Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) clinched the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 title in extraordinary fashion, showcasing a dominating all-round performance against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the final held at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The same ground had been the scene of KKR’s maiden title win in 2012, and on May 26, 2024, history repeated itself as they lifted their third IPL trophy. KKR’s bowlers were the architects of this triumph, successfully restricting the formidable SRH batting line-up to a mere 113 runs. The target was subsequently chased down effortlessly within 10.3 overs, with KKR losing just two wickets in the process.
At the toss, KKR captain Shreyas Iyer shared that he would have preferred to bowl first; however, SRH won the toss and chose to bat. Trusting his bowlers, Iyer’s decision proved wise as they delivered a sensational performance from the get-go. Leading from the front, Mitchell Starc, the Player of the Match from their previous encounter in Ahmedabad, was in blistering form.
Reflecting on the tactics from Qualifier 1, Abhishek Sharma opened the innings for SRH in place of Travis Head as Mitchell Starc took the new ball. Starc immediately made an impact, teasing Abhishek with great shape and precision. One of the deliveries pitched on the middle stump and hinted away slightly, clipping the top of off and sending the prolific SRH opener back to the pavilion in the first over.
Revitalized by Starc’s explosive start, Vaibhav Arora delivered an equally devastating spell. Head, facing his first delivery, managed only a feeble edge to the keeper, leaving SRH in dire straits at six for two. The opening pair, lauded as the tournament’s most fearsome, was decimated.
As the early jolts stifled SRH’s run flow, KKR maintained pressure with their opening bowlers throughout the powerplay. SRH managed their first boundary only in the third over, but Starc wasn’t finished. He struck again in the fifth over, removing Rahul Tripathi, who miscued a big shot to mid-wicket.
Just as SRH seemed to rally with 17 runs off the sixth over from Arora, their glimmer of hope was short-lived. Nitish Reddy attempted to salvage the innings but was caught behind off Harshit Rana post-powerplay.
. The innings further crumbled when Andre Russell dismissed Aiden Markram for 20, courtesy of a catch by Starc at long-on.
Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy further stifled SRH with economic spells, while Russell and Harshit Rana continued to claim crucial wickets. Shahbaz Ahmed fell early to Chakaravarthy, and Abdul Samad, SRH’s impact player, was caught behind off Russell. Rana delivered a crucial blow by bowling Heinrich Klaasen in the 15th over, leaving SRH struggling even to cross the 100-run mark.
A resilient Pat Cummins, the team’s top-scorer with 24 runs, fought hard to push SRH’s total into three figures. Even after being dropped by Starc at long-on, Cummins couldn’t extend the innings significantly and eventually found Starc at long-on again, ending the innings in the 19th over.
KKR’s run-chase started aggressively with Rahmanullah Gurbaz hitting the second ball for four. Sunil Narine’s brief stint saw him smash Cummins over mid-wicket for a six, although he was soon caught off a top-edge trying to replicate the big shot. Venkatesh Iyer, however, dispelled any jitters with two sixes and a four in the next over, asserting KKR’s dominance.
The chase rapidly progressed, with KKR’s fifty coming up inside five overs. Venkatesh Iyer, in particular, was in a hurry, launching T Natarajan for three fours and a six in the final over of the powerplay. KKR ended the powerplay at a commanding 72 for one.
The post-powerplay saw Gurbaz accelerating against the spinners, helping KKR cross the 100-run mark within nine overs. Though he fell for 39, the chase was all but secured.
The Iyer duo, Venkatesh, and Shreyas, combined forces to bring KKR closer to victory. Venkatesh scored his half-century off just 24 balls, and fittingly, he hit the winning runs in the next over. As the ball reached the boundary, the KKR camp erupted in jubilant celebrations, marking their third IPL title win.
This commanding victory highlights KKR’s indomitable spirit and their ability to rise to the occasion, etching another historic moment in the annals of the IPL.