KL Rahul-led Kings XI Punjab ended their first innings of IPL 2021 on mammoth note with a score of 221/6 at the end of 20 overs after being put into bat. Rahul and Deepak Hooda together blew away the Rajasthan Royals bowlers with a flurry of boundaries and sixes. After a good start with early wickets, Rajasthan Royals' bowlers struggled to carry forward the momentum while the fielders also gave a lifeline each to KL Rahul and Chris Gayle.
However, Rajasthan Royals found a hero in one of the most unluckiest players, Riyan Parag who dismissed Chris Gayle with his weird looking low-arm action. For Royals it was Chetan Sakariya who rose to the ocassion with a three wicket haul and a splendid catch to dismiss Nicholas Pooran for a first ball duck. Rajasthan Royals have handed four players their maiden caps for the franchise - Chris Morris, Mustafizur Rahman, Manan Vohra and Chetan Sakariya while Punjab have handed a debut to the hard-hitting Shahrukh Khan. The 2008 winners will look for a fresh start under the new leadership of Sanju Samson.
