WATCH: Mohit Sharma takes a stunning catch running backwards to dismiss Shardul Thakur in KKR vs GT match

With Jagadeesan departing, everyone expected Venkatesh Iyer to walk out but surprise, surprise, it was Shardul Thakur instead.

WATCH: Mohit Sharma takes a stunning catch running backwards to dismiss Shardul Thakur in KKR vs GT match

GT’s Mohit Shatam took a stunning catch as Nitish Rana-led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) hosted Hardik Pandya’s defending champions Gujarat Titans at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Saturday. GT captain Hardik Pandya opted to bowl after winning the toss. Mohammed Shami complemented the decision nicely as he dismissed N Jagadeesan in the third over of the KKR innings. With Jagadeesan departing, everyone expected Venkatesh Iyer to walk out but surprise, surprise, it was Shardul Thakur instead.

The KKR all-rounder was promoted up the order to take on the pace bowlers and capitalize on the field restrictions but the move did not yield results for KKR. Thakur could only last four balls and went back without making any contribution. Shami was the man for GT once again. But more than Shami it was Mohit Sharma.

https://youtu.be/Xs3dPeeSBCo

The veteran pacer showed great athleticism to pouch a good catch at mid-on. As Shardul Thakur tried to muscle a short-of-length delivery from Shami towards long-on, he failed to time his shot. Resultantly, the ball went high up in the air. Mohit, who was stationed at mid-on ran backwards and kept his eye on the ball and eventually grabbed the ball safely. GT captain Hardik Pandya was also surprised to see Sharma pulling off a stunner. 

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Rahmanullah Gurbaz shines for KKR

rahmanullah gurbaz

Although KKR’s move to promote Thakur failed, Rahmanullah Gurbaz stole the show on his comeback into the playing XI. The Afghanistan wicketkeeper batter, after getting a chance with no Jason Roy around, scored a brisk half-century to get KKR off to a flyer. Gurbaz played some audacious strokes and reached his half-century in 27 balls. 

On the back of Gurbaz’s fifty, KKR scored 84 runs for the loss of two wickets in the first ten overs. However, the hosts lost a couple of wickets in the very next over as Venkatesh Iyer and Nitish Rana fell to Joshua Little. While Iyer was trapped LBW while trying to paddle sweep, Rana was caught at backward point.

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