'The time with KKR was special and now it's special with SRH': Rahul Tripathi after match-winning knock against former franchise

Rahul Tripathi and Aiden Markram’s effortless batting display along with the pacers magnificent show formed the cornerstone of Sunrisers Hyderbad's comfortable seven-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders in their IPL match on Friday.

The SRH pace unit comprising the likes of T Natarajan (3/37), Umran Malik (2/27), Marco Jansen (1/26) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1/37) restricted KKR for 175 for 8.

Tripathi, who smashed 71 off 37, and Aiden Markram (68 not out of 36) then produced hostile knocks to take SRH to their third successive win with 13 balls to spare For KKR, Nitish Rana scored 54 while Andre Russell was unbeaten on 49.

The Player of the Match Tripathi, who was playing against his former franchise, said that time with KKR was special, and now it is special with SRH.

"I enjoyed myself today. The time with KKR was special, and now it is special with SRH as well. Russell bangs it in short if you are new, and I was looking for that shot if the ball was there. Varun bowls well, I didn't expect him to pitch it up and that's why I went through with that lofted shot. It wasn't premeditated. It's been very special with KKR, and now with SRH too in the last few games," the 31-year-old said

SRH now have three wins from five games while it was KKR's third loss in six games.

With the green track not aiding the spinners, Sunrisers' Tripathi took the KKR's spin-heavy bowling unit to the cleaners.

Playing against his previous franchise, Tripathi smashed Varun Chakravarthy for a four followed by two back-to-back sixes in the eighth over, that yielded 18 runs. He brought his maiden fifty this season off just 21 balls.

Tripathy found an able ally in Markram, who smashed six fours and four sixes and when the former was out he took the onus upon himself to take his side over the line.

Tripathi was struggling with his health over the last few days but the SRH management backed him to the hilt which resulted positively for the team

"I have been struggling with my health over the last few days and the management did a very good job with me. There are days when things get tough, but I enjoy the hard work and the good days. Before going in to bat, I am a little fidgety, but I am happy that I got this innings today," he added.