In a spectacular finale at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) emerged victorious in the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 final, showcasing an impressive all-round performance against the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). This win added a third title to KKR’s illustrious history, having previously tasted victory on the same ground in 2012. The May 26 showdown was a powerful reminder of the team’s enduring prowess, as they dominated every aspect of the game to secure a convincing eight-wicket victory, chasing down the target of 114 in a brisk 10.3 overs.
The excitement began with the toss, where SRH opted to bat first after winning the coin flip. Shreyas Iyer, captain of KKR, expressed his preference to bowl first, a decision that proved astute given the outcome. The KKR bowlers, fuelled by their captain’s confidence, delivered a stellar performance from the outset. Mitchell Starc, the hero from their recent clash in Ahmedabad, set the tone with a magnificent opening over, dismissing the dangerous Abhishek Sharma with what some commentators described as the ‘ball of the tournament’. The delivery, which pitched on middle-stump and shaped away, left Sharma baffled as it clipped the top of off-stump, marking a memorable moment for KKR.
Inspired by Starc’s brilliance, Vaibhav Arora continued the assault on SRH’s top order. He sent Travis Head back to the pavilion with his first delivery, catching an edge that landed safely in the wicketkeeper’s gloves, further crippling SRH at six for two. The powerplay witnessed relentless pressure from KKR’s bowlers, with runs proving elusive for the Sunrisers. Starc was not finished yet and returned to claim another crucial wicket, that of Rahul Tripathi, who misjudged a shot, resulting in a simple catch at mid-wicket. Despite some resistance from Nitish Reddy, who managed SRH’s first six, the Sunrisers’ innings was thwarted by the meticulous bowling efforts of Andre Russell and Harshit Rana.
Russell’s exceptional spell saw him dismiss Aiden Markram for 20, while Rana decimated the SRH middle order by removing key players like Reddy and Heinrich Klaasen, the latter falling to an impressive delivery before SRH could reach the 100-run mark.
. Veteran spinner Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy further choked SRH’s scoring abilities with tight, economical spells, never allowing their opponents to gain momentum. As wickets crumbled, Pat Cummins stood as a lone figure battling against KKR’s bowling onslaught, eventually top-scoring for his team with a valiant 24. Yet, his efforts ended when he became the final SRH batter to fall, finding Starc at long-on in the penultimate over, leaving the team all out for a modest 113.
KKR’s chase was as emphatic as their opponents’ collapse. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Sunil Narine set an assertive tone with shots that pierced through the SRH defenses. Although Narine was caught attempting another big hit, his dismissal soon turned into a minor blip. Venkatesh Iyer arrived at the crease determined to make quick work of the chase. His aggressive style was on full display when he smashed two sixes and a four in quick succession, particularly against seasoned bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar, driving home KKR’s intentions with a flurry of boundaries. By the end of the powerplay, KKR were comfortably placed at 72 for one, with Iyer already making the chase appear trivial.
After the powerplay, Gurbaz emerged from his shell, accelerating alongside Iyer. The partnership dismantled any last hopes SRH’s bowlers might have had, reaching over 100 runs inside nine overs. Although Gurbaz eventually departed for 39, he had laid a firm foundation for the win. Venkatesh Iyer, continuing his onslaught, reached a blistering half-century from just 24 deliveries. The victory came only moments later, as Iyer struck the winning runs, sending the KKR team into a frenzied celebration as they surged onto the field, delighting in their newly acquired title and writing another glorious chapter in their history.