Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) stormed into the final of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 with an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The match saw a dominant display from KKR, both with the ball and the bat, as they restricted SRH to 159 and then chased down the target with ease, securing their fourth appearance in the IPL final and their first since 2021.
The high-stakes clash commenced with SRH captain Pat Cummins winning the toss and opting to bat first. The team was counting on their aggressive batting line-up, which has been the talk of this season. Mitchell Starc, leading KKR’s pace attack, set the tone with a scintillating start, dismissing SRH opener Travis Head with his second delivery, sending the bails flying. This early strike laid the foundation for KKR’s bowling dominance.
SRH’s powerplay was marked by drama and resilience. Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, Rahul Tripathi emerged as the beacon of hope for SRH. Undeterred, he took the aerial route, attempting to counterattack KKR’s fiery bowlers. However, SRH lost three more wickets during this phase. Abhishek Sharma was caught at cover by Andre Russell off Vaibhav Arora, and Nitish Reddy top-edged a delivery from Starc to be caught by Rahmanullah Gurbaz. Soon after, Shahbaz Ahmed was bowled first ball, leaving SRH reeling at 39 for four within the first five overs.
The innings saw a brief revival through a crucial 61-run partnership between Tripathi and Heinrich Klaasen. They targeted KKR’s spin ace Sunil Narine, with Klaasen hammering a massive six off him in the ninth over, which yielded 18 runs. Tripathi continued to keep the scoreboard ticking, reaching his fifty off just 29 balls. However, Klaasen’s dismissal for 32 and Tripathi’s unfortunate run-out after a mix-up with Abdul Samad halted the momentum. With Tripathi succumbing for 55, SRH stood at a precarious 121 for six.
Captain Pat Cummins fought a lone battle in the death overs, scoring a resilient 30 off 24 balls and pushing SRH past the 150-mark. His late surge included boundaries off Starc, who was otherwise the standout bowler with figures of three for 34.
. Varun Chakaravarthy also bowled economically, taking two wickets for 26 runs. Their combined efforts, along with sharp fielding, restricted SRH to a par score of 159.
KKR’s chase began with an aggressive flourish. Rahmanullah Gurbaz, promoted to open alongside Narine, made an instant impact by striking his second delivery for four. Narine followed suit, slamming Cummins for consecutive boundaries. Gurbaz continued the onslaught, hitting a top-edge for six over third-man in the third over. Despite Gurbaz’s departure for 23, Venkatesh Iyer joined in with great intent, ensuring no respite for SRH’s bowlers. KKR amassed an impressive 63 runs in the powerplay.
Narine fell after a cameo of 21, hooking a delivery from Cummins to deep square-leg. However, this did not deter the KKR chase, with Shreyas Iyer partnering Venkatesh Iyer to maintain the run rate. SRH’s bowlers struggled to contain the duo, who capitalized on every opportunity. Venkatesh reached his fifty in style, smashing Nitish for six over mid-wicket, taking just 28 balls. Shreyas, not far behind, reached his half-century with two scintillating sixes and a boundary, requiring just 23 balls.
The Iyers’ dominance was underscored by their flawless execution and aggressive stroke play. Shreyas finished the game in grand fashion, striking a six over long-on to seal the deal in just 13.4 overs. KKR wrapped up the victory with 38 balls to spare, highlighting their supremacy on the day.
As KKR prepares for the title clash, SRH will have a second chance to make it to the final. They will face the winner of the Eliminator between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rajasthan Royals, offering them a glimmer of hope to redeem themselves and strive for the IPL glory.