Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have made history in the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 by becoming the first team to secure a spot in the playoffs. In a gripping encounter at their home ground, Eden Gardens, KKR emerged victorious over Mumbai Indians (MI) by 18 runs, chalking up their ninth win of the season.
The match was initially beleaguered by persistent evening rain, leading to a reduction in overs which saw each side allotted 16 overs. With the revised conditions, MI won the toss and opted to field. The match started with a bang as Phil Salt hammered the first ball bowled by Nuwan Thushara for a colossal six over long-off. However, his glory was short-lived; he attempted another big shot later in the over but was caught in the deep by a fine-leg fielder.
As the game progressed, Sunil Narine was subjected to a devastating delivery from MI’s ace bowler Jasprit Bumrah. Narine left a full delivery that swung sharply and demolished his stumps on the very first ball he faced. With KKR at a precarious 10 for two, a crisis seemed imminent.
Nonetheless, Venkatesh Iyer’s attacking play brought a flicker of hope to KKR. In Bumrah’s fourth over, despite an injury scare, Venkatesh launched a counter-attack, smashing two boundaries and a huge six. Shreyas Iyer succumbed soon after—bowled around his legs by Anshul Kamboj. Still, Nitish Rana, recovering from an injury, partnered with Venkatesh to stabilize KKR’s innings.
Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, the spirit of the KKR side was reflected through small yet meaningful contributions. Venkatesh’s blistering 21-ball 42 set the stage, though he was dismissed while seeming poised for a larger score. Suryakumar Yadav caught him off Piyush Chawla’s bowling. In came Andre Russell, who immediately struck a signature six over long-on. Nitish Rana, looking solid, was run-out for 33 runs.
Other vital contributions bolstered KKR’s total. Russell smashed 24 off 14 balls, Rinku Singh added 20 off 12 with two sixes, and Ramandeep Singh provided a quick-fire unbeaten 17 off eight balls to help KKR reach 157 for seven in their 16 overs.
. Chawla was MI’s stand-out bowler, claiming two wickets for 28 runs in his three overs, while Bumrah bagged two for 39. Anshul Kamboj was notably economical, conceding only 24 runs in his three-over spell.
MI’s chase began with a whirlwind start, courtesy of an explosive powerplay led by Ishan Kishan. The first five overs saw MI racing to 59 runs, with Ishan smashing 37 off just 17 balls. Harshit Rana and Sunil Narine faced the brunt of the onslaught in the fourth and fifth overs, respectively. MI appeared on track for an easy victory with Ishan in sublime form and Rohit rotating strike effectively.
However, KKR’s spinners turned the tide dramatically. Sunil Narine dismissed Ishan, catching him at deep midwicket for 40 in the seventh over. Soon after, Rohit’s attempt to hit Chakaravarthy found Narine at short fine-leg. By the 10th over, MI stumbled to 81 for two, with hopes pinned on Suryakumar Yadav. Andre Russell dashed those hopes, as Suryakumar’s attempted pull shot landed safely in the hands of the deep square-leg fielder in the 11th over.
Throughout the middle overs, KKR’s bowlers maintained their dominance by applying immense pressure and taking crucial wickets. Chakaravarthy proved unyielding, delivering four overs with only 17 runs conceded for two wickets. Narine clinched another wicket, completing three overs for 21 runs, while Russell made crucial breakthroughs, including the priceless scalp of Tim David for a duck.
Despite a spirited fightback by Tilak Varma, who kept MI in the hunt, the asking rate soared. Naman Dhir briefly reignited MI’s hopes with aggressive hitting, but KKR’s Harshit Rana held his nerve. Harshit bowled a crucial final over, which saw him dismiss both Dhir and Tilak, sealing an 18-run victory for KKR.
Eden Gardens erupted in celebration as KKR notched their fifth home victory out of seven matches played this season. This win serves as a testament to their remarkable form, ensuring a cherished place in the TATA IPL 2024 playoffs.