In an electrifying match at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) decisively defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by eight wickets, confirming their spot in the final of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. This victory marked KKR’s fourth appearance in the finals, their first since 2021, showcasing a dominant performance from both their bowlers and batsmen against a formidable SRH lineup.
The showdown began with SRH captain Pat Cummins winning the toss and opting to bat first, a decision based on their strong batting prowess that had entertained fans all season. However, KKR’s Mitchell Starc quickly set the tone by dismissing Travis Head with a delivery that disrupted the stumps in the opening over. This initial breakthrough gave KKR a pivotal edge early in the game.
As the powerplay unfolded, the match turned into a drama-filled face-off. SRH’s aggressive approach was countered by KKR’s relentless pursuit of wickets, creating a thrilling contest of power and strategy. Rahul Tripathi was a beacon of hope for SRH amidst the chaos, bravely taking on KKR’s bowlers with a fearless approach and frequently opting for the aerial route against a mounting pressure. His spirited innings was a lone battle initially as SRH lost three more early wickets. Abhishek Sharma fell victim to a sharp catch by Andre Russell at cover, courtesy of Vaibhav Arora’s skillful bowling in the second over. Starc then returned for a double blow in the fifth over, dismissing both Nitish Reddy, caught by the wicketkeeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz, and Shahbaz Ahmed, who faced a golden duck after chipping one onto his stumps.
In dire straits at 39 for four, SRH sought salvation through a partnership between Heinrich Klaasen and Tripathi. Over the next six overs, they managed a crucial 61-run stand. Klaasen, in a bid to shift momentum, aggressively targeted Sunil Narine, smashing him for a six straight over the bowler’s head, which yielded 18 runs off Narine’s over. Tripathi reached his half-century in the 11th over with an audacious reverse sweep off Varun Chakaravarthy that raced to the boundary, underpinning his aggressive yet assured style.
Nevertheless, the partnership crumbled as Klaasen was caught at deep mid-wicket by Rinku Singh for 32, triggering another collapse. Abdul Samad entered with intent, promptly dispatching Narine for a six on his very first ball, and repeating the feat in the subsequent over. However, a miscommunication with Tripathi led to the latter’s unfortunate run-out at 55, leaving SRH teetering at 121 for six.
In the final overs, Pat Cummins displayed resilience with a gritty 30 off 24 deliveries, lifting the innings past 150 despite the continuous fall of wickets. His efforts included a flourishing finish against Starc’s bowling, adding vital runs with a boundary and a six off successive deliveries. However, Cummins was eventually dismissed in the last over, concluding SRH’s innings at a moderate 159.
. Starc starred with figures of 3 for 34, while Chakaravarthy contained the run flow effectively with 2 for 26. The bowlers were ably supported by KKR’s enthusiastic fielders who were crucial in enforcing pressure and facilitating opportunities for dismissals.
KKR’s chase of 160 started briskly, mimicking a pursuit of a much steeper target. A strategic change in the lineup saw Gurbaz opening alongside Narine. Gurbaz, eager to make a mark in his maiden match of the tournament, made an immediate impact with a boundary off just his second delivery. Cummins’ introduction in the second over saw Narine unfurl two consecutive boundaries, with Gurbaz following up with a top-edge six over third man, affirming KKR’s aggressive intent.
SRH briefly stemmed the flow of runs when T Natarajan claimed the wicket of Gurbaz, caught attempting a lofted cover drive for 23. However, his dismissal did little to disrupt KKR’s rhythm. Venkatesh Iyer joined with intent, subsequently pacing the innings effectively. KKR amassed 63 runs in the powerplay, keeping the required run rate well in their grasp despite Narine’s departure after a 21-run cameo.
The Iyer duo, Venkatesh and captain Shreyas, then took charge, ensuring the chase remained under control. Memories of SRH’s hard day on the field were compounded by two missed chances off Shreyas and two lost reviews early in the innings. Venkatesh, meanwhile, delighted fans with several towering sixes, demonstrating superb timing and power.
In contrast, Shreyas opted for steadiness before unleashing flourishes of his own. As the finishing line approached, Venkatesh brought up his half-century in entertaining fashion with a pull for six, completing 50 runs off just 28 balls. Shreyas soon replicated the feat, accelerating towards his milestone with a grand display, including his crowning blow for another six, storming to 50 off only 23 deliveries.
In emphatic fashion, Shreyas concluded the match with a towering six over long-on, sealing KKR’s passage into the final in just 13.4 overs with eight wickets in hand. This exceptional victory with 38 balls to spare underscored KKR’s comprehensive dominance over SRH.
As KKR set their sights on the forthcoming title clash, SRH will regroup, preparing to face the victor of the Eliminator between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rajasthan Royals, each vying for a rematch with KKR in the grand finale.