In a match that lived up to the fervent expectations of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) emerged victorious, claiming their third IPL title after delivering a flawless all-round performance against the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the majestic MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The victorious occasion, reminiscent of KKR’s 2012 triumph at the same venue, unfolded on May 26, 2024, as they overpowered SRH to clinch the trophy. The hallmark of this victory was KKR’s outstanding bowling display, which confined SRH to a modest total of 113. KKR’s batsmen then seized the moment, chasing down the target in just 10.3 overs with eight wickets still in hand.
At the toss, a confident Shreyas Iyer, leading the KKR side, expressed a hint of preference for bowling first. However, the toss favored SRH, who elected to bat. The KKR bowlers, already fired up, justified their captain’s confidence with a remarkable performance that began with fireworks from Mitchell Starc, who had previously shone against the same opposition in Ahmedabad.
From the outset, it was Starc who set the tone. Abhishek Sharma faced the first over instead of Travis Head, learning firsthand the challenges of Starc’s lethal deliveries. The culmination of Starc’s over was nothing short of spectacular: a delivery that pitched on middle-stump and subtly deviated, catching Abhishek off balance and hitting the top of off-stump, leaving SRH reeling. Starc’s initial success proved contagious, as the young pace sensation Vaibhav Arora followed suit, producing a scintillating display of his own. Arora’s first delivery to Travis Head induced an edge to the keeper, thereby severing the formidable opening pair at a mere six for two.
The initial blows echoed throughout the SRH innings. The tight grip maintained by KKR’s seamers in the powerplay deprived SRH of comfort and regular boundaries, which were hard to come by. SRH’s desperation showed when they finally managed a boundary in the third over, but Starc soon returned to disrupt SRH’s recovery by dismissing Rahul Tripathi as he attempted an ambitious shot, only to mistime it into waiting hands at mid-wicket.
Although there was a brief respite with Nitish Reddy’s six off Vaibhav Arora in the powerplay’s sixth over, setbacks piled up quickly. Andre Russell and Harshit Rana further compounded SRH’s misery with timely strikes.
. Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy followed with economical spells, suffocating SRH’s middle order.
Each bowler lent a hand in dismantling the opposition. Rana took a crucial wicket post-powerplay removing Reddy, and Russell ousted Aiden Markram, whose attack on the ball met Starc’s safe hands at long-on. The SRH innings faltered further as Shahbaz Ahmed succumbed early, caught in the hands of Chakaravarthy. Abdul Samad’s run ended similarly off Russell’s cunning deliveries, and the biggest blow landed when Heinrich Klaasen, a significant threat, was bowled by Rana in the 15th over without SRH crossing the hundred mark.
Despite SRH’s struggles, Pat Cummins soldiered on, tactfully reaching the top score of 24 for his side, trying to guide them to a respectable total. His efforts kept SRH at the crease until he was eventually caught out by Starc, closing their innings before the 20th over.
The pursuit of the target by KKR unfolded seamlessly, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz striking early boundaries to set a brisk pace. Despite the loss of Narine, who fell attempting an aggressive six, Venkatesh Iyer ensured momentum didn’t falter. His innings was a fireworks display of power hitting: lofting two sixes and a four against Bhuvneshwar Kumar, making his intent glaringly evident.
KKR stormed past the fifty-run mark within five overs, driven largely by Venkatesh’s explosive innings. The final powerplay over, bowled by T Natarajan, saw Venkatesh unleash a series of fours and a six. With consistent aggression, KKR reached 72 for one by the powerplay’s conclusion, virtually sealing the game.
After the powerplay, Gurbaz increased his tempo against the spin attack, propelling KKR past 100 inside nine overs. His dismissal for 39 barely slowed their march towards victory. With the finishing line in sight, Venkatesh Iyer stood tall, completing a blistering half-century in just 24 balls. It was he who scored the decisive winning runs, igniting vibrant celebrations as KKR claimed their third IPL title, marking yet another milestone in their illustrious IPL journey.