KKR’s Bowlers Dominated SRH to Clinch 3rd Title: Dominant Victory in TATA IPL 2024
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) secured their third IPL title by dismantling Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the IPL 2024 final.
Led by Mitchell Starc’s masterful performance, KKR’s bowling attack proved too formidable for SRH to handle.
Sunrisers Hyderabad 113 (Cummins 24, Russell 3-19, Starc 2-14) were defeated by Kolkata Knight Riders 114 for 2 (Venkatesh 52*, Gurbaz 39) by eight wickets.
Similar to the 2015 World Cup final, Kolkata Knight Riders produced the most lopsided IPL final to win their third championship, with Mitchell Starc leading the rout of the second-best team of the competition. With what was maybe the best ball of the tournament to begin with, Starc’s most comprehensive onslaught proved too much for Sunrisers Hyderabad on a field that provided grip off the surface in addition to seam movement for at least seven overs.
After Venkatesh Iyer hit a brilliant 52 off 26 to help KKR chase down the lowest ever IPL final score of 113, SRH was bowled out for just 57 balls.
In the first over, five of the six bowlers that KKR utilized claimed a wicket; in the second over, Vaibhav Arora gave SRH’s talisman Travis Head a golden duck. It is difficult to criticize SRH for having to take chances, whereas KKR’s approach was simple: when the ball is moving, reduce the number of bad balls and try fewer things. SRH lost wickets whenever they attempted to push the pace.
After becoming the most expensive player in IPL history, Starc didn’t quite get off to the perfect start to the competition, but he showed up for the playoffs. Abhishek Sharma was taking the initial strike after Starc bowled Head on the second delivery in the Qualifier 1 when the first ball of the match swung away to beat him.
Starc had established enough of a rhythm by the conclusion of the over to pitch the ball on leg and hit the top of off. At Starc’s speed, the delivery was unplayable. Abhishek’s move was late and pitched on a nice length, so you might excuse him for not lunging forward.
The final ball of the second over was when Head came on strike. Arora began on a fair length outside leg, then swung and seamed the ball to finish just outside the top of off. Head pressed against it, swerved, and became trapped behind.
Arora used a variety of paced short balls to vary up his inswing, but Starc continued to threaten both edges with the scrambling seam ball. Rahul Tripathi attempted to push back but lost his balance on a top edge after one outside edge went wide of the slip.
KKR only employed two bowlers throughout the powerplay because of the way the ball was flowing, but in the last over, Arora went for 17, bringing SRH up to 40 for 3. With an Impact Player up their sleeve, it appeared as though SRH could recover the game from that position.
It was not meant to be. Harshit Rana bowled three consecutive slower balls in his opening over before controlling seam movement against the angle and bowling the hard length at 146 mph. All that nitish Reddy could do was chase after it, and he only succeeded in getting an edge through to the keeper.
Actually, SRH’s last remaining chance was now Aiden Markram and Heinrich Klaasen. After three overs of cautious batting together, Markram was caught long-on when attempting to take Andre Russell on. Soon after, Varun Chakravarthy used a top edge on a sweep from way outside off to remove Shahbaz Ahmed from the game.
Russell took his 18th IPL wicket in the following over from Impact Player Abdul Samad, the most wickets he has ever taken in a single edition. Returning to the scene, Rana got Klaasen moving on to a slower ball. After taking Pat Cummins’ wicket in the 19th over to complete the innings, Russell went on to add a 19th to his total.
Not before Cummins achieved the highest rating, pushing SRH above 100.
Also Read: KKR Clinches Second IPL Title With Record Breaking Victory Over KXIP In IPL 2014
Though they lost Sunil Narine for 6 off 2 at the other end, KKR kept dominating Bhuvneshwar Kumar by charging at him. After Venkatesh blasted two consecutive sixes off Bhuvneshwar in a 20-run third over, KKR amassed the highest powerplay total in an IPL final (72) when he and Rahmanullah Gurbaz took another 20 off T Natarajan in the sixth over.
After the powerplay, Gurbaz reached new heights, but he was denied a review due to a technical malfunction when he was declared leg before wicket for 39. After a difficult year in which he lost his spot in the Indian national team and his retainer, that only made it possible for captain Shreyas Iyer to be in the middle for the winning moment.
Player and Coach Reactions to IPL Title Win
Following their dominant performance in the IPL 2024 final, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) players and support staff shared their thoughts and emotions after securing their third IPL title. From jubilant celebrations to heartfelt acknowledgments, here’s how they reacted to the memorable victory:
Andre Russell: No words to describe at this time. With all of the supporters who have helped us during the season, it means a great deal. It is us, the players, that persevere through game after game and see that the task is completed. We’re genuinely celebrating our win for the first time, and I believe now is the ideal time. I’m glad that we all have strong discipline and a common objective. I’ve benefited greatly from this franchise in terms of fitness and other areas. I’m thrilled because this is a tremendous present from all of us to them.
It’s my first final for KKR, and I’m happy to have taken three wickets as well. The bowlers all performed well. We make things as easy as we can. We discovered the wicket was a little slower than usual in the opening few overs, so we made good use of the cutters without going overboard. We varied the tempo a little bit. A 113 pursuit would have pleased me any day (laughter).
I’ve just told him about Mitchell Starc. “Hey, big man, you saved the best for last,” I said. And I’m glad about that because, although he had a tough start, I always had the impression that he was still a bowler of the highest caliber; it doesn’t take a few poor performances to determine a player’s fate. I’m also glad that he gave that wicket to Abhishek Sharma, and we’re on our way.
“GG [Gautam Gambhir] has been a leader for us in every sector, not simply a mentor, and I believe that’s what made us successful. He ensured that each batter and bowler was fulfilling their role, and GG is an incredible player to have around in any situation. Everything that went into getting us to this championship, including the support personnel who always provided us what we wanted and made sure we were happy before leaving the nets, was greatly appreciated. You don’t need much more than that—GG returning, winning the IPL, and having incredible support personnel.”
Varun Chakravarthy: Reflecting on the team’s journey, attributed the success to the vision of key individuals like Dinesh Karthik and Abhishek Nayar, who laid the foundation for the Indian core of the team. He also revealed the pivotal role played by team owner Shahrukh Khan’s advice in maintaining focus on the basics during challenging moments.
Abhishek Nayar: assistant coach, expressed his immense joy at witnessing the team’s triumph after years of dedication and hard work. He commended the players for their determination and resilience, particularly praising Russell for his consistent performances.
Venkatesh Iyer: echoed Chakravarthy’s sentiments, emphasizing the crucial role played by Abhishek Nayar in shaping the team’s success. He also dedicated the victory to the loyal fans who have supported the team through thick and thin over the years.
Nitish Rana: shared a heartfelt message from mentor Gautam Gambhir, highlighting the special bond between the players and their mentor. He expressed gratitude for Gambhir’s guidance and foresight, which played a significant role in the team’s triumph.
Bharat Arun, the bowling coach: reflected on the team’s journey and the challenges they faced in the past seasons. He credited the addition of Mitchell Starc to the team for boosting confidence and praised the outstanding performances of spinners Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy, whose partnership proved instrumental in the team’s success.
Also Read: Kolkata Knight Riders Secure IPL Title with Stunning Manvinder Bisla Performance In 2012
Sunil Narine Makes History: Wins IPL MVP Award for Third Time
Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) iconic all-rounder, Sunil Narine, etched his name in IPL history by clinching the ‘Most Valuable Player’ (MVP) award for the third time. Narine’s remarkable achievement came after KKR’s triumphant victory against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the IPL 2024 final.
Narine’s journey to the MVP accolade began in the inaugural IPL season of 2012, where he showcased his prowess by claiming 24 wickets. He continued to impress in the 2018 season, amassing 357 runs and picking up 17 wickets to secure his second MVP title.
In the IPL 2024 season, Narine delivered an outstanding performance for KKR, scoring 488 runs and taking 17 crucial wickets. His impactful contributions throughout the tournament solidified his position as a key player for the Kolkata-based franchise.
During the IPL 2024 final clash against SRH, Narine once again proved his mettle on the field. With a stellar bowling spell, he conceded just 16 runs and claimed a crucial wicket in his four-over quota. Additionally, his valuable contribution with the bat, scoring six runs at a staggering strike rate of 300, further highlighted his versatility and importance to the team.
Sunil Narine’s historic achievement, coupled with KKR’s stellar team effort, marked a memorable triumph in the IPL 2024 season, solidifying their position as one of the powerhouse teams in the tournament’s history.
BCCI Secretary Jay Shah Announces Cash Rewards for IPL Ground Staff
In a commendable gesture, BCCI Secretary Jay Shah has announced cash rewards for IPL ground staff in recognition of their outstanding efforts in maintaining exceptional pitches during IPL 2024. Describing them as “unsung heroes,” Shah expressed gratitude towards the groundsmen and curators for their tireless dedication, particularly in challenging weather conditions.
Each of the 10 regular IPL venues, including Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, and Jaipur, will receive a token of appreciation of INR 25 lakhs. Additionally, the three additional venues—Guwahati, Visakhapatnam, and Dharamsala—will be awarded INR 10 lakhs each for their contributions to the league.
The recognition extends to Guwahati, which served as the second home venue for Rajasthan Royals, Visakhapatnam, hosting Delhi Capitals’ initial home matches, and Dharamsala, acting as the secondary base for Kings XI Punjab.
IPL 2024 garnered attention for its high-scoring matches, with the team total record surpassed twice and the 250-run mark crossed on eight occasions throughout the season.
Shah also extended his congratulations to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for their title triumph in IPL 2024. He praised the team’s consistency throughout the tournament and commended Shreyas Iyer for his exceptional leadership.
Furthermore, Shah expressed gratitude to the fans for their overwhelming support, emphasizing their role in making IPL 2024 yet another successful season.
This announcement reflects the BCCI’s acknowledgment of the vital role played by ground staff in ensuring the smooth conduct of IPL matches and underscores their importance in the success of the tournament.
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