KKR vs PBKS: Jonny Bairstow returns to form, silences critics with ...

Jonny Bairstow smashed the joint second-fastest hundred by a PBKS batter in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The 34-year-old reached the landmark in the IPL 2024 match against Shreyas Iyer’s KKR on Friday, April 26 at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

David Miller holds the record after he raced his way to hammering a 38-ball hundred against RCB back in May 2013 at the PCA Stadium in Mohali. Joint with Bairstow in the second spot is Mayank Agarwal, who scored a hundred off 45 balls against Rajasthan back in 2020 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

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Bairstow makes amends

Bairstow came into the IPL after going through a rough patch while playing for England in the 5-match Test series against India. He got off to some brilliant starts, but failed to convert them. He played his 100th Test during the series, but he could not find any momentum with the bat in hand. However, PBKS showed faith in him and picked him in the playing XI as an opener.

However, the English batter faltered at the top of the order. PBKS lost patience and left him out of their playing XI. But Bairstow returned to the team after Punjab dropped the powerful Liam Livingstone and gave him another chance.

In the game against KKR, Bairstow had a massive task in hand after Punjab were asked to chase down a huge target of 262 in 20 overs. He put on a partnership of 93 runs for the opening wicket with Prabhsimran Singh, who scored 54 runs off 20 balls.

Thereafter, Bairstow and joined hands with Rilee Rossouw and stitched together a handy partnership of 85 runs for the second wicket. After Rossouw got out to Sunil Narine, Bairstow took the onus on himself and kept carting the KKR bowlers around the park.

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