Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) became the first team in the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 to secure their spot in the playoffs following a critical 18-run win over Mumbai Indians (MI) at their home ground, Eden Gardens. This crucial victory marks their ninth win of the season, cementing their stronghold in the league.
Due to persistent rains in the evening, the contest was truncated into a 16-overs-a-side affair. MI won the toss and decided to field first, setting the stage for an intense showdown. Phil Salt seized the moment right from the first ball, smashing Nuwan Thushara over long-off for a spectacular six. However, the tides shifted quickly in the same over when Salt aimed to hit over fine-leg but instead skied the ball, resulting in a catch in the deep. Jasprit Bumrah was brought into the attack for the second over, and he immediately made an impact by bowling Sunil Narine, who misread a full delivery that swung in to rattle the stumps. At a shaky 10 for two, KKR found themselves in a precarious situation.
Venkatesh Iyer then came to the crease and adopted an aggressive approach, proving that sometimes, attack is the best form of defense. Despite the early setbacks, Venkatesh aimed to put KKR back on track. The fourth over, bowled by Bumrah, saw a mix of excitement and anxiety. Venkatesh initially faced an injury scare but later retaliated strongly with two fours and a six, giving KKR a much-needed boost. Unfortunately, Shreyas Iyer was soon bowled around his legs by Anshul Kamboj, adding another dent to KKR’s innings. Nitish Rana, returning from injury, joined Venkatesh next.
KKR struggled to build significant partnerships throughout their innings, losing wickets at regular intervals. However, key contributions helped set a competitive target. Venkatesh’s spirited 21-ball 42 laid a vital foundation. He was eventually dismissed by Suryakumar Yadav off Piyush Chawla in the ninth over. Andre Russell, making his presence felt, smashed his second ball over long-on for a towering six. Nitish Rana, maintaining the tempo, struck boundaries consistently before being run out for 33 in the 12th over.
Despite the lack of big partnerships, useful cameos pushed KKR’s score close to 160.
. Russell’s 24 off 14 balls, Rinku Singh’s 20 off 12 balls with two sixes, and an unbeaten 17 off eight balls by Ramandeep Singh, which included a six off the last ball, propelled KKR to 157 for seven. Piyush Chawla emerged as MI’s most successful bowler with two for 28 in his three overs, while Bumrah’s two for 39 off four overs helped him regain the purple cap. Anshul Kamboj was economical, conceding just 24 runs in his three-over spell.
Chasing a target of 158, MI got off to a thunderous start, thanks to Ishan Kishan. The first five overs saw MI blazing away to 59 runs, with Ishan scoring a rapid 37 off 17 balls. Harshit Rana’s fourth over went for 15 runs, and Narine, who bowled the fifth, was hit for a six and a four. MI seemed on course for a comfortable chase with Ishan in great form, and Rohit Sharma focusing on rotating the strike while hitting occasional boundaries.
However, the middle overs saw a resurgence from KKR’s spinners, applying brakes on MI’s charging innings. Narine dismissed Ishan in the seventh over, with a catch at deep midwicket. Soon after, Rohit’s innings came to an end when he was caught by Narine off Varun Chakaravarthy’s bowling. By the 10th over, MI had slowed to 81 for two, with hopes pinned on Suryakumar Yadav. Andre Russell crushed those hopes when Suryakumar pulled one to deep square-leg, departing in the 11th over.
KKR’s bowlers continued to apply pressure with timely wickets, and MI’s innings never fully recovered. Chakaravarthy, with his economical four-over spell for 17 runs and two wickets, and Narine, with his one for 21 in three overs, were instrumental. Russell’s crucial wickets, including the dismissal of Tim David for no score, played a pivotal role in KKR’s defense.
MI’s Tilak Varma fought valiantly to keep his side in the hunt. As the required runs climbed, aggressive batting from Naman Dhir briefly rekindled MI’s hopes. However, with 22 runs needed off the last over, Harshit Rana bowled an excellent final over, dismissing Dhir and ending Tilak’s resistance to seal the victory for KKR.
As the Eden Gardens crowd erupted in celebration, KKR marked another momentous win in what has been an unforgettable season. The team leaves their home ground with five wins out of seven games, a testament to their solid and consistent performance this season.
