Shreyas Iyer’s sister trolls KKR after wash (PTI photo and screen capture) A light-hearted off-field moment grabbed attention even as rain had the final say in Monday’s clash between Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings at the Eden Gardens. Soon after the match was abandoned, Shresta Iyer, sister of PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer, shared a funny Instagram video which quickly went viral. In the clip, she quipped in Punjabi, “Saade Punjabiyan da dil vadda hunda hai, lo de ditta ek point,” playfully implying that Punjab had generously “given away” the point after the washout. But it was a frustrating evening on the pitch for both sides as persistent rain and wet ground made further play impossible. Play was halted with KKR struggling at 25/2 in 3.4 overs, and despite several checks and an adjusted cut-off time, conditions never improved enough to warrant a restart. The shared point helped Punjab Kings climb to the top of the table with five points from three games and continue their strong entry into the season. In contrast, KKR finally opened their account but remained under pressure with just one point from three matches. Earlier in the evening, KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane’s decision to bat seemed to backfire almost immediately. With both front-line spinners unavailable – Sunil Narine due to illness and Varun Chakravarthy nursing an injury – their bowling resources were already strained. Punjab’s pace attack took full advantage of the overcast conditions. Xavier Bartlett struck twice in quick succession, dismissing Finn Allen and Cameron Green in the same over, leaving KKR in early trouble. Arshdeep Singh had already set the tone with a probing opening that made life difficult for the batsmen. Allen survived a couple of close attempts but finally got one over as he tried to force the pace, while Green’s slim run continued with another early knockout. With KKR reeling, Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi began a cautious rebuild before rain interrupted proceedings. The weather took a turn for the worse as high winds and heavy downpours lashed the ground, even causing the iconic hanging press box at Eden Gardens to sway. Although there was a brief window when the covers came down and the pitch looked largely intact, puddles near the boundary and lingering damp meant play could not be resumed. After several checks involving umpires and officials, including Sourav Ganguly, the match was officially called off at 11 pm. The abandoned fixture mirrored last season’s meeting between the two sides at the same venue, which was also scrapped. Concerns with both form and availability continue for KKR, while the Punjab Kings are on pace – and, as Shrest’s viral reel cheekily put it, perhaps a point with a lot of heart.
