Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) etched their name in the history books as the first team in the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 to secure a spot in the playoffs. This remarkable feat was achieved at their iconic home ground, Eden Gardens, with an impressive 18-run victory over the formidable Mumbai Indians (MI). The victory marked KKR’s ninth win of the season, further solidifying their dominance.
The match was truncated to 16 overs per side due to incessant rain that had enveloped the city throughout the evening. Opting to field first upon winning the toss, MI’s decision was met with an immediate display of fireworks from KKR. Phil Salt launched the very first ball of the game, delivered by Nuwan Thushara, into the stands over long-off for a magnificent six. However, Salt’s aggressive stint was short-lived as he attempted another big hit later in the over, only to sky the ball and be caught in the deep.
Jasprit Bumrah, donning the purple cap, made an impact right away in the second over. Sunil Narine, opting to leave a full delivery, saw his stumps splayed as the ball swung in dramatically. With KKR reeling at 10 for two, a crisis loomed early on in their innings.
In an inspired fightback, Venkatesh Iyer embraced the age-old philosophy that offense is the best defense. Despite the early setbacks, Venkatesh delivered powerful punches to keep the scoreboard ticking. The fourth over, bowled by Bumrah, saw a mix of tension and relief for KKR. Venkatesh, who survived an injury scare initially, came back with vengeance, smashing two boundaries and a six in quick succession. Although Shreyas Iyer was dismissed by Anshul Kamboj, who bowled him around his legs, Nitish Rana’s return from injury provided a much-needed boost.
KKR’s innings was characterized by frequent wickets, preventing any substantial partnerships from forming. However, critical contributions kept the momentum alive. Venkatesh’s blistering 21-ball 42 set a positive tone, even though he fell to Suryakumar Yadav off Piyush Chawla’s bowling in the ninth over. The familiar big-hitting of Andre Russell came into play next, with a towering six off just his second delivery. Meanwhile, Nitish Rana maintained a steady flow of boundaries but was unfortunately run-out after contributing a valuable 33 runs in the twelfth over.
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The late-order resilience displayed by KKR proved vital, as Russell’s 24 off 14 balls and Rinku Singh’s quick 20 off 12 balls, including two sixes, edged their score closer to the 160 mark. Ramandeep Singh’s finishing touches, with an unbeaten 17 off eight balls, pushed KKR to a competitive 157 for seven. MI’s bowling attack saw Chawla being the most effective with two for 28 in three overs. Bumrah, continuing his form, took two wickets for 39 runs across four overs, while Kamboj maintained a tight line, giving away just 24 runs in his three overs.
In response, MI’s chase was off to a flying start thanks to Ishan Kishan’s explosive batting. Scoring 37 off 17 balls, Ishan powered MI to a rapid 59 in the first five overs. Harshit Rana’s fourth over proved expensive, yielding 15 runs, and even Sunil Narine faced onslaught delivering the fifth over. MI appeared well on course to victory, driven by Ishan’s aggressive intent and Rohit Sharma’s strategic strike rotation.
However, KKR’s spinners turned the tide in the middle overs. Narine claimed Ishan’s wicket in the seventh over, as the batsman fell for a significant 40 runs, caught at deep midwicket. Rohit’s departure soon after, caught by Narine off Varun Chakaravarthy, further slowed MI’s progress. By the tenth over, MI had decelerated to 81 for two, pinning their hopes on Suryakumar Yadav. Russell, however, dashed those hopes by dismissing Suryakumar in the 11th over, caught at deep square-leg.
Chakaravarthy’s four overs for 17 runs and two crucial wickets tightened the noose around MI. Narine’s economical three overs yielded just 21 runs and included a wicket, while Russell’s breakthroughs significantly hindered MI’s chase, notably eliminating Tim David for a duck.
Despite Tilak Varma’s determined efforts to keep MI in the contest, the escalating asking rate became insurmountable. A brief resurgence led by Naman Dhir provided a flicker of hope, needing 41 runs off the final two overs. Nonetheless, Harshit Rana’s composed final over, dismissing Dhir and ending Tilak’s valiant fight, sealed the triumph for KKR.
Eden Gardens erupted in celebration, marking another glorious chapter in KKR’s memorable season. With this victory, KKR concludes their home games on a high, boasting five wins out of seven matches at their fortress.
