In a breathtaking display of cricketing prowess, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) clinched their third TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) title in 2024, showcasing their all-round abilities in a resounding victory over the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the storied MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. It was a setting that bore fond memories for KKR, as it was here that they had lifted their inaugural IPL trophy back in 2012. On May 26, 2024, history repeated itself when KKR emerged victorious, completing a dominant eight-wicket win by chasing down a modest target of 113 in just 10.3 overs.
Despite losing the toss and being asked to bowl first, KKR captain Shreyas Iyer remained unfazed, having initially expressed his desire to bowl. His confidence in his bowlers was not misplaced as they delivered a remarkable performance that dismantled SRH’s formidable batting lineup. Leading the charge was Mitchell Starc, who once again proved his mettle, echoing his previous stellar performance against the same opposition in Ahmedabad earlier in the tournament.
Opting to bat first after winning the toss, SRH sent Abhishek Sharma to open alongside Travis Head. However, it was Starc who stole the limelight starting from his very first over. The Australian speedster set the tone by producing a delivery that will be remembered as one of the best of the tournament. Pitching around the middle-stump and curving away, it confounded Abhishek Sharma, eventually dislodging the bails from the top of the off stump and sending a shockwave through the SRH camp.
Building on the momentum created by this scintillating start, Vaibhav Arora worked in tandem with Starc to further decimate SRH’s top order. In his very first delivery to a nervous Travis Head, Arora managed to induce a nick that traveled straight to the wicketkeeper, thereby dismantling one of the most feared opening pairs of the season and leaving SRH reeling at six for two.
Restrained by this early double blow, SRH struggled to find any rhythm, their first boundary evading them until the third over. The relentless KKR bowlers kept pressing on; Starc returned for another spell in the fifth over to send Rahul Tripathi back to the pavilion as he skied a mistimed shot to the mid-wicket. The opening pair of Starc and Arora displayed immense skill and discipline, setting up the match beautifully for KKR in the first six overs.
Though SRH managed a brief reprieve by collecting 17 runs off Vaibhav Arora in the sixth over, the KKR bowlers remained relentless.
. Supported by Andre Russell and Harshit Rana, the team continued to peg back SRH, ensuring they didn’t find any room to breathe. Russell and Rana shared crucial middle overs to mop up the SRH innings, each bowler snaring vital wickets that continued to pile pressure.
The middle order of SRH saw flickers of resistance, with Nitish Reddy hitting a six but soon succumbing to Harshit Rana. Meanwhile, Aiden Markram was dismissed for 20, holing out to Starc at long-on. A persistent KKR side tightened their grip further when SRH’s impact player, Abdul Samad, was sent packing by Russell. As wickets kept tumbling, SRH’s hopes dwindled with their big hitter Heinrich Klaasen being bowled out by Rana, leaving them far from their intended target of anything substantial.
Even as Pat Cummins, SRH’s highest scorer with 24 runs, attempted a salvage operation, it wasn’t enough to steer SRH to an imposing total. His innings, including a chance when dropped by Starc, ended when he again found Starc lurking at long-on in the 19th over to conclude their innings at 113 runs.
Responding to the modest target, KKR’s chase was spearheaded by opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who wasted no time, carving the second ball for a four through point. KKR’s aggression was palpable when Sunil Narine thumped a six over midwicket in the second over, although he perished shortly thereafter from a top-edge. Despite this minor hiccup, confidence surged back when Venkatesh Iyer took charge by launching two massive sixes and a four, stamping authority during the initial overs.
KKR blitzed past the fifty-run mark inside merely five overs, creating what seemed an unstoppable momentum. Gurbaz partnered efficiently with Venkatesh Iyer, who continued wielding the bat with undeniable aggression, ensuring the run-chase was rapidly brought to a close. By the ninth over, KKR had cruised past the hundred mark, leading to Gurbaz’s eventual dismissal for a well-played 39.
Anchored by a swashbuckling innings from Venkatesh Iyer, who reached his half-century on just 24 balls, the run-chase was a mere formality thereafter. With the victory inevitable, he pierced the final runs, sparking jubilant celebrations as the Knight Riders exalted in their third IPL title, reinforcing their place as titans in the IPL pantheon with an unforgettable triumph at Chennai’s iconic stadium.