KATHMANDU: KKR demonstrated their dominance in the IPL 2024 by securing a convincing eight-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Narendra Modi Stadium, earning them a spot in the tournament's final. This win marks KKR's fourth appearance in the IPL final and their first since 2021.
Opting to bat first after winning the toss, SRH, led by captain Pat Cummins, aimed to capitalize on their aggressive batting lineup to set a challenging target. However, KKR's bowlers quickly took control of the game, with Mitchell Starc making an early breakthrough by dismissing Travis Head in the opening over, setting the tone for a disciplined bowling effort.
SRH faced difficulties during the powerplay, losing four key wickets within the first five overs. Starc, along with Vaibhav Arora and Varun Chakaravarthy, played pivotal roles in keeping the run rate in check and taking regular wickets. Despite a resilient 61-run partnership between Rahul Tripathi and Heinrich Klaasen, SRH's innings never fully recovered, and they were restricted to a modest total of 159.
In response, KKR's openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Sunil Narine provided a flying start, scoring 63 runs in the powerplay. Gurbaz's quickfire 23 and Narine's cameo of 21 laid a solid foundation for the chase. The Iyer duo, Venkatesh and captain Shreyas, then took charge, displaying a blend of aggression and precision to comfortably chase down the target.
Venkatesh Iyer's 50 off 28 balls and Shreyas Iyer's unbeaten 50 off 23 balls showcased KKR's batting prowess as they completed the chase in just 13.4 overs. KKR's victory was fueled by their all-round excellence, with Starc leading the bowling attack with figures of 3 for 34 and Chakaravarthy providing an economical spell of 2 for 26. Additionally, KKR's fielders exhibited great commitment, contributing to their comprehensive victory.
With this win, KKR advances to the final, while SRH will have another opportunity to reach the title clash in a match against the winner of the Eliminator between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rajasthan Royals.
