IPL 2024: Kolkata’s squall results in detour for KRR squad, prompts overnight stay in Varanasi

The Kolkata Knight Riders’ camp flew from Lucknow recently, and with the flight time between both cities being around 100 minutes, it took the squad an entire day to reach their destination. The delay in their flight was caused by a squall that stormed Kolkata on Monday evening, preventing the landing of the flight at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport.

The flight took off from Lucknow around 5.45 p.m. on Monday evening and had to be diverted to Guwahati. Around 11 p.m., the flight left Guwahati for Kolkata, but it was quickly directed to Varanasi where it landed at around 1.15 a.m. After a stay in the city and a visit to the Shri Kashi Vishwanath temple, the squad reached Kolkata around a day later, at 5 pm on Tuesday.

"The mood in the camp is fine and we have a game only on May 11, so the extra travel was not a major stress," a team official was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz. 

KKR take on MI next in bid to stay atop the standings

Speaking of Kolkata Knight Riders’ upcoming assignments, the side will be taking on five-time champion Mumbai Indians in their upcoming clash. Both sides will lock horns at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata in the 60th game of the tournament on Saturday, May 11. 

Led by Hardik Pandya, Mumbai Indians have little to no chance of making it to the playoffs of the tournament. With four wins and eight losses, the side finds itself in ninth place in the standings with eight points in 12 matches. 

On the other hand, Kolkata Knight Riders are having an incredible season. With eight wins and three losses in 11 matches, KKR sits atop the IPL 2024 standings with 16 points to their name and is ahead of second-placed Rajasthan Royals on net run rate. With their clash against MI approaching, KKR will aim to register yet another win and secure their spot in the playoffs.