The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) delivered a dominant performance, overcoming the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by eight wickets to secure their place in the final of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad was the backdrop for KKR’s remarkable display, as their bowlers effectively held SRH’s formidable batting order to a modest total of 159 runs. KKR’s batsmen then displayed great composure, completing the chase with ease to ensure their fourth final appearance, and the first since 2021.
The drama began with SRH’s captain, Pat Cummins, winning the toss and opting to bat first on a day when his team hoped to leverage their explosive batting lineup that had entertained fans throughout the season. The stage was set as Mitchell Starc, in fine form, took the new ball against the dangerous Travis Head. Starc’s fiery second delivery blasted through Head’s defenses, rattling the stumps and giving KKR a dream start.
The powerplay became a thrilling contest between SRH’s determination to impose their aggressive style and KKR’s relentless pursuit of wickets. Amidst the high stakes, Rahul Tripathi emerged as SRH’s beacon of hope, embracing aerial shots to offset the mounting pressure. Yet, as Tripathi valiantly fought back, SRH found themselves staggering with three additional losses. Abhishek Sharma was caught by Andre Russell off the bowling of Vaibhav Arora in the second over. Starc returned with devastating results in the fifth over, as Nitish Reddy’s top-edge was plucked by Rahmanullah Gurbaz, and Shahbaz Ahmed, promoted to number six ahead of Heinrich Klaasen, played onto his stumps for a golden duck. SRH were teetering at 39 for four within just five overs.
Nevertheless, a rejuvenating partnership between Klaasen and Tripathi steadied SRH’s innings. Together, they added 61 runs across six overs, sparking hopes of a comeback. When Sunil Narine was introduced in the ninth over, Klaasen dispatched him for a colossal six, signaling SRH’s intent to challenge KKR’s spinners. Tripathi reached his half-century in the 11th over with a deft reverse sweep off Varun Chakaravarthy, showcasing high-tempo resilience by scoring fifty runs off just 29 deliveries.
Yet, the wheels began to wobble once more for SRH. Klaasen, after a crucial innings of 32, was caught at deep mid-wicket by Rinku Singh. Abdul Samad came to the crease with explosive intentions, bludgeoning his first delivery for a massive six off Narine. He continued to attack Narine, cracking another towering six at the start of the 14th over. However, a miscommunication with Tripathi led to the latter’s unfortunate run-out. Tripathi, visibly crestfallen, departed after a commendable knock of 55, leaving SRH vulnerable at 121 for six.
In the remaining overs, only captain Pat Cummins showcased some resistance, amassing 30 off 24 balls, which helped SRH breach the 150-run mark despite wickets tumbling around him. Cummins found the boundary at crucial times in the slog overs, tarnishing Starc’s brilliance with a four and six off his last two deliveries.
. His valiant effort ended in the final over as SRH wrapped their innings at 159. For KKR, it was a collective bowling effort with Starc standing out with figures of three for 34, supported by Chakaravarthy’s economical two for 26. Complemented by an agile fielding unit, KKR’s bowlers underscored their team’s resolve.
KKR’s chase was electrifying right from the onset, mirroring a pursuit of a much larger total. Rahmanullah Gurbaz made an immediate impact as an opener alongside Narine, dispatching the second ball of the innings for four. Cummins faced an aggressive reception from Narine in the second over, conceding two boundaries. Gurbaz then executed a top-edge over third-man for an exhilarating six. Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s return in the third over was met with further aggression, compelling T Natarajan to join the attack in the fourth. Natarajan managed SRH’s first breakthrough, dismissing Gurbaz for 23 as he attempted a cover drive, only to be caught.
With no breathing space for SRH, Venkatesh Iyer entered with fierce intent and continued to maintain KKR’s momentum, leading to a robust start of 63 in the powerplay. Narine’s brisk innings of 21 concluded soon after as he fell to Cummins’ delivery, caught at deep square-leg.
The Iyer duo, Venkatesh, and Shreyas, then reigned supreme over the proceedings. They kept the required run rate under check, without sacrificing their natural flair. SRH’s plight was magnified by poor fielding, with both reviews mistimed, coupled with dropped catches of Shreyas. Venkatesh showcased his power hitting by sending a flurry of sixes, demonstrating exceptional timing. Shreyas followed suit, punctuating his innings with boundary shots as the game progressed.
Approaching the finish line, Venkatesh celebrated his half-century by pulling Nitish Rana for a six over mid-wicket, reaching the landmark in just 28 balls. Shreyas, too, claimed his milestone, launching Travis Head over square-leg for a six, followed by a four through wide long-on, and another towering six over the leg side to etch his fifty from 23 balls. Sealing the game, the KKR captain smashed a colossal six over long-on, concluding the match with an emphatic win in 13.4 overs. KKR triumphed with 38 balls remaining and eight wickets in hand, epitomizing their control and prowess on this pivotal day.
As KKR sets their sights on the ultimate title clash, SRH retains a glimmer of hope for redemption. They will next face off against the victor of the Eliminator between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rajasthan Royals, seeking one final opportunity to reach the illustrious IPL finale.