In an exhilarating display of cricketing prowess, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) emerged victorious in the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, claiming the title after a commanding performance against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the final at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The win marks KKR’s third IPL victory, a remarkable achievement that echoes their maiden triumph on the very same ground back in 2012. Fast forward to May 26, 2024, the narrative unfolded in favor of KKR once again, as they displayed their cricketing mastery by containing the formidable SRH batting line-up to a mere 113 runs; a target they chased down with ease, reaching victory in just 10.3 overs while losing only two wickets.
The final began with SRH winning the toss and electing to bat first, a decision that resonated well with KKR’s captain Shreyas Iyer, who had expressed a preference for bowling first. This initial strategic alignment was strengthened further as KKR’s bowlers demonstrated their skill and prowess, with Mitchell Starc spearheading the attack. Memories of Starc’s impactful performance in the teams’ previous encounter were freshly rekindled as he took the new ball against a wary SRH side, delivering an unforgettable performance that reaffirmed his status as one of the tournament’s finest bowlers.
Setting the stage for an intense first innings, Starc’s lethal bowling saw him dismissing the prolific opener Abhishek Sharma in dramatic fashion. The ball, ideally delivered, pitched just on the middle stump and veered away slightly, knocking out the off-bail; a spectacle that left the SRH opening pair trembling at six for two as Travis Head too fell victim shortly after, succumbing to a probing delivery from Vaibhav Arora.
As SRH found themselves in early disarray, KKR seized the momentum, capitalizing on their new-ball bowlers throughout the powerplay. The visitors struggled to find rhythm, with runs only trickling in their third over. Starc’s tenacity didn’t end there; he returned to haunt SRH in the fifth over, catching Rahul Tripathi mid-wicket with a skied attempt at a big shot.
Despite intermittent glimpses of counter-attacking cricket from SRH, particularly during a 17-run over in the powerplay delivered by Arora and punctuated by Nitish Reddy’s six, their innings never truly found stability. KKR’s bowlers tightened their stranglehold courtesy of decisive performances from Andre Russell and Harshit Rana, who navigated the middle overs with precision, chipping away at SRH’s lineup with consistent wicket-taking spells.
. Accomplished spin spells from Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy further restricted SRH’s batting ambitions.
In the world of T20 cricket, momentum shifts can happen with mere flickers of brilliance; however, KKR ensured SRH rarely saw glimpses of it. Post powerplay, Andre Russell took down Aiden Markram, compressing SRH’s proficiency further. A series of dismissals thereafter, with crucial scalps like Heinrich Klaasen and Abdul Samad, saw SRH failing to breach even the 100-mark until the penultimate stages of their innings, with Pat Cummins managing to stretch SRH’s innings past three figures with a hard-fought 24, becoming their top-scorer.
With SRH ending their innings at an underwhelming 113, KKR set out to chase with confidence. Rahmanullah Gurbaz commenced KKR’s innings with a bang, dispatching the second ball to the boundary. The chase, while faced with a momentary tremor after the early loss of Narine to a catch on the leg-side, was confidently navigated by Venkatesh Iyer. His explosive style saw him dispatching Bhuvneshwar Kumar fearlessly over the ropes, propelling KKR to 72 for one by the end of the powerplay.
Bouncing off the platform set by Iyer, the chase barely stuttered. Contributions from Gurbaz propelled KKR closer to their target, effortlessly crossing the 100-mark within nine overs. Augmenting their commanding momentum, Iyer, alongside his namesake teammate, kept the scoreboard ticking, culminating in a boundary-rich flourish that secured KKR’s dominant victory. Venkatesh Iyer’s urgency was palpable, reaching his half-century in just 24 balls and sealing KKR’s victorious fate with the winning runs, triggering jubilant scenes as KKR players cascaded onto the field in celebration of their third IPL trophy.
This memorable triumph not only reflects KKR’s depth and resilience but also sets a resounding precedent in IPL history, with their coveted third title testament to their prowess and strategic mastery in the shortest format of the game.