In a thrilling encounter at Eden Gardens, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) became the first team in the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 to secure their place in the playoffs. KKR claimed an 18-run victory over the Mumbai Indians (MI), marking their ninth win of the season and continuing their impressive form.
The match was initially delayed and reduced to a 16-overs-a-side contest due to persistent evening rain. MI won the toss and elected to field, setting the stage for a high-octane opening. Phil Salt, batting for KKR, smashed the first ball bowled by Nuwan Thushara for a massive six over long-off. However, Salt’s aggression was short-lived as he was dismissed later in the same over, skying a shot to fine-leg.
The following over saw more drama as Jasprit Bumrah, commencing his spell, bowled Sunil Narine with a full delivery that swung in and dismantled the stumps. KKR found themselves in early trouble at 10 for two. In the midst of this precarious situation, Venkatesh Iyer stepped up to steer the innings with an aggressive approach, demonstrating that attack could indeed be the best form of defense. Despite an injury scare in the fourth over bowled by Bumrah, Iyer managed to score two fours and a six, giving KKR a much-needed boost.
However, KKR’s innings was characterized by the lack of substantial partnerships as they continued to lose wickets regularly. Important contributions from the middle-order batters were crucial in setting a competitive total. Venkatesh Iyer’s quickfire 21-ball 42 was pivotal, though he was dismissed attempting another big hit, caught by Suryakumar Yadav off Piyush Chawla in the ninth over. Andre Russell entered with his characteristic aggression, hitting a six off his second ball. Nitish Rana, returning from injury, played a steady knock but was run out for 33.
The cameos from Russell, who scored 24 off 14 balls, and Rinku Singh, with 20 off 12 balls, further propelled KKR. An unbeaten 17 from Ramandeep Singh, which included a vital six off the last ball, helped KKR reach a challenging total of 157 for seven. Piyush Chawla emerged as the most successful bowler for MI, claiming two wickets for 28 runs in his three overs, while Bumrah took two for 39 in his four-over spell, regaining the purple cap. Anshul Kamboj was economical, finishing with one for 24 off three overs.
.
MI’s chase got off to a fast start, thanks largely to Ishan Kishan’s explosive batting. Kishan raced to 37 off just 17 balls, propelling MI to 59 in the first five overs. Harshit Rana and Sunil Narine were both expensive in their early spells. Rohit Sharma too added to the aggressive start, hitting a six early in the innings off a free-hit. However, KKR’s spinners clawed the team back into the game during the middle overs. Narine pulled off a significant breakthrough by getting Kishan caught at deep midwicket for 40 in the seventh over. Soon after, Rohit succumbed to another dismissal, caught by Narine at short fine-leg off Varun Chakaravarthy’s bowling.
By the 10th over, MI’s innings slowed down considerably, with the scoreboard reading 81 for two. Critical wickets fell in quick succession, starting with Suryakumar Yadav, who was caught at deep square-leg by Russell in the 11th over. KKR’s bowlers applied constant pressure, with Chakaravarthy delivering an economical spell, concluding with figures of two for 17 from his four overs. Narine also played a vital role, finishing with one for 21 from his three overs. Russell’s all-round performance included crucial wickets, notably dismissing Tim David for no score.
Despite Tilak Varma’s valiant effort to keep MI in the hunt, the mounting required run rate appeared insurmountable. Aggressive batting from Naman Dhir in the closing overs reignited MI’s hopes, but needing 41 off the last two overs proved too steep. Harshit Rana bowled an effective final over, sealing the win by dismissing both Dhir and Tilak, confirming KKR’s playoff berth.
The Eden Gardens crowd erupted in jubilation as KKR concluded their home games with a remarkable record of five wins out of seven matches this season. This victory cements KKR’s playoff spot and adds to what has been a memorable and successful season for the team. The Kolkata Knight Riders are now poised and ready for the critical playoff stages, aiming to carry forward their winning momentum.