Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have charged into the final of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, showcasing a commanding performance against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) with an eight-wicket victory. Hosting the clash at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, KKR put up an impressive show both in bowling and batting to halt SRH’s journey and make their fourth appearance in the IPL finals, their first since 2021.
The match commenced with SRH captain Pat Cummins winning the toss and electing to bat first. The Sunrisers, known for their dynamic and aggressive batting line-up throughout the season, were eager to capitalize on the batting track. However, KKR’s Mitchell Starc made an impact almost instantly, removing SRH’s Travis Head with the second ball of the innings, outsmarted by a classic in-swinger that crashed into the stumps. SRH’s hopes of a flying start were dampened.
Throughout the powerplay, chaos ensued, with SRH trying to regain their footing while KKR relentlessly focused on capturing wickets. Rahul Tripathi emerged as SRH’s potent force, unfazed by the mounting pressure, countering with aerial shots to ease his team. Unfortunately for SRH, three more wickets tumbled at the other end. Abhishek Sharma fell to a superb catch by Andre Russell off Vaibhav Arora. Starc then returned with a vengeance, taking out Nitish Reddy on a top-edge caught by wicketkeeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz, and Shahbaz Ahmed struck his own stumps first ball. With SRH floundering at 39 for four within five overs, they found themselves in dire straits.
However, Heinrich Klaasen and Rahul Tripathi stitched together a promising partnership for SRH, signaling a potential turnaround. Over the next six overs, they added a resilient 61 runs. The introduction of Sunil Narine in the ninth over saw Klaasen aggressively targeting him, smashing a colossal six to set a positive tone. Tripathi, meanwhile, reached a quick-fire fifty, displaying grit and adaptiveness under challenging conditions—a glimmer of resilience for SRH amidst an uphill battle.
Yet, SRH’s fortunes took another hit when Klaasen holed out at deep mid-wicket to Rinku Singh for 32, followed by a catastrophic run-out that left Tripathi walking back disheartened for 55.
. Struggling at 121 for six, SRH needed a miracle. Pat Cummins, their skipper, showed admirable pluck, scoring a valiant 30 off 24 balls to inch the score beyond 150 as wickets continued to fall. His final over heroics, courtesy of a boundary blitz off Starc, nudged SRH to a defendable 159.
KKR’s bowling unit, notably Mitchell Starc with three for 34, and Varun Chakravarthy with an economical two for 26, shone through. The fielders’ acumen and their impeccable support played an integral role in KKR’s strategic maneuvering of SRH.
As KKR embarked on their chase, it seemed they were eyeing a much larger target given their aggressive start. Rahmanullah Gurbaz was a revelation, opening with Sunil Narine. His early stroke-play, inclusive of a four-second ball and strategic lofting, set a brisk pace. While Narine’s stay was short-lived, with Cummins claiming him at 21, Gurbaz and Venkatesh Iyer ensured the momentum swung firmly KKR’s way, thanks to a relentless focus on maintaining the run rate.
KKR closed their powerplay at a staggering 63 runs, and with Narine’s exit, Venkatesh and Shreyas Iyer took the mantle. SRH’s fielding woes compounded their troubles with missed opportunities and strategic errors. Venkatesh Iyer delivered a stellar show, swatting sixes with ease and clinching his half-century in just 28 balls. Shreyas followed suit, reaching his fifty in 23 balls with a barrage of boundaries that effectively sealed the game. The victory was etched with a massive six off Shreyas’s bat, marking a comprehensive win with 38 balls to spare.
KKR’s triumph not only reserved their spot in the final but also etched this victory as a hallmark of their tenacity—a relentless pursuit for the IPL title. Meanwhile, SRH still retain a chance for redemption, heading towards a face-off with the winner from Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rajasthan Royals in the Eliminator. As for KKR, the stage is set for another potential crowning moment as they brace for the ultimate showdown in the IPL 2024 final.