In a showcase of cricketing excellence, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) effortlessly claimed the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 title, a memorable victory underscored by their commanding all-round performance against the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). The finale, held at the historic MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, saw KKR replicate their past triumph at the same venue in 2012, ultimately capturing their third IPL trophy on May 26, 2024. This compelling victory highlighted KKR’s strategic prowess as they limited SRH’s vaunted batting lineup to a modest total of 113, which they chased down with ease in just 10.3 overs and eight wickets in hand.
From the outset, it was clear that KKR’s strategy would play a pivotal role in their success. At the toss, KKR’s captain Shreyas Iyer expressed a desire to bowl first—a decision rendered moot when SRH opted to bat upon winning the toss. Nevertheless, the KKR bowling unit, led by the formidable Mitchell Starc, justified their captain’s confidence with an exemplary display of skill. Starc, celebrated as the Player of the Match in these teams’ prior encounter in Ahmedabad, brought his A-game to the final once again.
The early overs of SRH’s innings unfolded as a testament to KKR’s bowling acumen. Starc began by attacking SRH’s Abhishek Sharma right away, culminating in one of the tournament’s most remarkable deliveries. With a ball that pitched around middle-stump and deviated away just slightly, Starc managed to pierce through Sharma’s defenses, sending the ball to rattle the top of the off-stump. This breakthrough set the stage for KKR’s early dominance, invoking memories of past exploits.
Adding to SRH’s woes, KKR’s Vaibhav Arora exhibited his own brand of magic with the ball. SRH’s Travis Head, upon facing Arora for the first time, was undone by a delivery that veered away, resulting in a snick carried cheerfully to the wicketkeeper. With SRH languishing at a precarious six for two, the powerful opening pair considered one of the tournament’s most lethal, had been dismantled.
The KKR bowlers maintained relentless pressure, curbing SRH’s scoring opportunities particularly harshly during the powerplay. The first boundary for SRH emerged only in the third over. Starc, unfazed by his initial successes, returned in a subsequent spell to remove Rahul Tripathi, who fell victim to a mistimed shot landing high in the air and comfortably secured at mid-wicket.
Despite a brief flash of resistance where SRH managed a flurry of 17 runs in the sixth over—an unexpected development from Arora’s spell—KKR’s grip on the match was hardly loosened. Nitish Reddy’s valiant effort to revitalize SRH with the innings’ first six was swiftly countered as KKR continued their disciplined bowling approach in the middle overs.
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Andre Russell and Harshit Rana elevated KKR’s strategy with incisive wicket-taking spells of their own, backed by economical performances from spin maestros Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy. Rana inflicted a critical blow by dismissing Reddy soon after the powerplay. Meanwhile, Russell illustrated his prowess by removing Aiden Markram, who succumbed by lobbing a catch to a well-placed Starc at long-on.
SRH’s attempt at a middle-order consolidation faltered further when Shahbaz Ahmed, aiming for a steady inning, fell prey to Chakaravarthy’s artistry, finding himself caught at short fine-leg. As SRH’s hopes dwindled, Abdul Samad, designated as the impact player, failed to launch a comeback, becoming a victim of Russell’s cunning. Rana dealt perhaps the most impactful blow by shattering Heinrich Klaasen’s stumps in the 15th over, leaving SRH teetering without reaching a three-figure score.
Despite Starc letting Pat Cummins off with a dropped catch, Cummins labored diligently to salvage SRH’s innings, just managing to push the score past 100 with a top score of 24 before Starc made amends by dismissing him, concluding SRH’s innings.
In pursuit of a relatively modest target, KKR’s chase fired off with confidence. Rahmanullah Gurbaz heralded the intent by dispatching the second ball to the boundary. Narine lofted Cummins’ delivery for a towering six but was caught shortly after seeking to clear the ropes again. Any brewing tension in the KKR camp was quickly dissipated by Venkatesh Iyer, who countered with consecutive breathtaking shots off Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
With boundaries flowing freely, the KKR innings galloped to fifty in under five overs. While Gurbaz progressed methodically, Venkatesh hammered the bowling attack, notably T Natarajan, with an arsenal of fours and a stunning six, pushing the powerplay tally starkly to 72 for one.
KKR’s charged-up batting unit exhibited a seamless transition post powerplay, with Gurbaz actively accelerating the run rate against the spinners. By the ninth over, KKR had breached the 100-mark, nearing the finish line comfortably. Although Gurbaz departed for a well-constructed 39, the victory was firmly within KKR’s reach.
The dynamic Iyer duo partnered to seal KKR’s victory in grand style. Venkatesh, emerging as the innings’ protagonist, reached his blistering half-century in just 24 deliveries, emphasizing authority by striking the winning runs soon after. With the target surpassed, the field erupted with KKR’s jubilant players streaming onto the pitch to commemorate their much-deserved third IPL championship, marking another glorious chapter in KKR’s storied IPL history.