In a thrilling display of cricketing prowess, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) secured their spot in the final of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 with a resounding eight-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). The cricketing extravaganza unfolded at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, where KKR showcased a masterclass in both bowling and batting to overwhelm their opponents. This remarkable win marks KKR’s fourth appearance in the IPL final and their first since 2021, a testament to their consistent performance throughout the tournament.
On this momentous day, SRH captain Pat Cummins opted to bat first, placing faith in his team’s aggressive batting line-up that had captured fans’ attention all season. The atmosphere was electric as Mitchell Starc took the new ball to commence proceedings. Launching a fiery spell, Starc struck gold on his second delivery, whipping out Travis Head in a dramatic fashion and setting the tone for KKR’s dominance.
The powerplay overs epitomized the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket. SRH, determined to stage a fightback and impose their style of play, faced fierce opposition from KKR, who hunted for crucial wickets with unwavering resolve. Rahul Tripathi emerged as a beacon of hope for SRH amid the chaos. His fearless aerial shots momentarily resisted the pressure from KKR’s bowlers. However, SRH’s top order continued to crumble under relentless attack. Abhishek Sharma succumbed to Andre Russell’s sharp catch off Vaibhav Arora in the second over, and Starc returned for the fifth over to claim a double blow, dismissing Nitish Reddy and Shahbaz Ahmed in quick succession. Within just five overs, SRH found themselves in deep jeopardy at 39 for four.
Amid the turbulence, a glimmer of hope resurfaced for SRH through a resilient partnership. Heinrich Klaasen and Tripathi combined efforts to assemble a 61-run stand over the next six overs, momentarily reviving SRH’s fading aspirations. The ninth over saw Sunil Narine being mercilessly carted around the park, with Klaasen smashing a colossal six downfield. This aggressive confrontation aimed to set a new tone for SRH. Tripathi’s quickfire fifty, achieved through a scorching reverse-sweep against Chakaravarthy, took just 29 deliveries and injected newfound vitality into the innings.
Unfortunately, the resurgence was short-lived as Klaasen was caught by Rinku Singh in the deep for 32.
. The entry of Abdul Samad injected an explosive energy, as he launched Narine’s delivery for a massive six with audacious flair. However, a misjudged run led to the disastrous run-out of Tripathi, who exited after a fighting 55, leaving SRH precariously poised at 121 for six.
In the concluding overs, captain Pat Cummins exhibited resilience, crafting a gritty 30 off 24 balls. His dexterous navigation past 150 was punctuated with vital boundaries, especially against Starc, whom he spoiled by smacking the last two balls for a four and a six. Despite Cummins’ valiant efforts, SRH’s innings concluded at 159, thanks to Starc’s riveting three for 34 and Chakaravarthy’s economical two for 26. KKR’s fielders impeccably supported their bowlers, transforming half-chances into opportunities with extraordinary commitment.
KKR’s response was immediate and emphatic, beginning their chase as if it were a high-stakes target exceeding 200. An adjustment in their batting order saw Rahmanullah Gurbaz pairing with Sunil Narine at the top. Gurbaz, playing his maiden match of the contest, wasted no time making an impact, delivering a boundary off the second delivery. Cummins’ entrance to bowl the second over was met with a flurry of boundaries from Narine and Gurbaz, further establishing KKR’s intent. Despite a breakthrough by T Natarajan, who removed Gurbaz for 23, KKR remained unfazed, amassing a brisk 63 in the powerplay.
Venkatesh Iyer’s arrival at the crease injected further momentum into KKR’s innings, overshadowing SRH’s fleeting respite. Following Narine’s brief cameo, the Iyer duo—Venkatesh and Shreyas—consolidated KKR’s assault with seamless stroke play. Benefiting from dropped catches and unsuccessful reviews, the pair steered the chase deftly. Venkatesh’s remarkable half-century, peppered with sixes, arrived in 28 balls, while Shreyas’ equally explosive fifty materialized off 23 deliveries.
In the dying moments, with victory looming, Venkatesh’s mighty pull over mid-wicket off Nitish confirmed his milestone, and Shreyas soon followed suit with a barrage of boundary-cutting strokes. A towering six by Shreyas over long-on sealed the match in KKR’s favor within a mere 13.4 overs, leaving 38 deliveries spare and clinching victory with eight wickets intact.
While KKR readies itself for the final showdown, SRH remains in contention for a place in the final, as they prepare to confront the victor between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rajasthan Royals in the upcoming Eliminator.