Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) swept to an emphatic victory in the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 final, overpowering Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) with a stellar all-round performance at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. In a twist of poetic symmetry, KKR clinched their third IPL title at the same venue where they won their maiden title in 2012. The final showdown on May 26, 2024, saw KKR restrict SRH to a meager 113 runs, a target they effortlessly chased down in just 10.3 overs with eight wickets in hand.
The match began with SRH captain opting to bat first after winning the toss, a decision that KKR’s captain, Shreyas Iyer, admitted he would have made as well. The KKR bowlers, however, vindicated Iyer’s confidence by delivering a commanding performance. spearheading the assault was Mitchell Starc, who was named Player of the Match in the previous encounter between the two teams in Ahmedabad.
In a strategic move informed by their Qualifier 1 experience, SRH sent Abhishek Sharma to open the innings instead of Travis Head. Starc, taking the new ball, put immediate pressure on Abhishek, probing his defenses with precise deliveries. The breakthrough came in the very first over when Starc delivered a brilliant ball that shaped away just enough to clip the off-stump, sending Abhishek back to the pavilion.
This early setback was compounded when Vaibhav Arora, energized by Starc’s excellence, induced an edge from Travis Head on his very first delivery, caught behind by the wicketkeeper. At a precarious six for two, SRH’s formidable opening partnership had been dismantled.
Struggling to recover from the opening blows, SRH found runs hard to come by as KKR’s bowlers maintained relentless pressure. The first boundary for SRH came in the third over, but the respite was fleeting. Starc struck again in the fifth over, inducing a mistimed attempt from Rahul Tripathi, who skied the ball to mid-wicket.
SRH briefly rallied in the sixth over, taking 17 runs off Arora, with Nitish Reddy hitting the first six of their innings. However, consistency remained elusive as Andre Russell and Harshit Rana delivered crucial wicket-taking spells. Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy complemented their efforts with economical bowling.
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Rana wreaked further havoc soon after the powerplay, catching Reddy behind. Russell dismissed SRH captain Aiden Markram for 20, courtesy of a catch by Starc at long-on. Shahbaz Ahmed’s stint was short-lived as he was caught at short fine-leg off Chakaravarthy’s bowling. The grip tightened further when impact player Abdul Samad was caught behind off Russell’s delivery.
Rana struck the defining blow in the 15th over by bowling Heinrich Klaasen, leaving SRH struggling to breach the 100-run mark. Pat Cummins mounted a lone resistance, top-scoring for SRH with 24 runs and extending the innings slightly after being dropped by Starc. Ironically, the innings ended when Cummins was caught by Starc at long-on in the 19th over, leaving SRH with a total of 113.
KKR’s run-chase commenced with Rahmanullah Gurbaz cutting the second ball through point for four. However, the chase stumbled momentarily as Narine, after hitting the first ball of Cummins’ over for a six, was caught trying to replicate the shot. KKR brushed aside any nerves with a blistering counter-attack from Venkatesh Iyer, who hit two sixes and a four in a single over against Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
Venkatesh’s onslaught continued, driving KKR to 50 runs within five overs. Gurbaz adopted a calmer approach, allowing Venkatesh to dominate. By the end of the powerplay, KKR were cruising at 72 for one. Gurbaz accelerated post-powerplay, exploiting the spinners, which pushed KKR past 100 runs in nine overs. Although Gurbaz exited for 39, KKR were on the brink of victory.
Ultimately, the Iyer duo (Shreyas and Venkatesh) steered KKR to the championship. Venkatesh, who reached his half-century off just 24 balls, hit the winning runs, sealing KKR’s triumph. The jubilant KKR team stormed the field, basking in the glory of their third IPL title win, an achievement that resonated deeply not only with the players but also with their loyal fanbase.