Dominant KKR Overpower SRH to Secure Third IPL Title

by Gaurav Gupta
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KKR champions ipl 2024

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) could not have envisioned a better finale than the one they experienced, particularly with their bowlers dominating on a red-soil pitch. Opting to field first, KKR’s bowlers capitalized on every opportunity, dismantling a formidable Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) batting lineup and bundling them out for a mere 113 – the lowest total ever recorded in an IPL final. This set the stage for a straightforward chase, allowing KKR to clinch their third IPL title in a commanding manner.

The Turning Point: Powerplays of Both Teams

Mitchell Starc was instrumental in setting the tone with a brilliant spell, delivering figures of 3-0-14-2. His first over was particularly impactful, consistently troubling Abhishek Sharma with a series of away-going deliveries before delivering the knockout blow with a ball that started on middle and leg, pitched on a good length, and squared Abhishek up, hitting the off stump. This wicket mirrored Starc’s previous performances, notably in the first qualifier against Travis Head.

In his third over, Starc continued to trouble the SRH batsmen, claiming Rahul Tripathi off a leading edge. Amid Starc’s strikes, KKR’s Vaibhav Arora also made significant inroads, dismissing Head for a golden duck. By the end of the fifth over, SRH was struggling at 23/3, with only one boundary being cleanly struck. This dream start for KKR was complemented by their batting prowess, leaving SRH utterly outmatched.

ParameterSRHKKR
Score40/372/1
Run Rate6.612
4s/6s4/18/4

Sunrisers Hyderabad

Powerplay (40/3, 1×6, 4x4s)

In the sixth over, Arora faced some resistance, conceding 17 runs which momentarily balanced the scales. However, the damage had been inflicted, and KKR’s bowlers, led by Starc and Arora, ensured SRH never recovered. Whenever SRH attempted a comeback, KKR swiftly pushed them back, maintaining control throughout the innings.

The Middle Overs (50/4, 4x4s, 1×6)

Despite a brief counterattack by Nitish Reddy, who hit a six and a four, his momentum was curtailed by Harshit Rana. Rana’s clever use of slower deliveries led to Reddy’s dismissal. Sunil Narine then delivered a couple of quiet overs, allowing Andre Russell to strike, removing Aiden Markram. Varun Chakaravarthy continued the trend, taking a wicket in his first over by dismissing Shahbaz Ahmed. Even with the introduction of Abdul Samad as a batting impact substitute, SRH found no respite, as Russell claimed his wicket. Heinrich Klaasen’s dismissal by Rana was the final blow, leaving SRH in disarray.

The Death Overs (23/2, 1×6, 1×4)

SRH’s tailenders offered little resistance, with Pat Cummins unable to inspire a turnaround. The final wickets fell routinely, resulting in SRH’s second-lowest total in IPL history and setting up a straightforward chase for KKR.

Kolkata Knight Riders

Powerplay (72/1, 8x4s, 4×6)

Sunil Narine’s lack of impact with the bat was compensated for by Venkatesh Iyer’s explosive start. Iyer aggressively targeted Bhuvneshwar Kumar and T Natarajan, hitting boundaries at will. His onslaught continued unabated, propelling KKR to a frenetic pace that was maintained until the end.

Iyer reached his half-century in just 24 balls, ensuring KKR’s victory even as Rahmatullah Gurbaz fell after a 91-run stand. Iyer’s performance was pivotal in securing KKR’s win by eight wickets.

Brief Scores: Sunrisers Hyderabad 113 all out in 18.3 overs (Pat Cummins 24; Andre Russell 3-19, Mitchell Starc 2-14) lost to Kolkata Knight Riders 114/2 in 10.3 overs (Venkatesh Iyer 52*) by 8 wickets.

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