In a compelling display of skill and strategy, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have emerged victorious in the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 final. Facing off against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the historic MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, KKR clinched their third IPL title, repeating their success at the same venue where they first lifted the trophy in 2012. The encounter on May 26, 2024, saw KKR deliver an extraordinary performance, as their bowlers restricted the formidable SRH to a mere 113 runs. With commanding batting, KKR chased down the target in just 10.3 overs, securing a comprehensive victory with eight wickets to spare.
As the match commenced, SRH won the toss and elected to bat first, a decision that KKR captain Shreyas Iyer would have preferred to make himself. Putting SRH into bat played into KKR’s strengths, as their bowlers executed a tightly-knit plan that left the opponents reeling. Leading the charge was Mitchell Starc, whose previous exceptional performance against SRH in Ahmedabad earned him the Player of the Match accolade.
Right from the outset, Starc demonstrated his prowess. In the initial over, he displayed impressive form by pitching a delivery that confounded SRH’s opener Abhishek Sharma, sending him back to the pavilion with a ball that nipped away from the middle-stump to clip the top of off. Inspired by Starc’s breakthrough, Vaibhav Arora maintained the pressure, sending Travis Head back on the first ball he faced, thanks to an edge that found its way to the wicketkeeper.
At a precarious six for two, SRH had already lost their dangerous opening pair, setting the stage for a challenging innings. In such a pressure cooker situation, KKR’s bowlers continued to exert control, with SRH managing their first boundary only in the third over. Starc returned in the fifth over to dismiss Rahul Tripathi, who succumbed to the mounting tension with a lofty shot to mid-wicket.
Despite a brief reprieve when SRH accumulated 17 runs from Arora’s sixth over, their innings never really recovered. The middle overs saw KKR’s all-round attack solidifying their hold.
. Andre Russell and Harshit Rana delivered crucial spells that further impeded SRH’s progress, while spinners Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy exhibited economy and relentless discipline.
Rana added another victim shortly after the powerplay, removing Nitish Reddy, who was caught behind. Russell’s intervention to dismiss Aiden Markram for 20 was a vital blow, as Markram’s attempted big shot found Starc at long-on. Shahbaz Ahmed and Abdul Samad followed soon after, with wickets falling at regular intervals to the delight of the KKR fans.
Amidst SRH’s struggles, Pat Cummins stood out as a beacon of resistance, top-scoring with 24 as he tried to guide his side past the three-figure mark. However, SRH concluded their innings at 113, a figure achieved amidst a flurry of wickets and relentless KKR bowling.
Entering into the pressure-free run-chase, KKR’s intent was apparent right from the second ball, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz cutting a boundary through point. Pat Cummins’ over succumbed to Narine’s mighty stroke for six, although Narine fell shortly after to a top-edge. Any semblance of anxiety was immediately dispelled by Venkatesh Iyer, who asserted dominance with two sixes and a four in the following over, making a bold statement by advancing towards and dispatching deliveries from Bhuvneshwar Kumar over the ropes.
KKR raced to 50 inside the first five overs, with Gurbaz anchoring the innings while Venkatesh unleashed a flurry of attacking shots. In a spectacular display, the final over of the powerplay witnessed 18 runs, courtesy of Venkatesh’s calculated aggression. KKR ended the powerplay at a commanding 72 for one.
After the powerplay, the batsmen continued to charge ahead, with Gurbaz shifting gears against the spinners. KKR rapidly approached their target, reaching 100 inside nine overs. Gurbaz departed after a valuable contribution of 39, and with the end in sight, it was once again the Iyer duo who sealed the deal. Celebrating their dominance, Venkatesh Iyer brought up his half-century in just 24 balls and fittingly struck the winning runs, ushering in a wave of jubilation as KKR players stormed the field to celebrate their decisive victory and their third IPL triumph.