In a gripping encounter that had fans on the edge of their seats, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) secured a commanding eight-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) to earn their place in the final of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. The match, held at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, was a display of KKR’s all-round prowess, particularly their standout bowling performance which limited SRH to a modest total of 159 runs. The KKR batsmen then showcased clinical efficiency to chase down the target, ensuring their fourth appearance in an IPL final and their first since 2021.
On winning the toss, SRH captain Pat Cummins opted to bat first, aiming to put a formidable total on the board. However, his decision seemed to backfire almost immediately when Mitchell Starc struck a crucial early blow, dismissing Travis Head with a searing delivery that shattered the stumps.
The initial powerplay was filled with drama as both teams exhibited their intent. SRH looked to counter-attack, represented by the defiant Rahul Tripathi who persistently targeted the KKR bowlers. Despite Tripathi’s aggressive approach, SRH lost three more wickets in quick succession. Abhishek Sharma was caught at cover by Andre Russell off Vaibhav Arora’s bowling in the second over. Starc then returned to take two crucial wickets in the fifth over; Nitish Reddy and Shahbaz Ahmed both fell cheaply, leaving SRH reeling at 39 for four within the first five overs.
At this precarious stage, SRH found some respite through a crucial partnership between Rahul Tripathi and Heinrich Klaasen. Over the next six overs, the pair added 61 valuable runs. Sunil Narine, introduced into the attack in the ninth over, conceded 18 runs as Klaasen launched a massive six, signifying SRH’s intent to dominate. Tripathi, showing his class, reached his half-century in the 11th over with a deft reverse-sweep against Varun Chakaravarthy, scoring 50 off just 29 balls.
However, SRH’s innings faltered again as KKR struck back. Klaasen was caught at deep mid-wicket by Rinku Singh for 32. Abdul Samad, though aggressive and smashing two sixes off Narine, catalyzed a mix-up with Tripathi, leading to the latter’s unfortunate run-out at 55. The scoreboard read an ominous 121 for six.
In the final stages of the innings, only the SRH skipper Pat Cummins showed some resistance. Cummins contributed a critical 30 off 24 balls, including boundaries in the slog overs which briefly lifted SRH’s spirits. Despite his efforts, wickets continued falling at the other end, and Cummins eventually fell in the last over.
. SRH closed their innings at 159 runs, a total that appeared subpar against a determined KKR side. Key highlights from the KKR bowling unit included Starc’s impressive three for 34 and Chakaravarthy’s economical two for 26.
Responding to the chase, the KKR innings started with a bang. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Sunil Narine opened the batting, instantly going on the offensive. Gurbaz, in his first outing of the tournament, set the tone by smashing the second ball for four. Narine, unfazed by the occasion, greeted Cummins with two consecutive boundaries before Gurbaz top-edged a delivery for a six over third-man. This aggressive start saw KKR score 63 runs in the powerplay, although T. Natarajan managed to get a breakthrough by dismissing Gurbaz for 23.
SRH’s troubles only deepened as Venkatesh Iyer joined Shreyas Iyer at the crease. Venkatesh continued the aggressive approach, maintaining a brisk scoring rate. Though Narine’s cameo ended soon after with his dismissal for 21 by Cummins, the Iyer duo ensured that there was no respite for SRH.
Both Shreyas and Venkatesh Iyer showed no signs of pressure, punishing the SRH bowlers and capitalizing on fielding errors including dropped catches. Venkatesh was the first to reach his half-century, hammering Nitish for a six over mid-wicket to get to 50 off just 28 balls. Not wanting to be outdone, Captain Shreyas Iyer followed suit, smashing consecutive boundaries to achieve his fifty off an even faster 23 balls.
With the target in sight, the finishing act came fittingly from the KKR captain. Shreyas Iyer sealed the victory with a majestic six over long-on, completing the chase in just 13.4 overs with 38 balls to spare. This comprehensive win by eight wickets not only highlighted KKR’s dominance on the day but also carried them confidently into the IPL 2024 final.
As KKR gear up for the title clash, SRH will have one more opportunity to reach the final. They are set to face the winner of the Eliminator between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals. This upcoming contest promises to be another thrilling chapter in the IPL narrative.
