IPL 2023: You know pitches always suit batsmen, don't they? asks Shardul Thakur who scored season's fastest fifty

Shardul Thakur and Rinku Singh of Kolkata Knight Riders dismantled the Royal Challengers Bangalore bowling attack, by sharing 103 runs off just 47 balls helping the team post a massive 204 runs on board.

Kolkata: From 89/5 at 11.3 overs, Kolkata Knight Riders finished with 204 runs on the board propelled by a rock-solid partnership between Shardul Thakur and Rinku Singh. The turnaround which not even the most ardent fan in the Eden Gardens would thought of was made into reality.

The duo along with the trio - Varun Chakravarthy, Sunil Narine and debutant Suyash Sharma made the match, a perfect homecoming after nearly 4 years. Shardul was adjudged the Player of the Match for his blazing knock of 68 off 29 balls destroying the sway that Royal Challengers Bangalore bowlers had on the batsmen until then. Thakur while accepting the award revealed that he was unsure where the brutal knock of his came from.

Shardul's innings had seven boundaries which includes three sixes and nine fours and over 2 run a ball strike-rate, pegged at 234.48 per cent. Shardul's career average is 14.65 while his current season IPL average is 76 runs. When Shardul reached his fifty in 20 balls faced, he equalled the record for the fastest fifty of the season along with Jos Buttler in 20 balls. The latter who plays for Rajasthan Royals achieved this feat against Sun Risers Hyderabad on Sunday.

Shardul's sixth wicket stand with Rink Singh posted 103-run off 47 balls and it was crucial for scripting the KKR victory. Rinku Singh, whose complementing knock of 46 runs off 33 balls, had a huge bearing on the team's score. The power batting by the duo helped KKR bag 110 runs in the last eight overs, while the bowlers did their part by restricting the visitors 81 runs short of the target.

"Even, I don't know where it came from! Looking at the scorecard, everyone would have said we were struggling. But your subconscious mind takes over. You also have to have skills to do that at the higher level, but we also work hard in the nets," the 31-year-old bowler from Maharashtra said.

Shardul also took a catch of Shahbaz Ahmed and dismissed Michael Bracewell. He credited the power-hitting training and spinners for making for their victory over the mighty KKR. "Coaching staff do the throwdowns, and give us the option of range-hitting. And you know the pitches; they always suit the batsmen, don't they? Suyash bowled exceptionally well, and we know the quality Sunil and Varun have. They have fun, take wickets. This was a perfect day," the all-rounder said.