The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have clinched the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 title with an impressive all-round performance that trounced the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the final held at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The venue holds sentimental value for KKR, as they previously won their maiden title here in 2012. On May 26, 2024, they once again ascended the IPL throne, earning their third championship trophy. The KKR bowlers executed a clinical display, limiting the usually formidable SRH batting lineup to a mere 113 runs, which KKR chased down in only 10.3 overs with an eight-wicket margin.
At the toss, it was clear that KKR captain Shreyas Iyer had hoped to bowl first. This aspiration materialized when SRH opted to bat after winning the toss. The KKR bowlers validated their captain’s confidence with an exemplary performance, kickstarted by Mitchell Starc, who had already been named the Player of the Match in the teams’ previous encounter in Ahmedabad.
Taking the strike instead of Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma faced Starc first. The Australian pacer immediately found rhythm and movement, posing difficult questions to the SRH opener. The fifth ball of the over turned out to be one of the tournament’s finest deliveries, pitching around the middle stump and slightly shaping away to rattle Abhishek’s off-stump. This set the tone for the KKR bowlers.
Capitalizing on Starc’s momentum, Vaibhav Arora delivered an exceptional spell of his own. His first ball to Travis Head induced an edge straight to the wicketkeeper. At 6 for 2, SRH had lost both their openers and were already wobbling. Runs were hard to come by as KKR maintained the pressure, persisting with Starc and Arora during the powerplay. SRH’s first boundary came only in the third over. Starc was relentless, returning in the fifth over to coax a mistimed shot from Rahul Tripathi, who was caught at mid-wicket.
SRH found some relief in the sixth over, adding 17 runs off Arora. Nitish Reddy hit the first six of the innings, providing a brief respite. As the middle overs unfolded, the KKR bowlers, led by Andre Russell and Harshit Rana, continued to strangle SRH. Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy proved effective with their economical spells.
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Reddy, attempting to salvage the innings, was caught behind off Rana post-powerplay. Russell struck again, dismissing SRH captain Aiden Markram for 20, with a catch taken by Starc at long-on. Shahbaz Ahmed soon followed, caught at short fine-leg by Chakaravarthy. KKR’s control tightened further when Abdul Samad, played as an impact substitute, was caught behind off Russell. The decisive blow was delivered by Rana, bowling out Heinrich Klaasen in the 15th over, leaving SRH floundering with less than 100 runs on the board.
Despite the chaos, Pat Cummins fought valiantly, becoming the team’s top-scorer with 24 runs. He managed to extend SRH’s innings slightly, especially after being dropped by Starc at long-on. The innings eventually concluded when Cummins was finally caught by Starc, sealing SRH’s fate at 113.
KKR’s chase began with a bang as Rahmanullah Gurbaz sent the second ball to the boundary. Cummins bowled the second over, during which Sunil Narine smashed the first ball for a six but was dismissed immediately after. This wicket, however, did little to dent KKR’s confidence. Venkatesh Iyer soon took charge, striking two sixes and a four, quickly putting KKR in command. By dancing down the track to Bhuvneshwar Kumar and lofting the ball over the ropes, he made a powerful statement.
The KKR innings gathered pace swiftly, with the team’s fifty coming up in just under five overs. Gurbaz played a steady hand while Iyer set the tone with aggressive cricket. The concluding over of the powerplay, bowled by T Natarajan, was pummeled for three fours and a six by Iyer, who continued to maraud through the SRH bowling lineup. Gurbaz shifted gears post-powerplay, attacking the spinners to ensure KKR crossed 100 runs within nine overs.
Gurbaz was finally dismissed for 39, but by then, the victory was all but secured. Venkatesh Iyer and Shreyas Iyer then guided the team to their crowning moment. Venkatesh reached his half-century off just 24 balls, and in the next over, he sealed the win, triggering joyous celebrations as KKR players stormed the field to mark their third IPL title.
The Kolkata Knight Riders have indeed emerged as rightful champions, showcasing resilience and dominance throughout the tournament, capped with a splendid display in the final.