IPL 2021: Rahul, Hooda take Punjab Kings to humongous 221-6 against RR in first innings

When everyone expected Chris Gayle's storm, Hooda stole away the thunder as he spared no one, taking Shivam Dube, Shreyas Gopal, Chris Morris to the cleaners with utmost ease. KL Rahul continued his brilliance from the last season with an enthralling exhibition of shots, even scoops, but missed out on a much deserved century.

Mumbai: Rajasthan Royals had no answers to KL Rahul's (91 off 50 balls) sublime innings and Deepak Hooda's (64 off 28 balls) breathtaking hammering as the duo (105-run partnership) helped the Punjab Kings to reach a humongous 221-6 in the first innings of the fourth match of Indian Premier League (IPL) here at Wankhede stadium.

When everyone expected Chris Gayle's storm in Mumbai, Hooda stole away the thunder as he spared no one, taking Shivam Dube, Shreyas Gopal, Chris Morris to the cleaners with utmost ease.

• Innings Break!@PunjabKingsIPL post a mammoth total of 221/6 on the board, courtesy batting fireworks from @klrahul11 (91), Deepak Hooda (64) and Chris Gayle (40)
  
  Scorecard - https://t.co/Fy73m6QPUV #VIVOIPL pic.twitter.com/7B4iO1rUt5

  — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 12, 2021 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="

  Innings Break!@PunjabKingsIPL post a mammoth total of 221/6 on the board, courtesy batting fireworks from @klrahul11 (91), Deepak Hooda (64) and Chris Gayle (40)
  
  Scorecard - https://t.co/Fy73m6QPUV #VIVOIPL pic.twitter.com/7B4iO1rUt5

  — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 12, 2021

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  Innings Break!@PunjabKingsIPL post a mammoth total of 221/6 on the board, courtesy batting fireworks from @klrahul11 (91), Deepak Hooda (64) and Chris Gayle (40)
  
  Scorecard - https://t.co/Fy73m6QPUV #VIVOIPL pic.twitter.com/7B4iO1rUt5

  — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 12, 2021

KL Rahul continued his brilliance from the last season with an enthralling exhibition of shots, even scoops, but missed out on a much deserved century as he was dismissed by Chetan Sakaria. Rahul played the perfect balancing act between hammering balls towards the stands and finding gaps between fielders for boundaries.

And such was Hooda's blitzkrieg that he smacked as many as three sixes in the 13th over off Shreyas Gopal.

Earlier, Mayank survived an early scare in the second over of the match after a delivery off Mustafizur jagged in from length sharply and hit his pads. RR's skipper missed the trick after opting not to go for the review. However, Mayank couldn't capitalise on the life given to him and was out in the third over of the match by Chetan Sakariya.

In came Chris Gayle and he started off cautiously. He accelerated later on but more importantly, he stitched a crucial partnership with Rahul. The Universe Boss scored 40 runs off 28 balls (two sixes and four fours) and was dismissed by Ryan Parag. It was then Rahul-Hooda show.

Nicholas Pooran, who came in after Hooda's dismissal couldn't open his account. Chris Morris took his wicket.

For Rajasthan Royals, IPL debutant Chetan Sakariya was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets for 31 runs in four overs. Chris Morris did pick two wickets but conceded 41 runs in his quota of four overs. Others -- Shreyas Gopal, Rahul Tewatia, Shivam Dube among others -- couldn't help the team much but a brief relief came in the last over of the match when Sakaria dismissed Richardson and Rahul, and conceded only five runs in the over.

Brief Scores: 221/6 in 20 overs (K L Rahul 91, Deepak Hooda 64; Chetan Sakariya 3/31).