Shah Rukh Khan kisses Gautam Gambhir on the forehead as KKR clinches IPL trophy
Chennai: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) soared to victory for the third time in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with a stunning performance, accompanied by a touching moment as team co-owner and Bollywood Superstar Shah Rukh Khan bestowed a tender kiss on the forehead of the team's mentor, Gautam Gambhir.
In a lopsided final match, Sunrisers Hyderabad faced a crushing defeat as KKR sealed the win with a commanding 8-wicket triumph, with a remarkable 57 balls to spare. Setting a record for the lowest total in an IPL final, SRH was dismissed for a mere 113 runs in just 18.3 overs.
The chase for KKR was largely fueled by Venkatesh Iyer's stellar performance, who blazed his way to 52 runs off just 26 balls. His innings, punctuated by three sixes and four fours sealed the victory for KKR.
Gautam Gambhir, instrumental in KKR's maiden IPL victory in 2012, played a pivotal role behind the scenes this time, guiding the team to triumph after twelve years. The emotional high point came when Shah Rukh Khan, present at the jubilant celebrations, rushed onto the field to express his joy. Khan's heartfelt gesture, captured on camera, as he kissed Gambhir on the forehead and embraced the former captain, quickly went viral on the internet.
KKR's journey to the 2024 title was marked by redemption, having finished sixth in the previous season after losing to Chennai Super Kings in the final match of 2021. However, strategic decisions, including the move to deploy Sunil Narine as an opener under Gambhir's guidance, paid rewards. Narine's stellar performance saw him amass 488 runs from 15 matches, contributing significantly to KKR's triumphant campaign.
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Protesters clash with police during torch rally in Manipur
Imphal (PTI): People protesting the death of two children in a recent bomb blast in Manipur clashed with security forces during a torch rally in the state capital Imphal, police said.
Two children died in a bomb blast at Tronglaobi in Bishnupur on April 7. The Imphal Valley districts have been witnessing daily protests over the incident.
A seven-km-long torch rally was brought out from Mayai Lambi to Keishamthong in Imphal West district on Monday night, but the participants turned violent and clashed with the security forces, a police officer said.
Security forces fired several rounds of tear gas shells in Keishamthong area after hundreds of protesters defying curfew demanded they be allowed to proceed for another 200 metres towards Keisampat area, which is close to the Lok Bhavan and the BJP state office, he said.
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Orders prohibiting the movement of any individuals outside their respective homes are in force in all the five valley districts from 5 pm to 5 am.
"Protesters pelted the security forces with stones and iron pellets from catapults, endangering the lives of the heavily outnumbered security forces," the officer said.
Manipur Police have, meanwhile, arrested 19 people for violating curfew and committing offences, including blocking roads and damaging public property, in the Greater Imphal area. They were nabbed from different parts of Imphal West district on Sunday, a police statement said.
In the Ukhrul district headquarters, a candlelight vigil was held on Monday night to honour the two Tangkhul Naga civilians who were killed in an ambush in TM Kasom area in the district on April 18.
Various civil society organisations from both the valley and hill areas strongly condemned the brutal killings, alleging that the victims were shot by Kuki militants using sniper rifles.
