KKR beat KXIP by 31 runs | Kings XI Punjab vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Highlights And Cricket Score 44th T20 Match - Commentary

The Punjab bowlers were wayward in this game and now all the responsibility is on their batters to chase down this gigantic total. It won't be all that easy as they are up against a quality bowling attack of Kolkata. Let's see how the chase pans out when we return. Do join us in a short while.

Andrew Tye tried to pull things back after a good 2nd wicket partnership between Uthappa and Narine with a couple of wickets in the 12th over. The Australian pacer was the pick of the bowlers for Punjab but he too went for plenty in his quota of four overs. After Narine departed, Karthik continued to belt Punjab bowlers all-round the park as he scored a fifty too. He was well supported by Russell, Gill and Rana who gave useful contributions.

It was a terrific batting performance from Kolkata, they have posted a mammoth total on the board after they were sent into bat by the hosts. Narine and Lynn played selectively for the first few overs, but once they got going the Punjab bowlers found it tough to contain them. Sunil lost his partner in the final over of the Powerplay but the West Indian carried on and registered a fifty.

Barinder Sran to Javon Searles. SIX! Searles finishes off in style. He gets a ball right under his bat and he tonks it over the long on fence for a six. KOLKATA FINISH WITH 245/6.

Barinder Sran to Shubman Gill. Good length ball from Sran outside off, Gill dances down the track and powers it away to long off for a single.

Barinder Sran to Shubman Gill. FOUR! Another poor ball from Sran, he delivers it wide outside off and it is pitched up, Gill opens the face of the bat late and slices it over the man at backward point for a boundary.

Barinder Sran to Shubman Gill. FOUR! Second boundary for Gill, short of a length ball on the leg stump line from Sran, Gill goes right across and pulls it hard to deep mid-wicket. The ball races away to the boundary.

Javon Searles is the next man in.

Barinder Sran to Dinesh Karthik. OUT! Sran strikes but more importantly it's a dot ball for Punjab! Sran pulls his length back and the ball skids through after pitching. Karthik looks to pull that. He gets a top edge which flies to long off. Miller (substitute) in the deep takes another safe catch. End of a wonderful knock from the Kolkata skipper.

Barinder Sran to Shubman Gill. Sran bowls a length delivery, Gill steps out and forces it in the gap through the covers.

Barinder Sran will bowl the final over.

Andrew Tye to Shubman Gill. Fuller delivery on off, Gill punches it away to the cover region for a single.

Andrew Tye to Dinesh Karthik. Full pitched delivery on off, Karthik carves it to backward point for a single. D gets to his fifty with an easy single. His 15th of the Indian T20 League.

Andrew Tye to Dinesh Karthik. Tye takes all the pace off that one, delivers it full outside off, Karthik aims to slice that, he fails to put bat to ball.

Andrew Tye to Shubman Gill. Pitched up delivery on the stumps and Gill drills it down the ground to long on. They take a single.

Andrew Tye to Shubman Gill. Fuller length ball on the stumps, the batsman gets right behind that one and defends it to the cover region.

Andrew Tye to Shubman Gill. FOUR! Gayle just doesn't move at short third man! The ball just rolls past his right hand and he doesn't bother to put in the dive or doesn't even try to chase it! Length ball from Tye on the off stump line, Gill gets a thick edge behind the wicket on the off side. The ball races away to the fence.

Mohit Sharma to Dinesh Karthik. FOUR! Well placed by Karthik! Slower ball on a length outside off, Karthik expected that one, he sits back and chops it right between short third man and point for a boundary.

Shubman Gill comes to bat.

Mohit Sharma to Nitish Rana. OUT! Miller holds on to a skier! Kolkata lose their fifth wicket but does it matter at this stage? No is the answer to it! Another slower ball from Mohit well outside off, Rana has to reach out for it and can't get enough power in the shot. He top edges the heave to long off. Miller (sub) runs in from the deep and takes it safely.

Mohit Sharma to Nitish Rana. Wide! Bowls a wide yorker outside off, Rana goes for the inside out stroke. He can't put bat to ball. Wide signalled by the umpire as that one just goes over the tramline.

Mohit Sharma to Nitish Rana. FOUR! Terrific strike from Rana, he gets under one right under his bat and he belts it to long off. Miller runs swiftly to his left but he fails to stop that one. That was struck with immense power by Rana.

Mohit Sharma to Dinesh Karthik. On a length wide outside off, Karthik plays well away from his body and slices it away to deep point for a single.

Mohit Sharma to Nitish Rana. Fullish delivery from Tye outside off, Rana smashes it to deep mid off for a single.

Mohit Sharma to Nitish Rana. SIX! Rana is up and running! Short of a length ball on the stumps, Rana swings his bat across the stumps and smashes it flat over wide long on for a biggie.

Nitish Rana is the new batsman.

Andrew Tye to Andre Russell. OUT! Top edge and taken! Rahul calls for it and he makes no mistake whatsoever! Short ball from Tye, angling in from outside off, Russell goes across to pull that, he was rushed by that one and only manages a top edge behind the wickets on the leg side. Rahul runs across to his left and pouches it safely. End of a breezy cameo from Russell.

That's a skier. KL Rahul getting underneath it...

Andrew Tye to Andre Russell. Wide! Too short from Tye and Russell leaves it all alone. Wide called by the umpire.

Andrew Tye to Dinesh Karthik. Attempted reverse pull from Karthik but he only manages a bottom edge towards short third man. Tye bowls it much slower in pace hence Karthik can't get the timing right.

Andrew Tye to Dinesh Karthik. Wide! Slower ball gone wrong, he slips it outside off and Karthik can't reach it. Wide give by the umpire.

Andrew Tye to Andre Russell. Full pitched delivery on the stumps, Russell gets his front leg out of the way and smashes it to long off for a single.

Andrew Tye to Andre Russell. FOUR! Clever stroke from Russell! Pacy delivery, full outside off, Russell backs away and opens the face of the bat. He makes enough contact and carves it over Gayle at short third man. 200 up for Kolkata!

Andrew Tye to Dinesh Karthik. Good length ball outside off, Karthik reaches out for it and slaps it through the covers for a single.

Andrew Tye to Dinesh Karthik. SIX! Smart shot from Karthik! Short of a length ball on the off stump line from Tye, the knuckle ball much slower in pace which allows Karthik to move across and get inside the line of it. He scoops it over the fine leg fence.

Andrew Tye comes back into the attack to stop the run flow.

Strategic break.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Andre Russell. FOUR! Pulled away by Russell! Much flat and much quicker from Mujeeb on the leg stump line. Russell swivels across and pulls it away to the square leg boundary. 21 runs from the over, a massive one for Kolkata. Will they go past 250-run mark?

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Dinesh Karthik. Darts this one closer to the off stump and Karthik cuts it away to deep cover for a single.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Dinesh Karthik. SIX! The Punjab bowlers are just not getting it right. Another half tracker from Mujeeb and Karthik pulls it flat over the mid-wicket fence for a six. Brings up the 50-run stand in a grand style.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Dinesh Karthik. FOUR! More runs! Quicker one on a length outside off, Karthik goes for the flat-batted stroke but gets a top edge over the keeper and the ball speeds away to the third man fence.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Dinesh Karthik. Karthik looks to play the sweep, he gets hit on the back leg as he fails to make contact with the ball.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Dinesh Karthik. SIX! Biggie! Karthik joins the fun! Faster one on a length, he goes right back and pulls it over the ropes at mid-wicket.

Mujeeb is back into the attack.

Axar Patel to Andre Russell. SIX! HUGE! Russell is striking pretty neatly at the moment! Axar floats a delivery on the off stump line, Russell goes down on one knee and mauls it over the mid-wicket fence for half a dozen.

Axar Patel to Andre Russell. Flatter ball on the stumps and the batsman defends it back to the bowler.

Axar Patel to Andre Russell. SIX! BANG! Another maximum from the bat of Russell! Loopy ball on off stump line, Russell goes for the slog sweep and connects well. The ball sails over the square leg fence for a maximum.

Axar Patel to Dinesh Karthik. Flatter ball on the stumps and the batsman plays a sweep to deep square leg

Axar Patel to Dinesh Karthik. FOUR! Well swept by Karthik! Floated delivery on the off stump line, he sweeps it away to deep square leg. Tye in the deep puts in the dive but fails to stop it. That should have been stopped, poor effort from the pacer.

Axar Patel to Dinesh Karthik. Flatter ball on the off stump line, Karthik backs away and cuts it hard to the point region. Mohit dives full length to his right and makes a good stop. Saves two runs for his side.

Mohit Sharma to Dinesh Karthik. Slower ball on a length outside off, Karthik steps out and swipes it to deep mid-wicket. Single taken.

Mohit Sharma to Andre Russell. Lands it full on the stumps, Russell gets on the front foot and punches it firmly to long on for a single.

Mohit Sharma to Andre Russell. Slower ball outside off, Russell swings his bat and looks to hit that one over covers. He gets an under edge and the ball just misses the leg stump.

Mohit Sharma to Andre Russell. SIX! WHACKED IT! This one sails into the top tier! Full pitched delivery right in his arc and Russell clobbers it into the stands over the long on fence.

Mohit Sharma to Dinesh Karthik. Slower ball closer to the off stump, Karthik defends it square on the off side. They steal a quick single.

Mohit Sharma to Andre Russell. Fires it full on off and Russell drills it away to deep point for just the single.

Mohit Sharma comes back for a new spell.

Axar Patel to Dinesh Karthik. FOUR! Delicate late cut from Karthik! Faster one closer to the off stump, he sits on the back foot and plays a cut shot right past the keeper and beats Gayle at short third man. The ball races away to the fence.

Axar Patel to Dinesh Karthik. Karthik guides that one straight to the man at backward point. He calls for a quick single but his partner sends him back at the right time.

Axar Patel to Andre Russell. Pushes it quicker through the air and Russell nudges it in the gap at backward point. They take a single.

Axar Patel to Andre Russell. Full delivery on the stumps, Russell gets right behind it and defends it solidly.

Axar Patel to Dinesh Karthik. Full pitched delivery on off, Karthik drives it to deep cover for a single.

Axar Patel to Dinesh Karthik. FOUR! Wonderful wrist-work from Karthik! Patel fires it full outside off, DK opens the face of the bat at the last moment and slices it right between the two men at backward point and short third man. The ball races away to the fence.

Axar Patel comes into the attack.

Andrew Tye to Dinesh Karthik. On a length outside off and Karthik slaps it away to deep point for a single.

Andrew Tye to Robin Uthappa. OUT! Tye strikes for the second time in this over! Two wickets for Punjab and they are slowly clawing their way back in the game! Slower ball from Tye once again does the trick. He serves it on a length outside off and Uthappa tries to reach it. He goes for the square cut but ends up slicing it to the point region. Mohit inside the circle takes a safe catch.

Dinesh Karthik walks out to bat.

Andrew Tye to Andre Russell. Full pitched delivery on the stumps and Russell punches it to long on for a single.

Andre Russell walks out to bat. He has been promoted up the order to up the ante even more.

Andrew Tye to Sunil Narine. OUT! GONE!! Tye provides a wicket to Punjab. Narine looked in terrific knick and threatened to take the game away from the home team. Though, he has still inflicted enough damage! Short ball from Tye, much slower in pace. Narine is early into the pull and gets a thick edge through to the keeper. Rahul takes a simple catch. Narine gets out after registering his highest score in the Indian T20 League.

Andrew Tye to Sunil Narine. FOUR! Smoked it! Narine is dealing in fours and sixes! Full pitched delivery outside off, he gets right under it and goes inside out over covers for a boundary.

Andrew Tye to Robin Uthappa. Full pitched delivery on the stumps and Uthappa pushes it down the ground to long on for a single.

Andrew Tye comes into the attack.

Barinder Sran to Sunil Narine. Finally, Sran gets one right. Bowls a good yorker closer to the off stump, Narine steps out to slice it. He can't put bat to ball. Big over for Kolkata, 17 runs collected off it.

Barinder Sran to Sunil Narine. SIX! That is terrible from Sran! Bowls a half tracker outside off, Narine fetches it from there and deposits it over the mid-wicket boundary for another half a dozen.

Barinder Sran to Sunil Narine. Nearly a wicket for Punjab! Short of a length ball on the stumps and Narine looks to pull it. He gloves it and the ball drops just wide of the leg stump.

Barinder Sran to Sunil Narine. FOUR! Runs coming thick and fast for Kolkata! Sran goes for the yorker, he ends up dishing out a low full toss and Narine flicks it with power to the mid-wicket boundary.

Barinder Sran to Sunil Narine. SIX! Grand pick up shot! Fielder at the deep square leg region thought the ball might come to him but it just sails over him! Back of the hand slower ball and Narine whips it for a biggie.

Barinder Sran to Robin Uthappa. Chance of a run out! Short of a length ball on the off stump line and Uthappa chops it straight to the man at short third man. He calls for a suicidal single, Narine gave up the hope of making it, he jogs across just hoping that Mohit misses the stumps and luckily for Kolkata he missed it. Uthappa on the other side without getting to his crease turned to look whether his partner has survived or not. Sran collected the ball, thought of having a shy at the bowler's end but then stopped.

Sran comes into the attack for his second spell.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Robin Uthappa. Full ball on the stumps and Uthappa bunts it down the ground for a single. 13 from the over. We have reached the halfway mark and Kolkata already have crossed the 100-run mark.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Sunil Narine. Low full toss from Ashwin and Narine drills it hard to wide long off. Single taken.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Robin Uthappa. Pushes it quicker through the air and the batsman tucks it to the mid-wicket region for a single.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Robin Uthappa. SIX! Brilliant strike from Uthappa! He brings up the 50-run partnership with Narine in style! Loopy ball on the stumps and he clobbers it over the mid-wicket boundary for a six.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Robin Uthappa. Fullish delivery on the off stump line and Uthappa defends it to the cover region.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Robin Uthappa. FOUR! Carom ball from Ashwin and Uthappa sweeps it to short fine leg. Gayle doesn't bother to chase it and the ball races away to the boundary.

Strategic break. Kolkata have made terrific progress after the slow start. Narine and Lynn attacked the spinners once Mujeeb left the field. Punjab did manage to get the breakthrough but they have failed to contain Narine.

Axar Patel to Sunil Narine. Fires it full, yorker to end the over from Patel. Narine jams his bat down in time and digs it out.

Axar Patel to Sunil Narine. FOUR! Poor ball and Narine puts it away with utmost ease! Faster one short on the leg stump line, Narine goes across and whacks it to the square leg boundary.

Axar Patel to Robin Uthappa. Tossed up delivery on off, Uthappa drives it all along the ground to long off. They take a run.

Axar Patel to Sunil Narine. Fifty to Narine, his second of the season and third of the Indian T20 League! Flatter ball on the leg stump line, he goes across and works it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Axar Patel to Robin Uthappa. Darts this one on the stumps and Uthappa pushes it to long on for a single.

Axar Patel to Robin Uthappa. FOUR! Stunning strike from Uthappa! Clean swing of the bat through the line from Uthappa, he gets closer to the pitch of it and hammers it back over Patel. The ball races away to the long off fence.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Robin Uthappa. Fuller length ball outside off and Uthappa milks it for a single as he drives it through the covers.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Robin Uthappa. Pushes it quicker through the air and Uthappa defends it straight back to the bowler.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Robin Uthappa. Wide! Slider down leg, Uthappa looks to sweep that, misses it. Wide given by the umpire.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Robin Uthappa. Massive appeal for LBW, but turned down by the umpire! Slider on middle and leg, angling down leg, Uthappa looks to defend that. He misses it on the pads.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Sunil Narine. Flatter ball outside off, Narine sits back and slaps it hard to deep cover for a single.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Sunil Narine. FOUR! Consecutive boundaries for Narine! Faster ball on the stumps and Narine lofts it cleanly to long on. Finch runs across to his right and puts in the dive, but fails to stop that one.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Sunil Narine. FOUR! Narine continues collect runs off Ashwin! Flatter ball outside off, he dnaces down the track and frees his arms as he carts it over covers for a boundary.

Ashwin comes on to bowl a new spell.

Axar Patel to Sunil Narine. Faster one outside off stump and Narine powers it away to long off for a single.

Axar Patel to Sunil Narine. Wide! Patel feeling the heat, darts this one well outside off and Narine doesn't play at it. Wide given by the umpire.

Axar Patel to Sunil Narine. SIX! Shot! Neat strike from Narine! Fuller length ball right in the slot, he gets right under that one and smokes it high over the long on fence for half a dozen.

Axar Patel to Robin Uthappa. Played to the mid-wicket region by the batsman. One run added to the total.

Axar Patel to Sunil Narine. Shortens his length and angles it across. Narine goes for the pull but he gets an under edge on the leg side. Single taken.

Axar Patel to Robin Uthappa. Slider on the stumps, Uthappa goes across and nudges it to the vacant mid-wicket region. They collect another run.

Axar Patel to Sunil Narine. Faster one outside off and the batsman slices it away to deep point. Single taken.

Axar Patel comes into the attack.

Andrew Tye to Sunil Narine. Narine goes for the big heave across the line, the ball goes off the inner half to deep mid-wicket. They collect a run. End of a good Powerplay for Kolkata, they have scored 59 for the loss of just one wicket.

Andrew Tye to Sunil Narine. Full delivery on the pads, Narine once again looks to flick that, he misses it and the ball hits his back leg. Rolls behind the wickets on the off side.

Andrew Tye to Sunil Narine. FOUR! Whipped away in fine style! Good length ball on the pads, Narine goes right across and whips it off his pads to the fine leg boundary.

Andrew Tye to Robin Uthappa. Short of a length ball on the stumps and Uthappa whips it away to deep square leg for a single.

Andrew Tye to Chris Lynn. OUT! Oh dear! That's really unlucky for Lynn but Punjab will take that with both the hands! Short of a length ball, angling into the batsman, who swivels across to pull that. He can't put bat to ball and gets hit on the thigh pad. The ball pops up and hits his gloves and just kisses the top of off stump. Important breakthrough for Punjab as Lynn had started to cut loose.

Robin Uthappa is the next man in.

Andrew Tye to Chris Lynn. SIX! Lynn goes big and clears the fence with utmost ease! Full pitched delivery on the stumps, he gets right under that one and lofts it cleanly over the long on fence for a six. That's the 50-run opening stand for Kolkata!

Andrew Tye is into the attack.

Barinder Sran to Sunil Narine. FOUR! Takes the aerial route and that's another boundary from the bat of Narine! Slower ball on the stumps, he backs away and exposes all his stumps as he slaps it over the fielder at mid on. Back-to-back good overs for Kolkata.

Barinder Sran to Sunil Narine. Good ball, keeps it short and follows the batsman who was backing away. Narine can't get any room to attempt the square cut. He misses the ball completely.

Barinder Sran to Sunil Narine. FOUR! Top edge and that sails over Gayle at short third man! Short ball from Sran, Narine looks to pull but he is late on that one. He gets a top edge which flies away to the third man boundary.

Barinder Sran to Sunil Narine. Slower bumper from Sran, Narine backs away and sways away from the line of the delivery as he lets it go.

Barinder Sran to Chris Lynn. Too much width on offer and Lynn slams it really hard to deep point. Fielder stationed for that shot and he manages to block it.

Barinder Sran to Chris Lynn. SIX! Go fetch that! That's a massive strike from the Aussie! 91 meter hit! Full pitch delivery right in the slot, the batsman backs away and mauls it miles over the long on fence for a biggie.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Chris Lynn. Not out, safely in. Lynn pushes one to mid off and calls for a quick single. Direct hit from Tye but Lynn is comfortably home, confirms the third umpire.

Barinder Sran is into the attack.

Appeal for a run out as Tye hits the timber at the bowler's end. The umpire is taking no chance and goes upstairs.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Sunil Narine. Fuller length ball on the stumps and Narine pushes it to mid off. They take a quick single.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Sunil Narine. FOUR! More runs! 10 from 2 balls off Ashwin! He is leaking runs, fires it full on the stumps and Narine bunts it over the fielder at mid on for a boundary.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Sunil Narine. SIX! BINGO!! Narine breaks the shackles! Flatter ball, a touch too short from Ashwin, Narine backs away and thwacks it hard over the mid-wicket boundary for a maximum.

Ravichandran Ashwin comes into the attack to complete the over.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Sunil Narine. Dropped! But those are difficult ones to hold on, that was ferociously struck by the West Indian! Loopy ball on off, Narine smashes it back to the bowler who fails to react quickly and palms it to his fielder at the mid off region.

Mujeeb has taken a blow on his hands and needs some medical attention. He is leaving the field without completing his over.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Chris Lynn. Good stop from the Universe Boss! Flatter ball on off, Lynn sits across his stumps and sweeps it to short fine leg. Gayle dives to his right and manages to block that one.

Mohit Sharma to Sunil Narine. Another mistimed pull from Narine. He backs away and swipes it to the left of the man at mid on. They collect a couple more.

Mohit Sharma to Sunil Narine. Another slower ball but much shorter in length. Narine looks to pull that one, he toe ends it to the mid on region. Finds the fielder and that's a dot.

Mohit Sharma to Sunil Narine. Short of a length ball, angling in and cramping Narine for room. He sits back and chops it to Gayle at gully.

Mohit Sharma to Chris Lynn. Length ball on the stumps, Lynn backs away and punches it to mid on. Calls for a quick single and makes it with time to spare.

Mohit Sharma to Chris Lynn. Slower ball and Lynn is completely foxed by that one. He looks to heave that one across the line, fails to put bat to ball.

Mohit Sharma to Sunil Narine. Narine backs away and drills a full delivery hard to cover-point. Fielder inside the circle does well to get a hand to it and palms it to his mate at extra cover.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Sunil Narine. Up and over! Narine goes for the big shot and miscues it over the infield. He backs away and splices it over point. Nair chases the ball and puts in the slide as he manages to stop that inside the ropes. Saves a run for his side.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Chris Lynn. Darts this one on the stumps and Lynn works it away to deep mid-wicket for another single.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Sunil Narine. Fuller length ball on off, Narine plays a drive with the spin to the sweeper cover. They collect a run.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Sunil Narine. Beaten! Slider outside off stump, doesn't spin at all. Narine goes for the drive. He plays down the wrong line and misses it completely.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Chris Lynn. Lynn punches it firmly to the man at backward point and calls for a quick single. He rushes down to the other end and just makes it in the knack of time.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Chris Lynn. Slider on the middle and leg stump line, Lynn moves across and flicks it to the mid-wicket region.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman will share the new ball with Mohit Sharma.

Mohit Sharma to Chris Lynn. Too much width on offer and Lynn smashes it to covers. The ball goes straight to Finch but the Kolkata pair manage to sneak a single. Mohit is lucky to get away with just the single. That ball deserved the punishment.

Mohit Sharma to Chris Lynn. Fuller length ball from Mohit outside off, Lynn plays a drive on the up, but he fails to find the gap through the covers.

Mohit Sharma to Chris Lynn. Back of a length ball on the stumps, Lynn gets right behind that one and defends it solidly back to the bowler.

Mohit Sharma to Chris Lynn. FOUR! Two in two for Lynn! That has been a profitable stroke for Chris Lynn! Similar delivery from Sharma and Lynn doesn't hold back. He goes after that one again and gets the inside edge. Luckily for him the ball once again misses the wickets and races away past the keeper. Mohit has a wry smile on his face after the ball makes to the fence.

Mohit Sharma to Chris Lynn. FOUR! Streaky! Nearly chopped it on to the stumps. Short of a length ball outside off and the Aussie throws his bat at that one, he gets a thick under edge which misses the off peg and races away to the fine leg boundary.

Mohit Sharma to Chris Lynn. Good length ball closer to the off stump. Lynn covers his stumps and lets it through to the keeper. Good start from Mohit Sharma.

We are all set for the game to begin, the Kolkata opening pair of Sunil Narine and Chris Lynn walks out to bat following the umpires. Mohit Sharma will open the attack for Punjab.

Dinesh Karthik, the Kolkata captain, says someone has to bat first and they will try to make the most of the opportunity. Informs they have got one change in their side, Javon Searles comes in for Tom Curran. He believes sticking to the same team is important. Ends by saying it is good to show faith on the same players and allow them to play freely. There is one more change for Kolkata which their skipper forgot to mention at the toss. Shubman Gill is fit and he comes in place of Rinku Singh.

Ravichandran Ashwin, the Punjab skipper, says they will be bowling first as it is a small ground and difficult to defend a score here. Quotes wicket here was sticky last time around but he is expecting it to play well today. About team changes he informs, they have made three of them. Mayank Agarwal, Aaron Finch and Barinder Sran are in for Akshdeep Nath, Marcus Stoinis and Manoj Tiwary.

TOSS - Dinesh Karthik calls it wrong and Punjab wins and the hosts have decided to field first.

PITCH REPORT - Brett Lee feels it is pretty hot at the Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore. Informs there is a good coverage of green grass in the middle of the pitch. He states wicket looks pretty dry and should assist spinners as the game progresses, though he feels the new white ball should carry nicely. The Aussie informs average score here is 163 and the teams chasing here have won all the seven games.

Hello and a warm welcome to our coverage for Match 44 of the Indian T20 League. Punjab welcomes Kolkata in Indore. Important game for both the teams. Punjab though are in a better position compared to their counterparts today. Dinesh Karthik and his men will be more desperate for the win and for them it will be important that they capitalize on the weakness of the home team. Middle order's performance has been a major area of concern for Ashwin and he would be hoping that the burden is shared by all the batsmen and allow KL Rahul to play a little more freely. Do stay tuned as we bring you the toss and the other match related updates shortly.