Koltaka Knight Riders (KKR) stamped their authority on the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 by clinching the coveted title with a resounding all-round performance against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). The celebrated finale unfolded at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on May 26, 2024. This victory holds special significance as it mirrors their maiden title win at the same venue in 2012. The triumph handed KKR their third IPL trophy, solidifying their status as a formidable force in the league.
The clash began with Sunrisers Hyderabad opting to bat first after winning the toss, a decision executed with hopes of putting the Knight Riders’ bowlers under pressure. However, the KKR bowlers came out all guns blazing, executing a disciplined and clinical strategy that saw them restrict the vaunted SRH lineup to a modest total of 113. This effort was the groundwork for KKR’s dominant chase, which saw them overhaul the target in a mere 10.3 overs with eight wickets to spare.
KKR captain Shreyas Iyer, after losing the toss, expressed a preference for bowling first, demonstrating faith in his bowlers’ ability to set the tone early. His belief was rewarded emphatically. Led by pace spearhead Mitchell Starc, who emerged as the Player of the Match from the two teams’ earlier encounter in Ahmedabad, KKR delivered a stellar performance with the ball.
The match commenced with Starc delivering the first over, which set the stage for KKR’s assertive bowling display. With a lethal mix of pace and movement, Starc’s deliveries asked probing questions of the SRH opening batsman, Abhishek Sharma. The breakthrough came in the same over, as Sharma was bowled with a delivery of notable craft that uprooted the off-stump, giving the KKR fan base early cause for celebration.
Following Starc’s fiery start, his new-ball partner Vaibhav Arora added to SRH’s woes. Facing his first delivery of the match, Travis Head edged a moving ball to KKR’s wicketkeeper, reducing SRH to a precarious position at six runs for two wickets. This deepened the early blows to SRH’s top order, one of the most feared in the tournament’s history.
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SRH’s batting efforts were curtailed further by persistent pressure, only managing to score their first boundary in the third over. Starc returned to clean up Rahul Tripathi in the fifth over, who fell to a strategic short-pitched delivery ending in a catch at mid-wicket. Despite the boundaries in the sixth over from Nitish Reddy which briefly lifted SRH spirits, the following KKR bowlers maintained firm control over proceedings.
As the innings progressed, medium pacers Andre Russell and Harshit Rana fine-tuned the pressure with key wicket-taking spells, boxing in the run flow. Spinners Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy followed this lead as they contributed pivotal economical spells, further choking off any potential revival of the SRH batting line.
Unyielding, KKR’s bowlers claimed wickets at regular intervals. Reddy perished early in his innings, Russell orchestrated Aiden Markram’s dismissal, while Chakaravarthy saw off Shahbaz Ahmed. Abdul Samad, designated as SRH’s impact player, couldn’t impact the score significantly as he succumbed to Russell’s craft.
KKR sealed the dismal fate of SRH’s innings in the 15th over, dismissing Heinrich Klaasen, leaving the scoreboard pleading for more. Despite a valiant effort from Pat Cummins, who ended as the top-scorer with 24 runs, SRH totaled a meager 113 runs.
In response, KKR’s chase was launched with a quick boundary by Rahmanullah Gurbaz off the second delivery he faced. Though Narine’s heroic attempt with a six ended prematurely on the leg-side, Venkatesh Iyer’s scorching onslaught quickly picked up momentum with a series of innovative strokes, particularly targeting Bhuvneshwar Kumar with two massive sixes.
As KKR rapidly approached the target, Venkatesh’s aggressive stance made swift work of the chase. By the conclusion of the powerplay, KKR had galloped to 72 for one, heavily supported by Gurbaz’s calculated aggression. The end came as Venkatesh, profoundly impacting with a knock better than a run-a-ball pace, convincingly hit the winning runs.
The historic win saw KKR etch their name yet again in IPL’s storied anthem of glory. The players flooded the field, celebrating a conquest that reflected disciplined team effort and undeniable cricket prowess, adding another glorious chapter to KKR’s illustrious journey in IPL history.