The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) were forced to take an unexpected detour on their way back home after their dominant win against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on May 5.
The table-toppers, having won eight of their 11 games so far in IPL 2024, were scheduled to fly directly from Lucknow to Kolkata on Monday evening. However, torrential rains in the eastern city resulted in their flight being diverted not once, but twice. They eventually spent the night in Varanasi.
KKR had just beaten LSG by a massive 98 runs to go top of the IPL points table. They were due to reach Kolkata at 7:25 PM on Monday after their 5:45 PM departure from Lucknow. However, heavy rains prevented their landing, as the flight first head to Guwahati.
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KKR checked into a hotel in Varanasi for an overnight stay
After landing in Guwahati around 8:45 PM, KKR team was hopeful of getting clearance to travel to Kolkata. However, the inclement weather persisted and they were diverted mid-air again, this time to Varanasi after multiple failed landing attempts in Kolkata.
“Due to inclement weather over Kolkata, the KKR charter flight has been diverted to Guwahati. We’ve just landed here, We’ve got clearance to fly back to Kolkata now, from Guwahati. Estimated arrival: 11 pm,” an update provided by the KKR media team as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
“Flight took off from Guwahati to Kolkata, was scheduled to land at 11 pm. Couldn’t land once again due to bad weather, despite several attempts. Diverted mid-air to Varanasi now. Just landed here,” it added.
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The difficulty finally ended at 3 AM on Tuesday when KKR checked into the Taj Ganges Hotel in Varanasi for an overnight stay. The plan is for them to return to Kolkata on Tuesday afternoon ahead of their crucial game against Mumbai Indians on Saturday at Eden Gardens.
“The team would be checking into Varanasi Hotel [Taj Ganges] for an overnight stay. Return flight to Kolkata TBD on Tuesday (7 May) afternoon,” the update read.
KKR can be relieved that they still have almost a week’s gap before facing Mumbai Indians (MI) in their final season home game. The last time both teams faced, KKR defeated MI by 24 runs in Wankhede Stadium.
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