In a thrilling display of cricketing prowess, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) emerged victorious in the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 final, securing their third title with a commanding all-round performance against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). The victory at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai served as a nostalgic echo of their first triumph at the same venue back in 2012.
On a balmy evening at the iconic Chepauk, the tension was palpable as the teams lined up for the toss. Sunrisers Hyderabad won the toss and elected to bat first, a move that would soon turn advantageous for their opponents. KKR’s captain, Shreyas Iyer, acknowledged that he would have preferred to field, a sentiment that soon played into their strategic advantage.
KKR’s bowling attack was nothing short of sensational. Leading the charge was the fiery Mitchell Starc, whose repertoire of deliveries wreaked havoc on the SRH batting line-up. Starc, who had been instrumental in KKR’s previous encounter with SRH in Ahmedabad, set the tone for the final with a remarkable first over that saw him snaring the formidable Abhishek Sharma. The delivery, one of the tournament’s finest, was perfectly pitched on middle-stump and nipped away to rattle the stumps, capturing the opener squared up and unable to play the line effectively.
Following Starc’s impactful start, Vaibhav Arora joined the assault, exhibiting his own flair with the ball. With Travis Head at the crease, Arora produced a beauty that took the edge of the left-hander’s bat, landing safely into the hands of the wicketkeeper. SRH, reeling at six for two, were on the back foot, having lost their reputed openers in quick succession.
The struggle for SRH continued as they faced a relentless barrage from KKR’s bowlers, with runs proving elusive and boundaries even rarer. It took until the third over for SRH to register their first boundary, a testament to KKR’s disciplined and precise bowling. Mitchell Starc wasn’t done yet and returned to claim Rahul Tripathi’s scalp with a delivery that induced a mistimed shot, leading to an easy catch at mid-wicket.
Despite a temporary respite in the powerplay when Nitish Reddy managed to hit the first six of SRH’s innings, KKR’s bowlers maintained their iron grip on the proceedings. The aggression continued through the middle overs, with Andre Russell and Harshit Rana delivering key breakthroughs. The spin duo of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy choked the flow of runs, ensuring SRH remained under pressure.
Reddy’s time at the crease was cut short post-powerplay when he edged Harshit Rana to the wicketkeeper. Aiden Markram, who tried to stabilize the innings, was caught at long-on off Russell’s bowling, for a modest 20 runs.
. The wickets tumbled thick and fast, with Shahbaz Ahmed and Abdul Samad falling in quick succession to KKR’s bowling wizardry. Varun Chakaravarthy and Russell notably tightened the noose around SRH, leaving them struggling to cross the 100-run mark.
The lone battle from SRH came from Pat Cummins, who top-scored with a valiant 24. Despite being shelved by Starc early in his innings, Cummins couldn’t avert a total collapse. Irony prevailed when the innings concluded with Cummins being caught by Starc in the 19th over, anchoring SRH to a meager 113 runs.
Chasing a modest target, KKR started their innings on a positive note. Rahmanullah Gurbaz signaled intent by dispatching the second ball of the innings to the boundary. SRH’s Pat Cummins opened the bowling but was met by an audacious Sunil Narine, who clobbered his first ball over mid-wicket for a six. Although Narine fell in the very next delivery, his attacking approach had already set the tone for a swift chase.
Venkatesh Iyer, undeterred, took charge with an aggressive onslaught. In an electrifying display, he hammered two sixes and a four off Bhuvneshwar Kumar, marking his dominance and accelerating the chase. The flurry of boundaries continued, driving KKR past the 50-run mark in under five overs. Gurbaz and Iyer ensured the powerplay yielded substantial returns with a score of 72 for one.
As the spinners entered the fray post-powerplay, the KKR batsmen continued to dictate terms. Gurbaz, efficient and poised, rotated the strike well while periodically finding the boundary to maintain the momentum. Though he was dismissed for an enterprising 39, KKR were just a stone’s throw away from the target.
The Iyer-led charge reached its peak as Venkatesh, showcasing his powerful hitting, reached a blistering half-century off just 24 deliveries. The decisive blow came shortly after as KKR cruised to victory within 10.3 overs, securing their third IPL crown in emphatic fashion. With the winning run, the KKR contingent rushed the field, arms aloft, jubilantly celebrating their triumphant IPL campaign of 2024.