Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) demonstrated a masterful performance to overpower Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by eight wickets, securing their berth in the final of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. The grand stage of the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad served as the venue for this high-stakes Qualifier 1 match.
The day began with SRH captain Pat Cummins winning the toss and opting to bat first, placing faith in their batting line-up that had dazzling displays throughout the season. As the game unfolded, Mitchell Starc opened the proceedings with a fiery over, dismissing Travis Head merely on the second ball by shattering his stumps, getting KKR off to an electrifying start.
The powerplay was a mixture of intense drama and strategic plays. SRH, known for their aggressive approach, endeavored to strike back, while KKR relentlessly hunted for wickets. Amidst this, Rahul Tripathi emerged as a beacon of hope for SRH, battling fiercely and unhesitatingly attacking the bowlers. However, at the other end, SRH’s batting line-up crumbled as they lost three more quick wickets. Abhishek Sharma was caught at cover by Andre Russell off Vaibhav Arora in the second over. Mitchell Starc returned to the attack in the fifth over with devastating effect, removing Nitish Reddy and Shahbaz Ahmed in successive deliveries. By the end of the fifth over, SRH were reeling at 39 for four.
A semblance of recovery came for SRH through a partnership between Rahul Tripathi and Heinrich Klaasen. They added 61 runs in the next six overs, attempting to stabilize the innings. Tripathi reached his half-century in the 11th over, navigating through the pressure with commendable composure. However, the stability proved transient as Klaasen was caught at deep mid-wicket by Rinku Singh for 32 and a mix-up led to Tripathi’s unfortunate run-out at 55. Abdul Samad injected fresh energy with quick boundaries, hitting Narine for two massive sixes but could not sustain the momentum for long. By the 14th over, SRH were struggling at 121 for six.
The final overs saw minimal resistance apart from a notable effort by Pat Cummins. The SRH captain managed a gritty 30 off 24 balls, pushing the team’s total past 150. Cummins threatened to spoil Starc’s figures by hitting him for a four and a six in the last over, before eventually being dismissed. SRH concluded their innings at 159, a score considered below par against a potent KKR lineup.
. Among KKR bowlers, Starc stood out with three wickets for 34 runs, while Varun Chakaravarthy controlled the middle overs effectively, ending with two wickets for 26 runs.
KKR’s chase kicked off in an assertive fashion, almost as if they were set a target to chase beyond 200. Rahmanullah Gurbaz, playing his first match of the tournament, opened with Sunil Narine. Gurbaz immediately showcased his intent, hitting the second ball of the innings for a boundary. The aggression continued with Narine and Gurbaz rattling off quick runs, including a top-edged six over third-man. SRH’s bowlers had no respite, as KKR soared to 63 runs in the powerplay. Gurbaz’s brief yet impactful innings of 23 ended when he was caught off T Natarajan’s bowling. Narine too fell for 21, thus paving the way for the two Iyers to take control.
Venkatesh and Shreyas Iyer held the reins firmly. The duo maintained an impressive run-rate, keeping the required rate comfortably within reach. A couple of dropped catches off Shreyas’s bat and the use of both reviews by SRH added to their woes. Venkatesh Iyer showcased his prowess by hammering several sixes, bringing up his half-century off just 28 balls. Shreyas Iyer was not far behind; he reached his fifty in rapid pace by targeting Travis Head.
With victory clearly in sight, Venkatesh slammed a six off Nitish to consolidate his milestone, and Shreyas followed suit with boundaries of his own. The KKR skipper sealed the match in grand style, hitting a gargantuan six over long-on, concluding the innings at 164 for two in just 13.4 overs. KKR’s victory, with 38 balls to spare and eight wickets in hand, epitomized their dominance throughout the match.
As KKR prepare for the title clash, SRH will have a second chance to book their place in the final. They will face the winner of the Eliminator between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Rajasthan Royals (RR). With everything on the line, cricket enthusiasts eagerly await the climax of this season.