As the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 marathon continues, the Mumbai Indians (MI) faced a setback against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), with the latter snatching a 24-run victory. The unexpected triumph unfolded at the Wankhede Stadium on Friday, ending KKR’s 12-year wait for a win at the iconic venue. This victory nudges Kolkata closer to the playoff berths, but not without raising eyebrows, particularly from former Australian allrounder, Shane Watson.
Watson, a seasoned campaigner and a two-time IPL victor with Chennai Super Kings, offered his candor post-match on Jio Cinema. The cricketer-turned-commentator highlighted that KKR, having lost five early wickets, seemed unworthy of the win. “KKR had no right to win that game tonight after the position they were in five wickets down. It just shows the fight that they have and also just some of the things that happened. Some of the decisions made, either in bowling changes or batting lineup deployment, were baffling,” he declared, indicating Mumbai’s tactical flaws.
Mitchell Starc’s return to form was a notable bright spot, with a bowling card of 4-33, effectively sealing the win for Kolkata. This performance marks Starc’s impressive comeback in the tournament, demonstrating his lethal pace and match-winning capabilities.
Watson underscored the impact of this win on the Knight Riders’ morale: “This will give KKR so much confidence to know that they don’t have to be at their very best and still come out on top,” he noted, acknowledging the tenacity and determination demonstrated by Shreyas Iyer’s squad. Undoubtedly, this resilience could be a defining characteristic as they pursue their playoff ambitions.
The match itself saw KKR elected to bat first, with Venkatesh Iyer (70 off 52) and Manish Pandey (42 off 31) setting up an 83-run partnership that propelled their team to 169. In response, the usually formidable Mumbai Indians capitulated for 145, despite Jasprit Bumrah’s best efforts of 3 for 18 in 3.5 overs.
The Kolkata squad, bolstered by the effective spin duo of Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine, who both returned figures of 2/22, kept the Mumbai batsmen on a tight leash. Their opening salvo included some notable scalps that swayed the game decisively in KKR’s favor.
Post-match, KKR sits comfortably in second place on the IPL 2024 leaderboard with 14 points, showcasing their ambition for a solid spot in the postseason jamboree. The narrative for Mumbai is grimmer as they languish in ninth place, gathering just six points thus far in the tournament.
KKR now gears up to face the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Sunday, a clash that promises to test the rising fortunes of the Kolkata contingent.
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