Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have etched their name in the history books of TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 by becoming the first team to secure a spot in the playoffs. The electrifying atmosphere at Eden Gardens witnessed KKR clinching an 18-run win over the mighty Mumbai Indians (MI), their ninth victory of the season.
The evening was marred by persistent rain, which reduced the contest to a 16-overs-a-side affair. MI won the toss and opted to field, gearing up for a high-octane battle. Right from the first ball bowled by Nuwan Thushara, the match promised an exhilarating showdown. Phil Salt, in a spectacular display of aggression, launched the first delivery over long-off for an enormous six. However, his attempt to replicate the big hit later in the over resulted in his dismissal as he was caught in the deep.
Bringing in Jasprit Bumrah for the second over proved to be a game-changer for MI. Bumrah’s first delivery swung sharply inwards, leaving Sunil Narine shouldering arms, only to see his stumps shattered. KKR suddenly found themselves teetering at 10 for two, raising concerns of an early collapse.
With the pressure mounting, Venkatesh Iyer adopted a counter-attacking approach, embodying the adage that ‘attack is the best form of defence’. Despite a brief injury scare, Iyer took on Bumrah in the fourth over, scoring two fours and a six to shift the momentum back in KKR’s favor. Shreyas Iyer, however, fell soon after, getting bowled around his legs by Anshul Kamboj, further unsettling KKR’s batting order. Nitish Rana, making a comeback from injury, joined Venkatesh in the middle.
While big partnerships eluded KKR, crucial contributions from several players helped keep the scoreboard ticking. Venkatesh’s explosive 21-ball 42 set a brisk pace for the innings before he was dismissed by Piyush Chawla in the ninth over. Andre Russell entered the fray and quickly established his presence with a towering six. Nitish Rana’s stint, punctuated with regular boundaries, was cut short when he was run-out for 33 in the 12th over.
Despite the frequent loss of wickets, useful cameos from the middle and lower-order batters propelled KKR to a respectable total of 157 for seven. Russell chipped in with a quickfire 24 off 14 balls, while Rinku Singh added 20 off 12 balls, including two sixes.
. Ramandeep Singh’s unbeaten 17 off eight balls, featuring a six off the last delivery, ensured KKR set a challenging target. The standout bowler for MI was Piyush Chawla, who bagged two wickets for 28 runs in his three overs. Bumrah’s four overs fetched him two wickets but cost 39 runs, while Kamboj’s economical spell of one for 24 in three overs showcased his skill.
MI’s chase got off to a flying start, courtesy of Ishan Kishan’s explosive batting. The powerplay saw MI accumulate 59 runs within the first five overs, with Kishan scoring a rapid 37 off 17 balls. Harshit Rana’s fourth over conceded 15 runs, and even Sunil Narine faced the wrath of Kishan, conceding a six and a four in the fifth over. With MI cruising, Ishan’s formidable form and Rohit Sharma’s steady rotation of strike seemed to put MI on a path to victory.
However, the middle overs brought a spin-induced revival for KKR. Narine dismissed Kishan in the seventh over, caught at deep midwicket, and soon after, Sharma’s mistimed shot was caught by Narine off Chakaravarthy’s bowling, reducing MI to 81 for two by the end of the 10th over. Suryakumar Yadav’s presence revived MI’s hopes temporarily, but Andre Russell’s intervention saw Suryakumar being caught at deep square-leg in the 11th over.
KKR’s disciplined bowling attack continued to stifle MI, with Varun Chakaravarthy delivering a standout spell of four overs, giving away just 17 runs for two wickets. Narine complemented this with three overs for 21 runs and a crucial wicket. Andre Russell also chipped in with pivotal dismissals, including Tim David for a duck.
Despite Tilak Varma’s valiant effort to keep MI in the hunt, the escalating required run-rate proved too daunting. Entering the final two overs, MI needed 41 runs. Naman Dhir’s aggressive batting momentarily rekindled hopes, but Harshit Rana’s calm and effective final over sealed the deal for KKR. Rana dismissed Dhir and subsequently ended Varma’s fight, culminating in an 18-run victory for KKR.
The jubilant crowd at Eden Gardens celebrated yet another victory in what has been a remarkable season for KKR. They leave their home ground with an impressive record of five wins out of seven matches, looking forward to continuing their triumphant journey in the playoffs.
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