The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have emerged as the first team in the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 to secure their place in the playoffs. This significant achievement was attained following an 18-run victory over the Mumbai Indians (MI) at the iconic Eden Gardens, Kolkata, marking their ninth win of the season in an impressive journey so far.
The evening was fraught with interruptions as persistent rain curtailed the affair, reducing it to a 16-overs-a-side contest. Electing to field first after winning the toss, Mumbai sought to leverage the damp conditions. However, the match dynamically evolved into an electrifying encounter right from the first ball. Phil Salt set the tone by smashing Nuwan Thushara’s opening delivery over long-off for a gigantic six. Nevertheless, Salt’s charge was short-lived; after attempting to loft another over fine-leg, he succumbed to a catch, setting a precarious tone early on.
Jasprit Bumrah then showcased his renowned artistry with the ball, immediately impacting KKR’s lineup. The veteran pacer unleashed a full-length delivery that swung and uprooted Sunil Narine’s stumps on his first ball, pushing KKR into early trouble at 10 for two. Unperturbed by the double setback, Venkatesh Iyer adhered to the age-old cricketing adage that “attack is the best form of defense,” turning the tide in KKR’s favor with an aggressive cricketing approach.
The fourth over by Bumrah proved pivotal for Kolkata as Venkatesh, having overcome an initial injury scare, launched a counter-assault. Charging at Bumrah with audacity, he managed to fetch two glorious fours and a towering six, injecting momentum into the innings. However, KKR continued to face a series of blows; Shreyas Iyer fell, bowled around the legs by Anshul Kamboj, leaving the team reeling. Nitish Rana, making his return from injury, then stepped up to steady the ship alongside Venkatesh.
Throughout KKR’s innings, they were hampered by the lack of substantial partnerships, losing wickets at regular frequencies. Nevertheless, crucial individual contributions kept the scoreboard ticking. Venkatesh Iyer’s flair witnessed him score a brisk 42 off just 21 balls, setting a brisk pace despite his dismissal in the ninth over by Suryakumar Yadav off Piyush Chawla. Andre Russell continued his power-hitting legacy with a quick six right after his arrival at the crease, while Nitish Rana supported him by maintaining a steady run rate. Unfortunately, Rana’s innings ended with a run-out for 33 in the 12th over.
The innings was later anchored by late order cameos, pushing KKR’s total close to 160—a challenging target underlined by the day’s conditions.
. Andre Russell contributed a valuable 24 runs off 14 balls. Rinku Singh added 20 from 12 balls, including two vital sixes. An unbeaten 17 from Ramandeep Singh off eight deliveries, highlighted by a last-ball six, saw KKR post 157 for seven. Among the bowlers for Mumbai, Piyush Chawla was the standout performer taking two wickets for 28 runs, with Bumrah also claiming two wickets, and Kamboj maintaining discipline and economy in his spell.
In response, Mumbai Indians kicked off their pursuit with gusto, spearheaded by Ishan Kishan. His explosive innings saw him race to 37 off only 17 balls, propelling MI to a swift 59 runs within the first five overs. Harshit Rana endured an expensive over early on, allowing MI to build momentum. However, Narine soon interjected MI’s march, dismissing Ishan for 40 runs in the seventh over, courtesy of a catch at deep midwicket, applying brakes on Mumbai’s run-chase.
Rohit Sharma, meanwhile, showed glimpses of class with a quick six off a free-hit but eventually saw his effort curtailed as Narine took a marvelous catch off Varun Chakaravarthy’s delivery. MI found themselves on a slippery slope, tumbling to 81 for two by the halfway mark of their innings.
KKR spinners played a pivotal role in clawing their way back into control. Chakaravarthy executed a clinical four-over spell, conceding only 17 runs and snatching two crucial wickets. His reassuring presence along with Narine’s impactful overs ensured the wickets continued to tumble. Russell’s contribution of timely wickets, particularly dismissing Tim David for a duck, tightened KKR’s grip on the match.
Despite late resistance from Tilak Varma, MI’s asking rate increasingly mounted. With the situation dire, Naman Dhir briefly sparked hope with aggressive batting. However, with 22 required off the final over, Harshit Rana exhibited commendable composure, cleaning up the tail by dismissing both Dhir and Tilak to cement Kolkata’s win.
As the game concluded, the enthusiastic Eden Gardens crowd celebrated another landmark victory, marking what has been a season to remember for KKR. Departing their home ground, Kolkata closed the season’s home fixtures with an admirable five victories out of seven matches, underscoring their consistent quality throughout the tournament.