'Every child's first hero is his father. I was no different. Even today, I remember what he taught me'
Two-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders would strive for a handsome win over struggling Rajasthan Royals in their last round-robin game to stay ahead in the IPL play-offs race in Sharjah on Thursday.
As the 16th edition of the glitzy Indian Premier League is set to unfold, let's take a look at the driving force of the T20 league and what's in store in this edition.
Punjab, who are on eight points from 11 games, need to win the match to keep their play-offs hopes alive, while KKR (10 points from 11 games) also need a victory to boost their hopes.
Sunil Narine's blistering half-century made all the difference and paved the way for Kolkata Knight Riders' winning start in the Indian Premier League in Kolkata on Sunday, Royal Challengers Bangalore batsman Mandeep Singh said.
Pat Cummins dismissed Ishan Kishan, Daniel Sams, M Ashwin.
KKR's chief mentor David Hussey said Kuldeep would not have any confidence issues going into the 13th edition of the league which will get underway in UAE on September 19.
The onus would be on their famed batting line-up of Kohli, AB de Villiers and Glenn Maxwell to start firing once again and put pressure on the KKR batsmen.
All-rounder Hardik Pandya will lead Ahmedabad and batsman KL Rahul will captain Lucknow when the franchises make their debuts in the IPL this year.
A win for Punjab will elevate them to the top four, while a victory for KKR will take them to 14 points
Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Eoin Morgan said his team produced its most 'complete performance' of the season so far when it upstaged the fancied Delhi Capitals by 59 runs to bolster their hopes of making it to the IPL play-offs.
Playing his first game in IPL 2020, Lockie Ferguson showed no signs of rustiness as he claimed five wickets, including two in the Super Over, to help KKR register a narrow win over Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Lucknow started to scratch their heads to find ways to dismiss a man who was seemingly playing in God mode.
Caribbean stars and a few from other countries have also touched base with their teams after completing Caribbean Premier League engagements.
With nine defeats from 11 matches, the Sunrisers are languishing at the bottom, while KKR, in fourth place with 10 points from 12 matches, still have hopes of qualifying for the knock-out stage.
Purnendu Maji and Srinivas Bhogle list IPL 2021's 50 Most Valuable Players.
Images from the Indian Premier League match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.
On a roll post the IPL's resumption, Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders will look to continue their winning streak when they meet in a high-octane Indian Premier League encounter, in Abu Dhabi, on Sunday.
Karthik will be surrounded by cricketing brains all around him with the 2019 England World Cup winning skipper as his deputy, and New Zealand great Brendon McCullum as the head coach.
Images from Tuesday's IPL match between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders in Chennai.
Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Shreyas Iyer was all praise for his team's "outstanding mindset" during its 54-run win over Sunrisers Hyderabad, in the IPL match in Mumbai on Saturday, saying his players had nothing to lose at this stage of the tournament.
Hosts Kolkata Knight Riders run the risk of slipping away when they face resurgent defending champions and 'nemesis' Mumbai Indians in an IPL clash, in Kolkata, on Wednesday.
Purnendu Maji and Srinivas Bhogle pick the 50 Most Valuable Players in IPL 2022 after Game 55.
Rajneesh Gupta previews Game 10 in IPL 12: Delhi Capitals vs Kolkata Knight Riders.
Opener Prithvi Shaw smashed six fours in the first over in a stunning batting display on his way to a blistering 82 as Delhi Capitals crushed Kolkata Knight Riders by seven wickets in the IPL, in Ahmedabad, on Thursday.
Images from the IPL match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals, in Ahmedabad, on Thursday.
Eyeing a maiden IPL title, the fancied Delhi Capitals will face another litmus test in the form of a Kolkata Knight Riders unit brimming with optimism when the two sides lock horns in the Qualifier 2 match in Sharjah on Wednesday.
Captain KL Rahul has been one of the few consistent performers in the formidable-looking Punjab batting unit and he once again led by example against MI
It will be a test of Virat Kohli's tactical acumen against the ice-cool demeanour of Eoin Morgan when perennial underachievers Royal Challengers Bangalore clash with former champions Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL Eliminator in Sharjah on Monday.
When KKR were cruising along nicely, as the two-time IPL champions needed 40 off 24 with six wickets in hand, Chahal produced an incredible over to take four wickets in it and turned the match on its head.
Trinbago Knight Riders will face the winners of the match between Guyana Amazon Warriors and St Lucia Zouks in the final on Thursday.
Grace and strength will be on one side while poise and killer instinct on the other when a revamped Kolkata Knight Riders take on champions Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League, on Wednesday.
A bit of frustration came out in Quinton de Kock's uncharacteristic celebration after his blazing hundred against Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL 2022 match at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Wednesday.
Images from the IPL 2022 match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings at Mumbai
With 10 points, KKR, however, are on the brink of elimination.
SunRisers Hyderabad has the biggest purse while Kolkata Knight Riders has the slimmest purse.
"We love Dan... ignore toxic fans, we love him. Those fans are not true RCBian we love you Dan," a user commented on her Instagram post.
Shubman Gill says that given a choice he would like to play for Kolkata Knight Riders forever.
Images from Wednesday's IPL match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings, in Abu Dhabi.
A play-offs spot having sealed after a resounding victory in their previous match, Kolkata Knight Riders would aim for a top-two finish with a win when they take on an inconsistent Kings XI Punjab in an IPL match, in Mohali, on Tuesday.
