In a thrilling encounter at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) asserted their dominance over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) with an emphatic eight-wicket victory, securing their place in the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 final. The KKR bowlers exhibited exemplary skill, restricting a formidable SRH batting line-up to a modest 159, before their batsmen confidently chased down the target, ensuring their fourth final appearance and first since 2021.
Opting to bat first after winning the toss, SRH skipper Pat Cummins placed faith in his explosive batting roster that had entertained spectators throughout the season. Mitchell Starc took the new ball for KKR, steaming in to bowl to Travis Head and making an immediate impact by disturbing the stumps on just the second delivery. This early breakthrough set the tone for an eventful powerplay filled with drama and high intensity.
SRH, resilient and determined, sought to fight back with their aggressive style of play. However, KKR’s attacking mindset continued to yield wickets. Outside of Rahul Tripathi, who played with commendable positivity, every SRH batsman struggled to find footing. Abhishek Sharma was the next to fall, caught by Andre Russell at cover off Vaibhav Arora’s bowling in the second over. Returning to bowl the fifth over, Mitchell Starc struck twice. Nitish Reddy top-edged a delivery that was comfortably caught by KKR’s keeper, Rahmanullah Gurbaz. On the very next ball, Shahbaz Ahmed was bowled after an inside edge. This left SRH in a precarious situation at 39/4 by the end of the fifth over.
Despite the setbacks, Rahul Tripathi and Heinrich Klaasen mounted a resurgence for SRH. Together, they added 61 runs in just six overs, with Klaasen’s aggressive approach particularly paying dividends against KKR’s Sunil Narine. In the ninth over, Klaasen hammered Narine for 18 runs, setting up a potential path for a high score. Tripathi brought up his half-century in the 11th over, showcasing his measured aggression with a reverse-sweep boundary off Chakaravarthy. Nonetheless, the momentum shifted once again as Klaasen was caught at deep mid-wicket for 32 runs.
Abdul Samad brought fresh energy to the crease, launching Narine for a massive six off his first ball. However, a miscommunication between Samad and Tripathi led to the latter’s run-out after a well-played 55, deepening SRH’s troubles at 121/6.
. Pat Cummins, the captain, endeavored to anchor the innings, contributing an invaluable 30 off 24 balls. His efforts helped SRH cross the 150-mark, although his late dismissal in the final over saw SRH bowled out for 159. Mitchell Starc and Varun Chakaravarthy were the standout bowlers for KKR, with respective figures of 3/34 and 2/26, ably supported by a vigilant fielding unit.
Chasing a modest target, KKR’s reply was nothing short of aggressive. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Sunil Narine were sent to open the innings, with Gurbaz particularly keen on making an impression. He hit a boundary off the second ball he faced, setting the stage for a brisk start. Narine capitalized early on Cummins’ bowling, collecting quick boundaries before Gurbaz, attempting an ambitious shot off T Natarajan’s bowling, was caught for 23. This dismissal, however, did not deter KKR’s momentum.
With Venkatesh Iyer joining the fray, KKR continued their blaze. They racked up 63 runs during the powerplay, dismantling SRH’s bowling attack. Sunil Narine’s brief yet impactful cameo of 21 ended with a catch at deep square-leg off Cummins. Then, the Iyer brothers took charge. Shreyas and Venkatesh maintained the required run rate effortlessly. SRH grappled with moments of ineffectiveness in the field, including two dropped catches off Shreyas Iyer, which further compounded their woes.
Venkatesh Iyer reached his half-century in style, smacking a six over mid-wicket from Nitish’s delivery, achieving the milestone in just 28 balls. Shreyas Iyer followed suit, showcasing his prowess with a six, a four, and another six, reaching his fifty off merely 23 balls. With the target within easy reach, Shreyas Iyer concluded KKR’s chase emphatically with a powerful six over long-on, wrapping up the match in just 13.4 overs with 38 balls to spare.
With this dominant victory, KKR booked its ticket to the final, leaving SRH to contest the winner of the Eliminator between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rajasthan Royals for another shot at the title.