In an exhilarating clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) clinched a decisive victory over the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by eight wickets, securing themselves a place in the final of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. This victory marked KKR’s fourth appearance in an IPL final and their first since 2021, showcasing a performance that highlighted their prowess with both bat and ball.
The much-anticipated Qualifier 1 match began with SRH skipper Pat Cummins winning the toss and opting to bat first. Banking on their robust batting line-up, SRH looked to set a formidable target. However, KKR had other plans, as their bowling arsenal, led by the fiery Mitchell Starc, took charge of the proceedings right from the start.
Starc, known for his fiery pace and accuracy, gave KKR the dream start they needed. In only the second ball of the innings, he delivered a sharp in-swinger that bamboozled Travis Head, sending the stumps cartwheeling. This early breakthrough set the tone for what would be a tumultuous powerplay phase for SRH.
The powerplay was a mix of aggression and calamity for SRH. Even as Rahul Tripathi tried to anchor the innings with a counter-attacking approach, SRH continued to lose wickets at regular intervals, courtesy of a disciplined KKR bowling attack. Vaibhav Arora got into the act by dismissing Abhishek Sharma in the second over, caught sharply at cover by Andre Russell. Then, a returning Starc struck twice in the fifth over, removing both Nitish Reddy and Shahbaz Ahmed, leaving SRH struggling at 39 for four after five overs.
Just when SRH seemed to be floundering, hope arrived in the form of a partnership between Heinrich Klaasen and Rahul Tripathi. Over the span of six overs, the duo added 61 runs, trying to stabilize the innings. Klaasen showcased his class with a lusty blow for six off Sunil Narine, and Tripathi brought up his brisk half-century with a deft reverse sweep off Varun Chakaravarthy.
Nevertheless, the respite was short-lived. Narine struck back by claiming Klaasen at deep mid-wicket, caught by Rinku Singh. Abdul Samad attempted to inject some life into the innings by launching his first ball for a six off Narine. However, the dismissal of Tripathi, following a mix-up between the wickets, proved to be another setback for SRH, leaving them precariously placed at 121 for six.
SRH captain Pat Cummins offered some resistance towards the end.
. His 30 off 24 balls was a valiant effort to push the total past the 150-mark. He managed to execute crucial boundaries during the slog overs, even managing to spoil Starc’s tidy bowling figures with a flurry of runs in the final overs. Cummins’s efforts saw SRH conclude their innings at 159. For KKR, Starc finished with impressive figures of three for 34, supplemented by a controlled performance from Chakaravarthy, who took two for 26.
KKR’s chase began with an unexpected opening pair of Sunil Narine and Rahmanullah Gurbaz, marking Gurbaz’s first appearance in the tournament. Gurbaz wasted no time establishing himself, dispatching the second ball he faced for a boundary. KKR’s aggressive stance was further emphasized when Narine took on Cummins, hitting him for consecutive boundaries.
Even with the dismissal of Gurbaz in the fourth over for 23, caught attempting to go over cover, KKR maintained their onslaught. Venkatesh Iyer joined Narine, and together they propelled KKR to a blistering start, reaching 63 by the end of the powerplay.
Narine’s brief cameo ended as he holed out to deep square-leg off Cummins, bringing Shreyas Iyer to the crease alongside Venkatesh. The Iyer duo consolidated the innings with a blend of caution and aggression. Shreyas, benefiting from SRH’s fielding missteps, including dropped catches, built a solid partnership with Venkatesh.
As the target loomed closer, Venkatesh Iyer powered his way to a swift half-century, taking just 28 balls, demonstrating superb timing and precision. Not one to lag, Shreyas matched his partner, reaching his own fifty in just 23 deliveries with a series of audacious hits.
Ultimately, Shreyas Iyer sealed KKR’s dominant victory with a mighty six over long-on, the team finishing the chase in 13.4 overs. KKR’s emphatic win, achieved with 38 balls remaining and eight wickets in hand, underscored their dominant display.
With the final now in sight, KKR will have a few days to prepare for the title clash. Conversely, SRH still has one more opportunity to reach the finale. They will face the winner of the Eliminator between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals, seeking to rectify their mistakes and fight for a place in the coveted showdown.