Chennai: On Sunday, May 26, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) secured their third Indian Premier League (IPL) title in a commanding display against the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. KKR’s comprehensive performance saw them dismiss SunRisers for a mere 113 runs and chase down the target with 57 balls and 8 wickets to spare, marking one of the most one-sided IPL finals to date.
Led by captain Shreyas Iyer, KKR showcased their prowess in all facets of the game, making this IPL 2024 final the shortest title match in terms of overs played. Iyer joined the ranks of esteemed Indian captains—such as MS Dhoni, Gautam Gambhir, Rohit Sharma, and Hardik Pandya—as only the fifth to lead a team to victory in an IPL final.
Gautam Gambhir, a former KKR captain who guided the team to victory in 2012 and 2014, witnessed Iyer’s triumph from the dugout as a proud mentor. With this win, KKR solidified their status as one of the most successful IPL franchises, joining Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians with five titles each.
Dominance on Display
KKR’s dominance over SRH was evident throughout the match, marking their third victory over Pat Cummins-led SunRisers in the 2024 season. Mitchell Starc’s exceptional performance rattled SRH’s top-order, while Andre Russell, in his debut final for KKR, made significant contributions with the ball, claiming three wickets.
Venkatesh Iyer emerged as the star batsman for KKR, delivering a blistering 24-ball fifty and dismantling the SRH bowling attack with aggressive strokes.
Despite their reputation for power-hitting, SRH faltered on the big stage, succumbing to a paltry total of 113 runs—the lowest-ever team total in an IPL final. The collapse was a stark contrast to their earlier achievements in IPL 2024, including posting the highest total in tournament history with 287 runs.
SRH’s key players, including Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, failed to deliver under pressure, leaving captain Pat Cummins to wage a lone battle at the crease. Despite valiant efforts from Aiden Markram and Heinrich Klaasen, the relentless pressure applied by KKR’s bowlers ensured SRH never found their footing in the match.
In conclusion, KKR’s comprehensive victory underscores their dominance in the IPL, while SRH’s disappointing performance serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of cricket’s biggest stage.
Brief Scores:
Sunrisers Hyderabad: 113/10 (18.3 Overs) [Pat Cummins 24, Aiden Markram 20, Andre Russel 3/19, Mitchell Starc 2/14, Harshit Rana 2/24]
Kolkata Knight Riders: 114/2 (10.3 Overs) [Venkatesh Iyer 52*, Rahmanullah Gurbaz 39, Pat Cummins 1/18, Shahbaz Ahmed 1/22]
KKR won by 8 wickets (with 57 balls remaining)
