In an impressive display of dominance at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) decisively defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by eight wickets, securing their place in the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 finals. This victory marks KKR’s fourth appearance in the IPL final, a return they have not seen since 2021.
The match commenced with SRH captain Pat Cummins opting to bat first, a decision highlighting their faith in their potent and aggressive batting lineup—a lineup that has consistently thrilled audiences throughout the season. As the play began, the excitement was palpable, with Mitchell Starc ready to charge in with the new ball. His precision proved menacing as, only on the second delivery, he delivered a lethal ball that dismantled Travis Head’s wicket, setting the tone for an exhilarating match.
Despite the SRH’s optimistic start, the initial powerplay was a tale of drama and high tension. The game took a quick turn when SRH’s batting lineup faltered under pressure, losing key wickets in quick succession. As KKR bowlers aggressively sought breakthroughs, SRH’s Rahul Tripathi provided a beacon of hope, fearlessly counterattacking and taking a few risks with aerial shots even as his teammates struggled against the KKR onslaught. Unfortunately for SRH, their early innings were defined by clatter as three more wickets fell in quick sequence—Abhishek Sharma fell victim to a sharp catch by Andre Russell off Vaibhav Arora, and Starc’s lethal spell continued as Nitish Reddy top-edged Starc to Rahmanullah Gurbaz. The experienced Shahbaz Ahmed, unexpectedly promoted ahead of Heinrich Klaasen, unfortunately chopped his first ball onto the stumps.
Finding themselves reeling at 39 for four after a mere five overs, SRH faced a steep climb. However, a glimmer of resilience emerged as Heinrich Klaasen and Tripathi painstakingly constructed a partnership that provided a temporary relief. Over six overs, they put together a 61-run stand, culminating in an explosive over where Sunil Narine was smashed for 18 runs, as Klaasen majestically struck a towering six down the ground. This aggression was strategically aimed at putting KKR under pressure, and it paid dividends as Tripathi reached his half-century in style, courtesy of a clever reverse-sweep off Varun Chakaravarthy in the 11th over.
The innings that seemed to be regaining momentum was jolted once again when Klaasen fell for 32, caught by Rinku Singh at deep mid-wicket. Abdul Samad’s arrival at the crease infused a fresh wave of intent; his first delivery off Narine was sent flying for six. Though he maintained this aggressive approach, a devastating run-out incident soon terminated Tripathi’s promising innings at 55, leaving SRH precariously poised at 121 for six.
SRH’s attempts to surge past 150 experienced further setbacks during the death overs. Captain Pat Cummins showcased resistance, contributing a valuable 30 off 24 balls.
. His effort helped guide SRH past 150, hitting boundary shots, and timing his strikes well, including an impactful finish to Starc’s spell with a four and a six. However, even Cummins couldn’t stay till the end, as SRH concluded their innings at a modest total of 159. Starc, with figures of three for 34, was particularly destructive, while Chakaravarthy’s economical two for 26 underscored KKR’s formidable bowling effort. These performances were adeptly supported by a lively fielding side, creating pivotal opportunities.
In response, KKR approached their chase with the aggression of a team set on a target in excess of 200. The tactical decision of opening with Gurbaz alongside Narine paid immediate dividends. Gurbaz marked his return by hitting the game’s early deliveries for a boundary, setting a brisk pace. Narine continued the attack by driving boundaries off Cummins in the second over, and Gurbaz continued this aggression leading to an initial powerful phase of play. Natarajan’s introduction brought some reprieve for SRH, taking the wicket of an attacking Gurbaz on 23.
Venkatesh Iyer then entered, maintaining KKR’s dominating rhythm as they amassed 63 runs during the powerplay. Not long after Narine’s knock concluded, Shreyas Iyer took centre stage with Venkatesh Iyer, both keeping SRH’s bowling attack under relentless pressure. They capitalized on SRH’s blunders, who—having exhausted their reviews and dropped two catches of Shreyas—continued to falter. Both batsmen executed a combination of controlled aggression and strategic shot selection. Venkatesh’s 50 off 28 balls showcased his power-hitting prowess, soon followed by Shreyas, who too reached a quick-fire fifty.
In an emphatic finish, Shreyas Iyer smashed a six over long-on, clinching the victory in just 13.4 overs with eight wickets remaining. KKR, with 38 balls to spare, demonstrated a convincing superiority, charting their course to the IPL final. Meanwhile, SRH are not out of the running yet and will contend for another chance to reach the final when they face the winner of the Eliminator between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rajasthan Royals.