Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) stamped their authority in Qualifier 1 of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, securing an eight-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) to book their place in the final. The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad saw an outstanding all-round performance by KKR, whose bowlers restricted a potent SRH batting line-up to a modest 159 runs, and whose batsmen then chased down the target with ease, marking their fourth appearance in an IPL final and their first since 2021.
The day began with SRH captain Pat Cummins winning the toss and opting to bat, relying on their aggressive batting line-up that had been a significant attraction throughout the season. Mitchell Starc, opening the bowling for KKR, quickly set the tone by clean-bowling Travis Head on the second ball of the innings. This early breakthrough paved the way for a thrilling powerplay, as SRH attempted to fight their way back into the game while KKR relentlessly pursued wickets.
Amid this intense competition, Rahul Tripathi stood out as a beacon of hope for SRH with some aggressive stroke play. Despite losing partners frequently at the other end, with Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Reddy, and Shahbaz Ahmed dismissed early, Tripathi kept the scoreboard ticking and took risks, reaching his fifty in just 29 balls. His partnership with Heinrich Klaasen brought some stability to the SRH innings, adding 61 runs in six overs. However, the departure of Klaasen for 32 to a well-judged catch by Rinku Singh triggered another slide in the middle order.
The loss of Tripathi, run out following a mix-up, left SRH reeling at 121 for six. In the death overs, only captain Pat Cummins showed resistance, scoring 30 off 24 balls and helping SRH cross the 150-run mark despite constant pressure from the KKR bowlers. Starc was the pick of the bowlers with figures of three for 34, while Varun Chakaravarthy bowled economically to claim two wickets for 26 runs. Despite a late flurry of boundaries that slightly marred Starc’s figures, SRH could only manage 159 by the end of their innings.
In response, KKR started their chase on a blistering note. Rahmanullah Gurbaz, playing his first match of the tournament, partnered with Sunil Narine to open the innings in an aggressive fashion.
. Gurbaz struck a four on the second ball of the innings, followed by a top-edged six over third-man in Cummins’s over. Narine complemented Gurbaz’s spirited innings before he fell for 21, caught at deep square leg off a delivery from Cummins.
KKR sustained their momentum with Venkatesh Iyer joining Gurbaz at the crease. After Gurbaz fell for 23, attempting a shot over cover to T Natarajan, Venkatesh continued the assault. Together with Shreyas Iyer, they amassed 63 runs during the powerplay, effectively keeping the required run rate under control.
Throughout the innings, SRH struggled in the field, making errors and missing opportunities, including dropping catches and losing their two reviews early on. Venkatesh Iyer showcased his power-hitting ability by launching multiple sixes and crossing the fifty-run mark off just 28 balls with a mighty pull over mid-wicket. Not to be outdone, Shreyas Iyer also reached his half-century, displaying a mix of powerful shots and sharp running between the wickets.
As the target drew near, Shreyas sealed the victory with a series of big hits, culminating in a towering six over long-on, to complete a comprehensive chase in just 13.4 overs. KKR walked off the field with 38 balls to spare and a dominating eight-wicket win, underscoring their superiority on the day.
As KKR advance to the high-stakes final, SRH’s journey isn’t over yet. They will have another opportunity to join the final clash by playing the winner of the Eliminator between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals. For now, KKR will relish their dominant victory and prepare for their shot at the IPL trophy.