Punjab Kings came up with a comprehensive all-round performance to begin their IPL 2023 campaign with a 7-run win (via Duckworth Lewis and Stern method) over Kolkata Knight Riders in a rain-hit match in Mohali on Saturday, April 1. Shikhar Dhawan and Trevor Bayliss’s side laid down an early marker even as they were without 3 of their big overseas stars Jonny Bairstow (ruled out), Liam Livingstone (injury) and Kagiso Rabada (international duty).
Kolkata Knight Riders were 146 for 7 at the end of 16 overs when the rain started pouring down at the IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali. The Kolkata chase began 20 minutes late as the floodlights at the iconic venue failed after Punjab Kings had posted 191 in 20 overs.
Kolkata had all-rounders Shardul Thakur and Sunil Narine in the strike after a big partnership between Andre Russell and Venkatesh Iyer ended. However, they were 7 runs short of the DLS par score.
