Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma are used to going bang, bang and pretty much killing off games in the first six overs at IPL 2024. But in the first qualifier in Ahmedabad, it was Mitchell Starc who went bang, bang, bang in the powerplay to secure Kolkata Knight Riders’ spot in the IPL final on Sunday in Chennai. Mitchell Starc chose a right occasion to prove his 24.75crs for KKR at the crucial match proving that he is indeed was a buy worth it.
Mitchell Starc scythed through SRH’s top order in an opening spell of 3-0-22-3, Varun Chakravarthy took over in the middle overs to help dismiss SRH for 159 in 19.3 overs. In reply, Shreyas Iyer and Venkatesh Iyer made unbeaten half-centuries as KKR ran down the target with more than six overs to spare.
Pitch and Toss
The outfield is green and lush. The square boundaries are 63 meters each while it is 70 meters down the ground. The pitch looks a touch dry. Will suit bowlers who will use the off-pace deliveries. In some areas, around the good length, there’s a bit of moisture, but it is hard. The power-hitters will play a major role here, looks like a good batting wicket. Won’t spin much, reckons Matthew Hayden.
SRH skipper Pat Cummins won the toss and chose to bat with no changes in the Playing XI. KKR skipper Shreyas Iyer bowling first also made no changes in the Playing X
Mitchell Starc wipes out top-order in the Powerplay
Two days ago, Arshdeep Singh showed the way that attacking the stumps first up could work against Travis Head. Mitchell Starc took a cue and succeeded as he floored Head’s middle and off-stump on the second ball of the game. Vaibhav Arora followed it up with the wicket of Abhishek Sharma in the second over, courtesy a sharp catch from Andre Russell at cover.
Rahul Tripathi looked to take the attack to KKR despite a shaky start but Mitchell Starc caused more havoc at the other end by taking out Nitish Reddy and Shahbaz Ahmed off successive deliveries in his third PowerPlay over. KKR did not concede a single six as SRH limped to their third lowest PP score this season.
Mitchell Starc’s first ball to Head was an outswinger that was squeezed to extra cover. Mitchell Starc’s second threatened to angle in, but swung and seamed away late to breach the defenses of Head and leave his stumps splayed.
SRH lose their way after solid counter-attack from Rahul Tripathi in the middle overs
Tripathi was lucky to survive beyond the third over when KKR didn’t review an LBW shout. He continued to counter-attack, starting with a ramp shot off Harshit Rana in the eighth over. Tripathi and Klaasen then went after Sunil Narine to hit 18 in his over. The duo doubled SRH’s PowerPlay score in just four overs, before Tripathi reached his 30-ball 50 in the 11th while also pushing SRH to 100. Varun CV pulled one back, by having Klaasen caught right at the deep mid-wicket fence by Rinku Singh for a 21-ball 32.
Abdul Samad arrived and swore by SRH’s batting ideologies for this season, tonking the first ball he faced for a six off Narine. KKR ended the phase on top with the wickets of Tripathi – run out for a 35-ball 55, impact substitute Sanvir Singh – cleaned up first ball by Narine – and Abdul Samad, caught at long-off, off Harshit Rana.
Tripathi, who kept his place at No. 3, repaired SRH’s innings with a half-century. He combined power with invention to manufacture scoring opportunities. He whacked Arora over midwicket and ramped a bouncer from Harshit Rana for six. He reached his fifty off 29 balls when he reverse-swept Varun for four.
Tripathi, however, could not press on as Russell capitalized on a mix-up to run him out for 55 off 35 balls. Tripathi was so distraught that he sat on the stairs in Ahmedabad, with his head buried in his knee, for a long time. That image of Tripathi summed up SRH’s night.
Pat Cummins drags SRH past 150 as Varun Chakravarthy applies the brakes to SRH innings
The SRH captain pierced the off-side field behind point against Rana and then played an audacious reverse scoop for a six off Varun CV to drag his team forward. VijayKanth Viyaskanth played his role in the last-wicket stand of largely staying away from strike while Cummins added the runs.
He then mistimed a ball from Mitchell Starc for a six behind the wicket and then sliced one through the big gap behind point once again to take the innings into the last over. Three balls in, Rahmanullah Gurbaz got under the a top-edge from Cummins to end the SRH innings on 159.
Heinrich Klaasen had taken Sunil Narine for 16 off eight balls, but KKR’s other mystery spinner, Varun Chakravarthy, struck in his first over to cut Klassen’s innings short on 32 off 21 balls. Varun darted one into the pitch and didn’t allow Klaasen underneath the length as he dragged a catch to deep midwicket. He then pinned Bhuvneshwar Kumar lbw with a wrong ‘un in the 16th over that cost KKR just one run. It was Varun’s 40th wicket in 27 IPL innings since the 2023 season started. No other spinner has more wickets than Varun during this period.
At 126 for 9 in 16 overs, SRH were in danger of being bundled out for a sub-140 total, but Cummins’ 30 off 24 balls dragged them to a more respectable 159.
Gurbaz falls but KKR fly in the powerplay.
Sunil Narine drove Pat Cummins on both sides of the wickets to start off with two fours. There was more carnage in the over, as four came off leg byes before Rahmanullah Gurbaz danced down and top-edged a slog for a six over third man. SRH burned both their reviews by the third over in their desperate bid for early breakthroughs.
It didn’t come and KKR openers made merry in the presence of dew and absence of swing. T Natarajan dismissed Gurbaz but that was just one small blemish in KKR’s flying PowerPlay as Venkatesh Iyer walked out and swung for the fences. After doing a good job behind the stumps, Rahmanullah Gurbaz eased himself in with the bat in what was his first outing this season.
Venkatesh, Shreyas Iyer complete KKR’s gallop to IPL 2024 Finals
Cummins saw the back of Narine but KKR still maintained their gallop towards the target through Venkatesh Iyer. SRH didn’t do themselves any favour by fluffing a few chances that came their way. Venkatesh got to his 28-ball half-century off a six, and forged a big stand with his captain to put the game well beyond SRH’s reach.
With SRH bringing a batter as an impact substitute, they were forced to get overs from their part-time options like Travis Head and Nitish Reddy. Shreyas took advantage – particularly against the Australian to go 6 4 6 in the 14th over to get his 23-ball half-century. On the next ball he smashed another six to complete the chase in style.
The Iyer’s – captain Shreyas and Venkatesh – then struck up an unbroken 97 partnership for the third wicket off only 44 balls to turn their chase into a cruise. Along the way, both batters posted half-centuries and it was Shreyas who finished it off in grand style in the 14th over, with a sequence of 6, 4, 6, 6 off Head.
Sunrisers Hyderabad’s live by the sword and die by it ideology brought them death in the first qualifier as Kolkata Knight Riders waltzed into the final of IPL 2024. The table-toppers put in a fine bowling display – spearheaded by Mitchell Starc – before Venkatesh Iyer and Shreyas Iyer powered them through in chase of SRH’s paltry 159 with eight wickets and 38 balls to spare. This will be KKR’s first IPL final appearance since 2021.
Presentations and Road Ahead.
Pat Cummins the loosing skipper said : Yeah we will try to put this behind quickly, good thing we will have a crack at it (second qualifier). You have those days in T20 cricket where things doesn’t quite work out. We weren’t where we wanted with the bat and obviously couldn’t do much with the ball.
Felt that extra batting was important (picking the impact sub) on this wicket. Thought KKR bowled really well, there was a little bit in it early on and the surface got better. We all have played enough cricket, and going to a new venue (Chennai) helps us as well, so we gotta keep this behind and move on.
Shreyas Iyer the winning skipper said : Elated by the performance, the responsibility was important, we stood up for each other, extremely happy with the performances. The rejuvenation was important for us. When you travel so much. It’s important to stay in the present. Today was the day we had to maximize, we did it and that’s what we thrive on.
I think the way every bowler stood up to this occasion, the way they came in and took wickets, that was imperative. The attitude and approach of all bowlers was to take wickets and they did. When you have a variety in the bowling line-up, it’s mesmerizing. They have been true in terms of their work ethics, hopefully we keep performing.
It was Gurbaz’s first game and he gave an impactful start. We had to make sure we carry forward the same run rate. I don’t know Tamil, but I understand. Venky speaks in Tamil, I reply in Hindi (talking about the communication between him and Venkatesh Iyer). We need to be in our zone in the final and make sure we give our best.
Mitchell Starc won the Player of the Match for his 3 wickets said : We know how important the powerplay is. These were the two sides who have dominated in the powerplay with the bat. We needed to pick early wickets and get into their middle-order. The way Head and Abhishek have been playing throughout the tournament, they like width and free their arms.
We just tried to swing the ball and not provide them width. Bowl stump to stump and tried the hard length. The spinners were effective and the whole bowling department was great. Got lucky I guess (on taking Head’s wicket), was nice to see his back early, not always the case. We have been playing against each other in recent times. They (Arora and Harshit) are exciting to watch and are talented, they are skillful.
It’s good to see how hard they train. Harshit has been phenomenal this year. Our bowling attack has been great, it’s hard to single anyone out. As an older and overseas player, it’s good to see. No doubt they’ll take many wickets in the IPL and for India as well.
2012. 2014. 2021. 2024. KKR set to play their fourth final in the history of IPL. They finished the league stage as the number 1 team and they have played like the best team of the season tonight. Couldn’t have been anymore convincing. Mitchell Starc got the Knights off to a dream start by dismissing Head for a duck and he bowled a magnificent spell in the powerplay to reduce SRH to 39/4. Tripathi and Klaasen added some pivotal runs, however, the KKR bowlers choked them in the middle overs as Sunrisers finished with a mediocre total.
In reply, the KKR openers gave a perfect start, while the two Iyer’s (Shreyas and Venkatesh) finished off the run chase with an excellent partnership for the third wicket. Head who hurt India in the final of 2023 World Cup had a horrible game tonight. Was dismissed for a duck earlier in the evening and was smashed all around the park by Shreyas towards the end. A sweet vengeance indeed.
That brings an end to our first playoff game of IPL 2024. Proved to be a one-sided affair in the end, but KKR fans won’t mind it. They move one step closer to lifting that trophy. Been 10 long years since the Knights last won that title. It’s not the end of SRH’s journey though as they will face the winner of tomorrow’s game in Qualifier 2. Expecting the Eliminator (RR v RCB) game to be much more exciting than tonight’s clash. RCB have been on a roll and have won six games on the trot.
Both teams travel to Chennai – KKR have four days before the summit clash on Sunday (March 26). SRH will face the winner of the Eliminator between RR and RCB in the second qualifier on Friday (March 24).