KKR Clinches Second IPL Title With Record Breaking Victory Over KXIP In IPL 2014
KKR VS KXIP IPL 2014 Final Showdown:
Manish Pandey’s explosive innings of 94 runs off just 50 balls propelled the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to victory, clinching their second IPL championship. This thrilling encounter, recounted by George Binoy, saw KKR chase down a formidable target of 200 set by Kings XI Punjab, securing the win with three balls to spare.
Kings XI Punjab 199 for 4 (Saha 115*, Vohra 67) were defeated by Kolkata Knight Riders 200 for 7 (Pandey 94, Karanveer 4-54) with 3 wickets and 3 balls remaining.
The five standout performances in an intense final between two teams of highly touted cricket players were delivered by Indian players who had never participated in an international Twenty20 format. The match was played in perfect spirit. Manish Pandey’s performance in the final match guaranteeing Kolkata Knight Riders’ winning run of eight games leading up to the championship culminating in their second championship was the defining one. Four of those efforts were for Kings XI Punjab, who were attempting to win their first IPL crown in seven seasons.
With an innings driven by an unwavering intensity, Pandey scored 94 off 50 balls, pulling off the most successful chase in Twenty20 final history. He lit up the Chinnaswamy Stadium, with left-arm spinner Akshar Patel exhibiting remarkable control to concede 5.25 an over, when other bowlers on both sides bled at more than 10, and Kings XI legspinner Karanveer Singh picking out three of his teammates.
After Manan Vohra amassed a half-century and Wriddhiman Saha scored the first hundred in an IPL final, leading Kings XI to 199, Pandey launched his audacious barrage. With three balls remaining, Knight Riders managed to score their best point of the season.
But Pandey did not see the pursuit through. In the Ranji Trophy, Knight Riders required 21 off 18 balls when he was dismissed from the field, raising his bat to thank the applause at a place he calls home. He was also Karanveer’s fourth wicket. After a series of yorkers in his last over, Mitchell Johnson signed off with a half-tracker as the equation shrank to 11 off seven thanks to singles.
Piyush Chawla made a six-point hook. George Bailey, the captain of the Kings XI, ran out of alternatives and had to hand over the last over to Parwinder Awana, who had given up 38 in the three overs before. He hit a full toss outside off stump with his third delivery, which Chawla sliced to the backward-point boundary, starting a Knight Rider pitch invasion.
Knight Riders never fell significantly short of the asking rate, which was 10 per over at the beginning, while pursuing a formidable target. As Pandey took bat for the following delivery, he saw Robin Uthappa drive the first ball of the innings to the extra-cover boundary and then go down off the fourth. Pandey then took excellent time to smack a short of a length offering from Johnson through midwicket. After the match, Pandey stated that he had realized how to approach the task when Knight Riders took 10 off the first over.
Despite failing to nail a six during the Powerplay, Knight Riders managed to score 59. The highlight of Pandey and Gautam Gambhir’s 53-run stand was their dashing between the wickets, which gave Kings XI just eight dot balls in the first six overs, the fewest of the season. Pandey and Gambhir placed numerous drives through the infield. After that, Pandey replied to Gambhir’s collapse by hitting the following over cover for the first six runs of the innings. Gambhir had holed out to Karanveer’s first ball off the seventh over.
Also Read: Kolkata Knight Riders Secure IPL Title with Stunning Manvinder Bisla Performance In 2012
The sixes flowed with Yusuf Pathan at the crease. He punished L Balaji for a long hop and a full toss over the leg-side boundary, and he carved Karanveer over extra cover and long-off off consecutive deliveries. Between those sixes, Pandey frequently pulled to cut 18 off the 11th over, tearing at Awana’s poor lengths. During this surge, Patel started to bowl and quickly dried up, giving up just five runs in his opening two overs.
Yusuf skied Karanveer to Maxwell at long on after he and the third wicket combined for 71 runs in 43 deliveries. In response, Pandey clouted the next ball over the head of the same defender. After Ryan ten Doeschate similarly holed out to long-on, Pandey hit the following ball for six in the same direction, giving Knight Riders 32 to get off 21. The chase only became nerve-wracking for Knight Riders after he collapsed, but Chawla managed to hold it together and block a fierce Kings XI campaign.
The story of the Kings XI innings was told in two remarkably diverse parts, in contrast to the Knight Riders’ chase, which moved ahead at an almost constant pace. The Knight Riders bowlers, both fast and spin, imposed control in the opening half, which was a whirl of flailing arms and aimless bats. George Bailey was promoted to No. 3 for two balls when Sehwag was unable to hold up against Umesh Yadav’s increased pace. Kings XI had made 32 after six overs, their lowest Powerplay total of the year. By ten, they were down to just 58.
When it appeared if Kings XI had made a mistake by keeping Glenn Maxwell and David Miller at Nos. 5 and 6, Saha and Vohra pulled off an incredible pace change. Saha took 32 off 13 balls from Chawla then struck 35 off the 18 balls he faced from Narine, largely on the leg side. Vohra’s one-handed cut beyond the third man boundary and Saha’s six to take 20 runs off the 15th over hurt Morkel as well. Vohra reached 50 in 42 balls, but Saha required just 29 and kept going. In 12 overs, they added 129 runs.
The desire to see Maxwell and Miller had subsided by the time Saha lofted Narine to long-on, where the boundary rider parried the ball for six, to bring up his century off 49 balls. This season, the Kings XI’s highest score in three innings versus the Knight Riders was 149. Even though Sehwag and their three overseas players only contributed nine runs, they managed to reach 199 evening. Kings XI had reached 141 runs in their last ten overs. They ultimately lost those first ten overs.
Gambhir On Manish Pandey’s Innings
Gautam Gambhir reflects on Kolkata Knight Riders’ remarkable IPL title run and shares insights about India’s forthcoming tour of England.
Before the IPL final, Manish Pandey’s season stats appeared modest: 307 runs at 25.58 average and 105.86 strike rate. Despite this, Kolkata Knight Riders’ management displayed immense faith in Pandey, who was one of the few players to feature in all matches. Gambhir, the team’s captain, expressed confidence in Pandey, stating that his match-winning 94 off 50 balls in the final was expected. The fearless approach showcased by Pandey under pressure situations resonated with Gambhir, highlighting the significance of fearlessness in cricket.
The IPL victory marked Kolkata Knight Riders’ second title in three seasons, a testament to their resilience and quality as a team. Gambhir, recalling the challenging start to the tournament with two wins in seven games, emphasized the team’s character and belief that led to their eventual triumph.
Reflecting on individual performances, Gambhir praised Robin Uthappa’s phenomenal 660 runs and emphasized the contributions of middle-order batsmen and the bowling attack as game-changers for Knight Riders. He highlighted the strategic focus on a strong bowling lineup to alleviate pressure on the batting unit, a tactic that proved effective during the tournament.
Despite a challenging past tour to England in 2011, Gambhir expressed his forward-looking approach, aiming to perform well without carrying any past baggage. He dismissed criticisms from the media about facing fast bowlers, asserting his commitment to the game and clarity of conscience.
As India prepares for the upcoming tour of England, Gambhir looks forward to the challenges ahead, emphasizing the growth opportunities and personal satisfaction that come from performing well in tough series.
Wriddhiman Saha Rates Adelaide 35 Higher than IPL Ton
Wriddhiman Saha, the accomplished cricketer, recently expressed that his innings of 35 in the Adelaide Test holds a higher significance for him compared to his century in the IPL final. This statement from Saha sheds light on the personal growth and challenges he faced in different cricketing contexts.
In the context of the Adelaide Test, where India was struggling during a challenging tour of Australia, Saha’s partnership of 124 runs with Virat Kohli, resulting in Kohli’s maiden Test century, stood out as a pivotal moment. Reflecting on this, Saha mentioned, “The Adelaide innings gave me confidence that I can play at the highest level.”
Contrasting the Test match scenario with the IPL final, Saha emphasized that while his IPL century was a notable achievement, it would have been even more rewarding had it led to victory for Kings XI Punjab. He acknowledged the fierce competition in the IPL, noting, “We could never stop them from maintaining that run-rate,” highlighting the collective effort required in such tournaments.
Discussing his approach against Sunil Narine in the IPL, Saha revealed his strategic decision to not focus on reading Narine’s variations from his hand but instead rely on his instincts and timing. This tactical adjustment allowed him to execute effective shots like the slog pull, showcasing his adaptability and skill under pressure.
Saha’s consistent performances, including his impressive showing in the IPL with 362 runs at a strike rate exceeding 145, have earned him a place in the ODI team, particularly with MS Dhoni being rested for the Bangladesh tour. Despite his batting prowess, Saha emphasized his role as a specialist wicketkeeper-batsman, prioritizing his duties behind the stumps while contributing with the bat lower down the order.
In summary, Saha’s journey reflects the challenges and triumphs faced by a professional cricketer across different formats, emphasizing the mental resilience and adaptability required to excel at the highest level of the sport.
