In the grand spectacle of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 Final, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) unleashed a bowling masterclass against the formidable Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on May 26, etching their name in history with the shortest-ever summit clash in the tournament's annals. This decisive victory marked KKR's third IPL title, a testament to their exceptional bowling prowess and clinical batting performance.
The match commenced with Mitchell Starc's thunderous dismissal of SRH opener Abhishek Sharma in the first over, setting the tone for KKR's relentless assault. Viabhav Arora followed suit, dismissing Travis Head for a duck in the subsequent over, further挫败着SRH's batting lineup. The SRH batters, who had showcased formidable form throughout the tournament, crumbled under the pressure of the grand stage, succumbing to KKR's relentless bowling attack.
KKR's bowlers, led by Starc, Andre Russell, and Harshit Rana, executed their plans with precision, restricting the prolific SRH batters to a mere 113 runs, the lowest total ever recorded in an IPL final. CSK's 125 for 9 against MI in IPL 2013 stood as the previous benchmark for the most meager final score, but SRH's performance fell even short of that dismal mark.
In stark contrast to SRH's batting woes, KKR's batting unit exhibited composure and control. While SRH skipper Cummins provided a glimmer of hope by dismissing the dangerous Sunil Narine, KKR openers Rahmadullah Gurbaz and Venkatesh Iyer forged a formidable 91-run partnership, steering their team towards victory. Iyer's blistering knock of 52 runs off just 26 deliveries, which included the match-winning boundary, epitomized KKR's dominance in the chase.
Throughout the encounter, KKR maintained an unyielding grip on the proceedings, never allowing SRH to establish any semblance of momentum. The comprehensive victory sparked jubilant celebrations within the KKR dugout, with owners Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla sharing in the triumph.
KKR's triumph stands as a testament to their exceptional bowling attack, which neutralized SRH's explosive batting lineup. Their clinical batting performance further solidified their victory, etching their name in the annals of IPL history with the shortest and most dominant final performance to date.
