In an electrifying match at Eden Gardens, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) became the first team to book their spot in the playoffs of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Demonstrating remarkable skill and resilience, KKR secured a thrilling 18-run victory over the formidable Mumbai Indians (MI), notching up their ninth win of an impressive season. This victory was witnessed and celebrated by an electric home crowd, adding to the festivity of the occasion.
Due to a relentless downpour disrupting the evening, the match was truncated to a 16-overs-a-side contest. In such high-stakes yet challenging circumstances, it was MI who won the toss and opted to field first. However, the start of the game was nothing short of dramatic. Phil Salt heralded the beginning of the innings by smashing Nuwan Thushara’s first delivery for a towering six over long-off. But Salt’s fiery start was short-lived. Looking to replicate the feat later in the over, he mistimed a shot over fine-leg and was caught out in the deep.
Adding to KKR’s initial woes, the talented Jasprit Bumrah began his spell with a lethal delivery, deceiving Sunil Narine who didn’t offer a shot, allowing the ball to dismantle the stumps. The early stages saw KKR at a precarious 10 for two, indicating a potential collapse.
Yet, the scenario took a turn when Venkatesh Iyer stepped onto the field with an aggressive approach, illustrating how attack can sometimes serve as the best form of defense. Despite the dicey situation, Venkatesh took the offensive stance, especially against Bumrah in the fourth over. Surviving an initial injury scare, he unleashed a flurry of strokes, including two boundaries and a six, revitalizing the KKR lineup.
Nevertheless, the loss of Shreyas Iyer, who was clean-bowled by Anshul Kamboj, brought Nitish Rana into play. Rana, having just returned from injury, partnered with Venkatesh to forge a cautious yet impactful stint at the crease. Throughout KKR’s innings, the team struggled to establish any enduring partnerships with wickets falling in quick succession. Still, crucial contributions buoyed their performance, with Venkatesh’s rapid 42 off 21 balls providing impetus.
The innings saw Andre Russell making his presence felt with a thunderous six off just his second ball at the crease, emphasizing his distinctive aggressive style.
. While Rana was propelling the score with boundaries, an unfortunate run-out saw his innings conclude at 33. Despite these setbacks, KKR posted a competitive total, closing their innings at 157 for seven. Cameos from Russell (24 off 14) and Rinku Singh (20 off 12) supported by Ramandeep Singh’s crucial unbeaten 17 off eight balls, capped by a brilliant six at the end, ensured a challenging target for MI.
Amongst MI’s bowling ranks, Piyush Chawla emerged as the most effective, claiming two wickets for 28 runs in three overs. Bumrah, maintaining his reputation, took two for 39 and dominated the purple cap standings. Kamboj impressed with his economical spell at one for 24 off three overs.
MI’s chase, initially on solid footing, got off to a blistering start. Led by Ishan Kishan’s aggressive knocking in the powerplay, MI swiftly amassed 59 runs within the first five overs, with Kishan racking up a fierce 37 off just 17 balls. However, fortunes shifted as KKR’s spinners orchestrated a comeback, tightening their grip on the game.
Narine, invaluable with the ball, dismissed Kishan by enticing him into a catch at deep midwicket. This breakthrough was soon followed by the prized wicket of Rohit Sharma, who found Narine’s hands at short fine-leg, bowled by Varun Chakaravarthy. As MI’s innings decelerated to 81 for two after 10 overs, the pressure mounted.
KKR’s spinners, particularly Chakaravarthy, spun webs around the MI batsmen, offering minimal room for error. His spell, yielding two wickets for just 17 runs across four overs, was instrumental in derailing MI’s chase. Meanwhile, Russell’s impactful bowling, including the swift dismissal of Tim David, reduced MI’s chase potency significantly.
Despite Tilak Varma’s valiant efforts to keep MI in the hunt as they required 41 from the final 12 deliveries, it was KKR who held their nerves. Naman Dhir’s late fireworks briefly ignited hope for MI, but KKR’s Harshit Rana delivered a composed final over. Dismissing Dhir and Varma, Rana sealed KKR’s triumph, sparking jubilant celebrations in the stadium.
This sensational win marked the culmination of another successful home season for KKR, achieving five wins out of seven matches at Eden Gardens – a fortress that continues to be a stronghold for the formidable Knight Riders.