Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) made history as the first team in the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 to secure a spot in the playoffs. Their remarkable journey continued with a gripping 18-run victory over Mumbai Indians (MI) on their home turf, Eden Gardens. This win, their ninth of the season, came despite the challenges posed by inclement weather, which reduced the match to a 16-over affair.
The excitement began even before the first ball was bowled. Persistent rain caused a delay, shrinking the game to 16 overs per side. When the toss finally occurred, MI chose to field, setting the stage for a high-octane clash. Phil Salt wasted no time making an impact, smashing the first ball bowled by Nuwan Thushara over long-off for a colossal six. However, his aggressive approach led to a premature exit later in the over as he attempted a shot over fine-leg but was caught in the deep.
Jasprit Bumrah, donning the purple cap, was brought into the attack in the second over. The very first delivery saw Sunil Narine misjudge a full delivery that swung in and shattered his stumps. KKR found themselves in early trouble at 10 for two, a precarious position that demanded a swift recovery.
Venkatesh Iyer rose to the occasion, embodying the adage that attack is the best form of defense. In the fourth over, bowled by Bumrah, Venkatesh survived an injury scare but quickly turned the tide with an aggressive display. His charge at Bumrah yielded two fours and a six, an over that proved crucial for KKR. Yet, the challenges continued as Shreyas Iyer was soon bowled around his legs by Anshul Kamboj. In a bid to stabilize the innings, Nitish Rana, making his return from injury, joined Venkatesh in the middle.
Throughout KKR’s innings, big partnerships were notably absent, with wickets falling at regular intervals. Nonetheless, significant contributions kept the scoreboard ticking. Venkatesh’s rapid 21-ball 42 laid the foundation, though he perished just when he appeared set for a significant score, caught by Suryakumar Yadav off Piyush Chawla in the ninth over.
Andre Russell’s arrival brought fireworks as he smashed his second ball over long-on for a trademark six. Nitish Rana maintained the momentum with regular boundaries but was run out for 33 in the 12th over. Late cameos from Russell (24 off 14 balls), Rinku Singh (20 off 12 balls, including two sixes), and an unbeaten 17 off eight balls by Ramandeep Singh guided KKR to a competitive total of 157 for seven.
. Chawla emerged as the standout bowler for MI with figures of 2 for 28 in three overs, while Bumrah claimed 2 for 39 off four overs, further solidifying his hold on the purple cap. Kamboj also impressed with an economical spell of 1 for 24 in three overs.
Chasing a target of 158, MI got off to a blistering start, courtesy of Ishan Kishan. In the first five overs, MI raced to 59, with Ishan blazing away to 37 off just 17 balls. Harshit Rana bore the brunt, conceding 15 runs in the fourth over, while Narine’s fifth over was not spared either, being hit for a six and a four. The quick start bolstered MI’s chase as Ishan appeared set for a big score, while Rohit Sharma complemented him by rotating the strike and hitting a six off a free-hit early in his innings.
KKR’s comeback was spearheaded by their spinners in the middle overs, tightening the screws with an economical spell coupled with crucial wickets. Narine dismissed Ishan, who was caught at deep midwicket for 40 in the seventh over. The next notable strike came from Varun Chakaravarthy, who claimed Rohit’s wicket, caught at short fine-leg by Narine. By the 10th over, MI had slowed to 81 for two, pinning their hopes on Suryakumar Yadav.
Russell continued to be instrumental with the ball, claiming the pivotal wicket of Suryakumar, who pulled one to deep square-leg in the 11th over. KKR maintained pressure, frequently picking up wickets and stalling MI’s scoring rate. Chakaravarthy was exceptionally economical, conceding only 17 runs in his four overs and taking two wickets. Narine contributed significantly with three overs for 21 runs and one wicket, and Russell’s impactful bowling included dismissing Tim David for no score.
Despite Tilak Varma’s determined effort to keep MI in the hunt, the increasing asking rate proved insurmountable. Needing 41 runs off the last two overs, Naman Dhir’s aggressive batting rekindled MI’s hopes. However, the 22 runs required off the final over proved too steep. Harshit Rana delivered a commendable last over, securing Dhir’s wicket and ending Tilak’s valiant fight to clinch the victory.
The Eden Gardens crowd erupted in celebration, witnessing another memorable victory in KKR’s stellar season. KKR concluded their home matches this year with five wins out of seven, a testament to their dominance and consistency. As the first team to qualify for the playoffs, KKR’s performance has left an indelible mark on IPL 2024.