In a remarkable showcase of skill and strategy, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) triumphed over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) to secure the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 crown. This victory at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai marks yet another milestone for KKR, a team renowned for its stellar performances and tactical acumen. The fans in Chennai found themselves transported back to 2012, when KKR had first lifted the trophy in the very same venue, adding a poetic layer to their triumphant campaign.
On May 26, KKR executed a near-perfect game plan to clinch their third IPL title, with a clinical performance that left SRH reeling. The thrilling final saw KKR’s bowlers restrict SRH to a modest total of 113 runs. In response, KKR chased down the target with remarkable ease, completing the victory in just 10.3 overs and with eight wickets to spare.
The drama began at the toss, where SRH captain chose to bat first, a decision that KKR’s skipper, Shreyas Iyer, revealed he would have preferred, given the conditions. However, Iyer and his team took full advantage of bowling first, delivering a formidable performance. Mitchell Starc, who was pivotal in their previous encounter with SRH during the qualifier at Ahmedabad, set the pace with a breathtaking opening over that stunned the opposition.
Starc’s prowess was evident as he bowled one of the tournament’s best deliveries, which pitched on middle stump and moved just enough to unsettle the prolific SRH opener, Abhishek Sharma, sending the ball crashing into the top of off-stump. This early breakthrough was just the catalyst KKR needed, sparking a wave of momentum that would carry them throughout SRH’s innings.
Vaibhav Arora followed Starc’s lead with an equally mesmerizing spell. His first delivery to Travis Head swung away, leading to a crucial edge that landed perfectly into the wicketkeeper’s gloves. With SRH at a precarious six for two, KKR had succeeded in dismantling the tournament’s most intimidating opening partnership.
The scoring became an uphill battle for SRH as KKR continued their relentless onslaught with the new ball. SRH managed their first boundary only in the third over, a testament to KKR’s disciplined bowling attack led by Starc and Arora. Starc wasn’t finished; he returned in the fifth over to catch Rahul Tripathi off guard, tempting him into a big shot that ended up in safe hands at mid-wicket.
A glimpse of respite came in the sixth over of the powerplay when SRH managed to score 17 runs against Arora, including a six by Nitish Reddy. Yet, the tide remained firmly with KKR.
. Complementing the early breakthroughs, Andre Russell and Harshit Rana continued to heap pressure on SRH with timely wickets and tight overs, while Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy ensured the run-rate stayed under control with their economical spells.
SRH batsman Reddy, having shown some resolve, was snatched from the crease by Harshit Rana soon after the powerplay. Andre Russell removed the dangerous Aiden Markram for 20, who succumbed to a clever field placement, falling to Starc at long-on.
SRH’s innings failed to gain momentum as their batsmen, including Shahbaz Ahmed and Abdul Samad, fell in succession. Varun Chakaravarthy and Russell were instrumental in piling on the pressure. Rana’s dismissal of Heinrich Klaasen in the 15th over, with SRH not even past 100 runs, was the final nail in the coffin.
Pat Cummins mounted a late resistance to take SRH beyond the 100-run mark, top-scoring with 24. His innings briefly extended SRH’s stay at the crease, but it was ultimately Starc who caught Cummins at long-on in the 19th over, ending SRH’s batting foray.
In the chase, KKR’s openers began with aggression. Rahmanullah Gurbaz signaled intent with an early boundary. Pat Cummins’ second over was targeted again, with Sunil Narine launching a spectacular six. However, Narine’s dismissal shortly after didn’t affect the KKR momentum, as Venkatesh Iyer marched to the crease with a purpose.
Iyer, embodying confidence and mastery, took the game by the scruff of the neck. He blazed boundaries and sixes, particularly against Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s over, reinforcing KKR’s dominant position. With KKR reaching 50 within five overs, Iyer’s powerful hits marked a decisive turn in the chase.
After the powerplay, KKR continued their unrelenting attack. Gurbaz, after playing second fiddle initially, shifted his game into a higher gear with the spin bowlers on, helping KKR pass 100 runs inside nine overs. Gurbaz’s contribution ended at 39, leaving Iyer to deliver the finishing blow.
Venkatesh Iyer, reaching a half-century off a mere 24 balls, epitomized KKR’s strategic brilliance and execution, as he struck the winning runs. As the ball crossed the boundary, the KKR players erupted onto the field, celebrating their earned title and marking another successful chapter in their IPL journey.