In a stunning display of prowess and precision, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) booked their place in the grand finale of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 with an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the Qualifier 1 match. The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad bore witness to this exhilarating encounter where KKR’s comprehensive performance in both batting and bowling departments enabled their fourth appearance in an IPL final, their first since their 2021 outing.
The toss was won by SRH’s skipper, Pat Cummins, who opted to bat first, perhaps in a bid to set a daunting target given their strong batting line-up that had dazzled fans throughout the season. However, things didn’t go as planned for SRH as KKR came all guns blazing. Mitchell Starc opened the proceedings for KKR, and wielding precision with the new ball, dismantled Travis Head’s stumps on his second delivery itself, providing KKR with an ideal start.
The powerplay overs were a blend of aggression and tension. SRH were determined to fight back with their brand of cricket, relying heavily on Rahul Tripathi who took on the KKR bowlers with gusto despite losing partners at the other end. Abhishek Sharma was caught by Andre Russell off Vaibhav Arora early, and Starc returned in the fifth over to deal a double blow. Nitish Reddy skied a catch to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, and almost immediately, Shahbaz Ahmed, pressed into service ahead of Heinrich Klaasen, chopped a Starc delivery onto his own stumps, leaving SRH reeling at 39 for four within the first five overs.
A glimmer of hope for SRH shone through courtesy of a spirited partnership between Klaasen and Tripathi. Over six overs, the duo accumulated 61 runs, taking their side to a more respectable total. However, the turning point came when Sunil Narine was introduced into the attack in the ninth over and was promptly dispatched for 18 runs, with Klaasen launching a towering shot over the boundary. Tripathi, meanwhile, reached his half-century in mere 29 balls, even as the pressure mounted.
Despite the promising position, SRH’s innings faltered when Klaasen was sent back to the pavilion by Rinku Singh’s exceptional fielding at deep mid-wicket for 32 runs. Abdul Samad provided a brief spark, bludgeoning Narine for gigantic sixes but was run-out soon after a mix-up with Tripathi, who was left stranded on 55.
. The fall of wickets continued unabated, with skipper Cummins the only notable resistor, striking an innings of 30 from 24 deliveries to prop SRH’s score to 159. While Chakaravarthy’s economical spell ensured a chokehold, Starc’s three for 34 punctuated KKR’s bowling prowess, ably backed by vigilant fielding efforts.
KKR embarked on the chase with the air of a team eyeing a mountain but cruising a molehill. A strategic shift in the batting order saw Rahmanullah Gurbaz open alongside Sunil Narine. Gurbaz soon made inroads into SRH’s defenses with authoritative strokes, scoring off the second ball itself. Skipper Pat Cummins felt the brunt as Narine’s hit fetched two boundaries in one over, followed by a fortuitous edge off Gurbaz’s bat for a six.
Despite losing Gurbaz for 23 to T Natarajan in the fourth over, there was no letting up by KKR. Venkatesh Iyer, instilled with a commanding intent, retained the scoring momentum. Reaching 63 in mere six powerplay overs, KKR had already set a winning platform. Narine’s quickfire 21 came to an end, caught off Cummins, but not before bolstering the initial charge.
Thereafter, Shreyas Iyer and Venkatesh Iyer orchestrated a commanding run chase. Despite SRH missing vital opportunities on the field, including two crucial dropped catches of Shreyas and prematurely expended reviews, KKR’s Iyers carried forward with aplomb and aggression. Smattering boundaries, Venkatesh brought up his half-century in 28 balls, followed by a blistering series of shots from Shreyas to equal the feat in 23 balls. KKR’s captain cemented the win, dispatching the ball over long-on for a six, sealing victory with 38 deliveries to spare.
While KKR now sets sights on the championship game, SRH will regroup and seek redemption when they meet the victor of the upcoming Eliminator between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rajasthan Royals, for another shot at reaching the final.