Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) overpowered Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by eight wickets to secure their spot in the final of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad bore witness to a formidable performance by KKR, who brilliantly curtailed a potent SRH batting line-up to a total of 159. The KKR batsmen then cruised through the chase, locking in their fourth appearance in the IPL final, their first since 2021.
The highly anticipated Qualifier 1 clash commenced with SRH captain Pat Cummins winning the toss and opting to bat first, hoping their explosive batting line-up would set an imposing target. Mitchell Starc was handed the new ball by KKR and the intent was clear from the get-go. Starc, steaming in, delivered a stunning spell early on, breaking through Travis Head’s defenses on just the second ball of the innings, sending the bails flying. It was a dramatic beginning to what would prove to be an intense match.
The powerplay was a rollercoaster of emotions as SRH aimed to put up a fight and play their aggressive brand of cricket, while KKR hunted for early wickets. Rahul Tripathi stood firm amidst the chaos for SRH, combating fire with fire and opting for aerial shots to counter the pressure. Despite his efforts, SRH lost three more vital wickets. Abhishek Sharma fell prey to a sharp catch at cover by Andre Russell off the bowling of Vaibhav Arora in the second over. Starc then returned with a vengeance in the fifth over, claiming Nitish Reddy and Shahbaz Ahmed in quick succession. Reddy was caught by keeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz after top-edging a short delivery, and Ahmed was clean bowled first ball. At 39 for four in five overs, SRH found themselves in dire straits.
A crucial partnership emerged as Heinrich Klaasen joined forces with Tripathi. Together, they added 61 runs across the next six overs, providing SRH with a much-needed resurgence. Sunil Narine, brought into the attack in the ninth over, was met with brutal force as Klaasen launched a mammoth six straight down the ground. Their aggressive approach set the tone for what they hoped would be a salvageable innings. Tripathi reached his half-century in the 11th over with a reverse sweep boundary off Varun Chakaravarthy, striking 50 off just 29 balls – a testament to his resilience under pressure.
However, just as SRH’s innings seemed to be stabilizing, Klaasen was caught at deep mid-wicket by Rinku Singh for a score of 32. The incoming Abdul Samad made his intentions clear from the first ball, smashing Narine for a colossal six. His aggression continued, adding another six in the 14th over.
. Unfortunately for SRH, a mix-up between Tripathi and Samad led to Tripathi’s run-out, departing for 55 at a critical juncture, leaving SRH at 121 for six.
In the death overs, only SRH skipper Pat Cummins demonstrated significant resistance, contributing 30 off 24 balls. His crucial hits propelled SRH past the 150-mark despite the consistent fall of wickets. Cummins even managed to spoil Starc’s otherwise impressive figures by striking a boundary and a six off his final two deliveries. Eventually, Cummins was dismissed in the last over as SRH wrapped up their innings at 159. The collective effort from KKR’s bowlers, notably Starc with three for 34 and Chakaravarthy with two for 26, was bolstered by stellar fielding that created pivotal opportunities.
The chase by KKR got underway with a change in the opening pair as Rahmanullah Gurbaz joined Sunil Narine at the crease. Gurbaz, making his tournament debut, quickly left an impression by hitting a boundary off the second ball. The aggressive approach continued, with Cummins greeted with two consecutive fours by Narine and Gurbaz catching a top-edge that sailed over third-man for six off the second over. Even Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s return in the third over and the introduction of T Natarajan in the fourth couldn’t stem the onslaught. Natarajan, however, provided SRH with a breakthrough as Gurbaz attempted a lofted shot over cover but was caught for 23.
With 63 runs on the scoreboard at the end of the powerplay, the complexion of the game had KKR firmly in control. Narine’s entertaining knock ended soon after, caught off Cummins for 21. Venkatesh Iyer then came in and held the fort, maintaining the aggressive momentum set by Gurbaz and Narine. The Iyers – Venkatesh and Shreyas – seamlessly transitioned into the leading roles, with a steady flow of boundaries and crucial runs. SRH’s efforts to stifle them on the field were thwarted by dropped catches and unsuccessful reviews.
As the game progressed, Venkatesh Iyer reached his half-century in style, smashing a six over mid-wicket. Not to be outdone, Shreyas accelerated approaching the target, reaching his fifty with a flurry of boundaries and sixes off just 23 balls. His final strike, a massive six over long-on, sealed the win for KKR with 38 balls to spare.
KKR’s resounding victory not only propelled them into the IPL 2024 final but also underscored their dominance on the day. Meanwhile, SRH will have another opportunity as they gear up to face the winner of the Eliminator between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals, hoping to make it to the final of the season.