MI vs KKR: Hardik Pandya clinches record with fifty against Kolkata Knight Riders

Hardik Pandya scored the fastest fifty of this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) as the Mumbai Indians all-rounder achieved the milestone in just 17 balls against Kolkata Knight Riders

Hardik Pandya scored the fastest fifty of this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) as the Mumbai Indians all-rounder achieved the milestone in just 17 balls against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens on Sunday.

Mumbai Indians' cricketer Hardik Pandya plays a shot during the 2019 Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty 20 cricket match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians at the Eden Gardens Cricket Stadium, in Kolkata, on April 28, 2019 (AFP)

The record previously belonged to Delhi Capitals’ Rishabh Pant who scored a 18-ball fifty against Mumbai Indians.

Fastest 50s for MI in IPL (balls faced):

17 K Pollard v KKR, Mumbai, 2016

17 I Kishan v KKR, Kolkata, 2018

17 H Pandya v KKR, Kolkata, 2019 *

19 Harbhajan v KXIP, Mumbai, 2015

Kolkata Knight Riders batsmen fired on all cylinders to post the season’s highest total -- 232 for two.

Staring at elimination following a six-match losing streak, the embattled KKR got off to a fiery start with Shubman Gill (76) and Chris Lynn (54) putting on a 96-run opening stand, their highest this season, after Rohit Sharma opted to bowl in his 100th match as captain.

READ: KKR vs MI: Rohit Sharma expresses anger after LBW dismissal - Watch

Andre Russell, KKR’s biggest impact player of the season, was finally seen higher up the order at No 3. The West Indies power-hitter ensured that KKR finished on a high with an unbeaten 80 off 40 balls.

Fielding let down Mumbai Indians big time with both Lynn and Russell dropped early in their innings by Kieron Pollard and Evin Lewis respectively.

(With agency inputs)