Match No.2, IPL 2016: Robin Uthappa becomes 6th player to score 3000 runs in IPL

After 4 overs, Match No.2, IPL 2016: Robin Uthappa becomes 6th player to score 3000 runs in IPL Knight Riders are 36 for 0. Need 63 off 96.

Robin Uthappa becomes only the second KKR player to score 3000 runs. © IANS

Robin Uthappa becomes 6th player to score 3000 runs in Indian Premier League. Uthappa has been one of the heartening aspects of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) over the years. The players to have scored 3000-plus runs are: Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Chris Gayle, Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli. Uthappa was also the Orange Cap winner in IPL 2014. KKR would want him to continue his stellar performance and gain a foothold in the Playoffs. After 4 overs, KKR 36 are for 0 and are in total control of the chase. 

Earlier, captain Gambhir won the toss and elected to bowl first. It wasn’t an ideal start for KKR, as DD batsmen got off to a flying start by smashing 13 runs off the first over. It was Mayank Agarwal who scythed a good-length ball over extra cover and opened DD’s account. However, it was Quinton de Kock who took on the KKR bowlers and hit a six and a four of Umesh Yadav’s over. Despite the rampage, KKR captain Gautam Gambhir decided to keep Andre Russell into the attack. The decision paid off as Russell picked up 3 crucial wickets of Quinton de Kock, Shreyas Iyer and Mayank Agarwal in the batting Powerplay.

Captain Gautam Gambhir introduced the wily chinaman Bradd Hogg into the attack. He struck in his very first over and stumped Pawan Negi on 11. DD needed someone to use the long handle and scale up the run-rate. Enter Carlos Brathwaite. He scythed the very first ball on his IPL debut and hit a mighty maximum. However, he was trapped in front off Piyush Chawla’s googly in the same over. DD captain Zaheer Khan came at No. 11 and tried to lead the resurgence but failed to do so, as DD were bundled out for a paltry 98.