In an enthralling encounter at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) claimed the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 title with a commanding all-round performance against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). The scene of their first title victory in 2012, Chennai witnessed KKR lifting their third IPL trophy on May 26, 2024, in truly emphatic fashion.
KKR’s bowlers laid the foundation for their victory by restricting the formidable SRH batting lineup to a modest total of 113. The chase was clinical and swift as KKR needed merely 10.3 overs to overtake the target, losing just two wickets in the process.
At the toss, fortunes seemed initially favorable for SRH as they won and opted to bat first. However, KKR’s captain Shreyas Iyer mentioned he would have chosen to bowl if given the opportunity, showcasing his faith in his bowling unit. This trust was rewarded with Mitchell Starc leading the attack with a sensational opening over that set the tone for the match.
Mitchell Starc, who had been the Player of the Match in their previous clash in Ahmedabad, struck early. Facing the pressure of Qualifier 1’s events, SRH’s Abhishek Sharma faced Starc instead of the usual opener, Travis Head. The gambit did not pay off as, in the very first over, Starc delivered a stellar delivery that pitched on middle stump and shaped away just enough to square up Abhishek, hitting the top of the off-stump. This was just the beginning of SRH’s troubles.
Following the loss of Sharma, Vaibhav Arora contributed to the early dismantling of SRH’s top order. Travis Head, coming in after Sharma, edged Arora’s first delivery to the wicketkeeper, putting SRH in dire straits at six for two. The deadly opening pair that had terrorized opponents throughout the tournament was back in the hut before making a significant impact.
Conditions did not ease for SRH as KKR’s bowlers put the screws on during the powerplay. SRH’s first boundary came in the third over, but the runs dried up thereafter. Starc wasn’t finished and came back in the fifth over to remove Rahul Tripathi, who attempted a big hit but only managed to sky the ball to midwicket.
There was a glimmer of hope for SRH when Nitish Reddy hit a six off Vaibhav’s sixth over, bringing some respite.
. However, KKR showed depth in their bowling unit, with Andre Russell and Harshit Rana tightening the noose further in the middle overs. Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy’s economical spells added to SRH’s woes, making run-scoring a challenging task.
Reddy departed soon after the powerplay, caught behind off Rana. Aiden Markram tried to rebuild but was caught by Starc at long-on off Russell for 20. Subsequent batsmen, Shahbaz Ahmed and Abdul Samad, could not make significant contributions either, both falling prey to KKR’s varied attack.
The biggest blow to SRH came in the 15th over when Heinrich Klaasen, their hope for a late surge, was bowled by Rana. At this point, SRH had not even crossed the 100-run mark. Despite Pat Cummins’ valiant efforts, scoring a team-high 24 and extending the innings after being dropped at long-on by Starc, the innings ended fittingly when Cummins found Starc at long-on again in the 19th over.
KKR’s chase began with Rahmanullah Gurbaz setting a positive tone, carving the second ball through point for a boundary. Sundry contributions followed as Pat Cummins bowled the second over, only for Narine to smash the first ball over midwicket for six. Narine’s adventure was cut short as he top-edged an attempt in the same direction and was caught out.
Yet, Venkatesh Iyer quickly dispelled any concerns for KKR with a series of muscular hits, including two sixes and a four in the next over bowled by Bhuvneshwar Kumar. KKR’s aggressive powerplay performance saw them reaching fifty in less than five overs, with Venkatesh clearly in a destructive mood.
Even after the powerplay, Venkatesh continued his charge, and Gurbaz joined in, taking advantage of the fielding restrictions to push KKR close to the target. Their hundred came up inside nine overs. Although Gurbaz was eventually dismissed for a solid 39, the outcome was virtually sealed.
Venkatesh Iyer, in a fitting climax, reached his half-century with panache off just 24 deliveries. He scored the winning runs in the subsequent over, sparking jubilant celebrations as KKR clinched their third IPL title, marking a historic performance at a ground that has played a pivotal role in their IPL journey.