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Ramandeep Singh grabbed the opportunity with both hands helping Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) recover from a batting collapse with a cameo. Building on the momentum, KKR set a target of 208 for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). The game was slipping out of SRH’s grasp when Heinrich Klaasen turned on the beast mode and smashed his way to a half-century from 20 balls to take the visitors to the doorstep of victory. With seven runs needed off the last five balls, SRH were favourites but Harshit Rana held his nerves to register a famous win. After the four-run win, Ramandeep revealed the message from the dressing room to tackle a rampant Klaasen.
“The plan from the outside (message from the dugout for the final over) was to take the pace off as Klaasen was hitting anything that had pace and it worked really well,” Ramandeep told the broadcasters after the close finish.
Klaasen was dismissed by a slower one from Rana when SRH needed five runs from last two deliveries. After taking the outside edge, the ball was going over short third-man fielder Suyash Sharma but he ran back and took a brilliant catch to end Klaasen’s stay at the crease. He smashed a record-breaking eight sixes in his 29-ball 63.
Ramandeep reveals his intent after collapse
Ramandeep scored 35 runs from 17 balls including one four and four sixes. He shared a crucial 54-run partnership with opener Phil Salt. The 26-year-old KKR thanked mentor Gautam Gambhir and coach Abhishek Nayar for backing him.
“I was really enjoying my time in the middle and just to play with intent and that was the plan. Want to thank Gauti bhai (Gambhir) and Abhishek bhai (Nayar), the way these guys backed me really helped my confidence,” he said.
Meanwhile, KKR skipper Shreyas Iyer had belief in Rana before giving him the ball.
“They needed 13 runs and we didn't have the most experienced bowler. But I had the belief in him, and I told him to back himself and it doesn't matter what happens. He was a bit nervous coming in, and I just looked him in the eye and told him 'this is your moment, buddy.' Told him to back himself and doesn't matter what happens in the game,” Iyer said in the post-match presentation.
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