bat played the sport.

And so he got his team off to a flying start. Delhi were on a roll as De Kock smashed his way to a 10-ball-17 as his team stood strong at 24 for no loss after 2 overs.

It was then, however, when everything fell apart for Delhi Daredevils as one of their former players showed his class and reiterated the fact that…

Andre Russell is the real man

Andre Russell

It didn’t start off well for him as he gave away 13 runs in his first over. Out of those 13, he was unfortunate with 4 as an overthrow reached the fence.

In the next over, however, he more than made up for it.

With the second ball of his second over, he took the important wicket of De Kock before finishing the over with the scalp of Shreyas Iyer. He was brought back for a third over in what was a clever move from Gautam Gambhir.

It was the last over he bowled in the game and he made sure he got another victim before finishing the game with 24/3 after 3—and all his victims were the top 3 batsmen.

John Hastings shows his quality

John Hastings in action against Delhi Daredevils

He was a bit-part player for Chennai Super Kings, but today he made his mark and showed that he is not here to be that kind of a player anymore—rather, he is here to be the main man.

Although he had a perfect platform set by Andre Russell and Brad Hogg, he showed great class in the 13 balls that he got to bowl.

With figures of 6 runs and 2 wickets in just 2.1 overs, it can be said that he is the mid-innings pacer that KKR were looking for. His overall stats might not be anything other-worldly, but stats don’t play on the pitch—ability does and today we saw the best of Hastings’ ability.

Gambhir and Uthappa make a case

Gambhir and Uthappa forged a solid opening partnership

How does Shikhar Dhawan consistently open the innings when the likes of Robin Uthappa and Gautam Gambhir don’t even get a place in the Indian squad? This is a question that we can’t answer, unfortunately. Today, however, the KKR openers showed that India don’t have a lack of openers when the selectors eventually decide to replace Shikhar Dhawan.

Both Gambhir and Uthappa played a very sensible innings and gave Delhi no chance of making a comeback.

Sometimes, the lowest of totals become the source of the greatest of embarrassment, but Uthappa and Gambhir’s partnership of 69 runs took the game away from the Daredevils. And now Dhawan has something to worry about.