In an electrifying showdown at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) emerged as the champions of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, delivering a commanding performance against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). This victory marked KKR’s third IPL title, triumphantly echoing their maiden triumph at the same venue back in 2012. The atmosphere was electric as KKR bowlers expertly curtailed the explosive SRH batting lineup to a modest score of 113, a target that KKR chased down with remarkable ease.
The day began with Sunrisers Hyderabad winning the toss and opting to bat first, a decision that KKR captain Shreyas Iyer might have envied, as he expressed a preference for bowling at the toss. Nonetheless, Iyer’s faith in his bowling unit was handsomely rewarded. The KKR bowlers were in fine form, showcasing a vivid display of skill and precision. Leading the attack was Mitchell Starc, whose previous match-winning feats against the same opponents were still fresh in memory.
The SRH innings commenced with Abhishek Sharma taking the strike as Starc unleashed the new ball. Starc, renowned for his lethal swing, posed immediate threats to the SRH openers. In a matter of few balls, Starc delivered one of the tournament’s standout deliveries – a scintillating delivery that found the edge and rattled the top of off-stump, leaving Abhishek stunned. The fall of Sharma heralded the beginning of a challenging phase for SRH.
Vaibhav Arora, energized by Starc’s breakthrough, added to the early onslaught. Facing the first delivery from Arora, Travis Head succumbed too, attempting to fend off the vicious swing only to edge it to the wicketkeeper. With a precarious score of six for two, SRH’s highly rated opening pair had been dismantled, plunging them into turmoil.
The pressure was palpable as KKR’s vigilant bowlers continued their dominance. Runs were scarce, reflecting the early shocks SRH had suffered. It wasn’t until the third over that SRH managed their first boundary. Not one to miss an opportunity, Starc returned and dismissed the ever-dangerous Rahul Tripathi, who fell trying to clear the mid-wicket boundary, further pushing SRH into dire straits.
In contrast, a momentary respite came during the powerplay’s last over with Nitish Reddy scripting a rare reprieve, carving out a six off Arora and gathering 17 runs off the over.
. But KKR’s arsenal contained more than just Starc and Arora. Andre Russell and Harshit Rana compounded the SRH innings woes with incisive spells. Reliable stalwarts Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy ensured the pressure never eased, delivering miserly overs that kept SRH under wraps.
After the powerplay, Reddy too was sent back to the pavilion, courtesy Rana. Russell then removed SRH’s captain Aiden Markram with a shot that found its way into Starc’s hands stationed at long-on. Shahbaz Ahmed, despite attempting resilience, was caught at short fine-leg off Chakaravarthy’s bowling, exemplifying KKR’s relentless grip over the proceedings.
The innings seemed to unravel as SRH’s designated impact player Abdul Samad was snatched up by Russell, followed by Rana’s moment of triumph when he bowled Heinrich Klaasen in the 15th over – leaving SRH flounder short of three figures. Pat Cummins, however, showcased some semblance of resistance, becoming SRH’s leading scorer with a valiant 24 runs. His tenure at the crease, marked by grit, prolonged SRH’s battle, especially after being gifted a lifeline by Starc’s dropped catch. Ironically, it was Starc who finally sealed SRH’s fate, as Cummins was caught at long-on.
As KKR turned to their run-chase, Rahmanullah Gurbaz immediately set the tone, securing a boundary off the second ball, followed by Narine launching a six off Cummins in the subsequent over. Though Narine couldn’t sustain his effort, falling to a top-edge on the leg-side, any frayed nerves within the KKR camps were quickly soothed by Venkatesh Iyer.
Iyer exuberantly dispatched two sixes and a four, lofting deliveries with the assurance that characterized KKR’s dominant performance. With these assertive strokes, he rocketed KKR to 72 for one by the end of the powerplay, effectively dismantling any shadows of uncertainty in their chase.
Post-powerplay, Gurbaz shifted strategy seamlessly, intensifying the chase as KKR navigated spins adeptly, propelling the team towards a century mark within nine overs. Gurbaz departed for 39, but his efforts brought KKR tantalizingly close to victory.
The Iyers then forged a decisive partnership, swiftly dancing KKR to their illustrious third IPL triumph. Venkatesh reached a brisk half-century in just 24 balls, and with the winning runs struck, the KKR team erupted into jubilant celebrations, closing their Chennai chapter with another piece of silverware to rejoice.