IPL 2022: Rajasthan Royals celebrate Shimron Hetmyer's fiancée Nirvani's birthday after win over KKR

After winning their group stage encounter against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL 2022, Rajasthan Royals (RR) conducted a birthday celebration for Nirvani Umrao, fiancée of their star batter Shimron Hetmyer.  The Royals posted a 44-second video on their social media account where Hetmyer can be seen cutting a cake on behalf of his partner.

Skipper Sanju Samson, along with Indian batter Riyan Parag and West Indies pacer Obed McCoy, is seen in the video clapping and singing ‘Happy Birthday Nirvani’. Captain Sanju Samson is also seen putting the cake in Hetmyer’s ear in the video, to which the left-handed batter seems to be complaining.

Rajasthan Royals celebrate Hetmyer’s fiancee’s birthday

Celebrating birthdays of near and dear ones – it's a #RoyalsFamily thing. 💗

Happy birthday, Nirvani, from @SHetmyer and team. 🥳 pic.twitter.com/utm1BjOy3h

— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) April 19, 2022

Coming back to RR vs KKR game, skipper Shreyas Iyer won the toss and opted to bowl. Openers Jos Buttler (103 off 61 balls) along with Devdutt Padikkal (24 off 18 balls) put up a 97-run opening partnership. After the fall of Padikkal, Buttler then teamed up with skipper Sanju Samson to add 67 runs for the second wicket, taking RR past the 150 mark in the 15th over.

KKR made an excellent comeback in the match with batter Riyan Parag, Karun Nair, and Ashwin getting out in quick succession. Power-hitter Shimron Hetmyer (26* off 13 balls) ensured that the former champions cross the 200-run mark. For KKR, mystery spinner Sunil Narine was excellent, taking two wickets in his four-over quota.

In the chase, an excellent batting display from Australian skipper Aaron Finch (58 off 28 balls) and captain Shreyas Iyer (85 off 51 balls) ensured that KKR stayed in the game. However, spinner Yuzvendra Chahal turned the match on its head as he picked up a hat-trick in his last over.

Apart from Finch and Iyer, Umesh Yadav showed some excellent hitting skills making 21 off 9 for the two-time champions. However, that was not enough for the Shreyas Iyer’s men to pin down RR. For the Royals, Chahal was the pick of the bowlers, scalping five wickets in his four-over quota. He was also adjudged the Player of the Match.