Kolkata Knight Riders Triumph in Crushing IPL Final
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) emerged victorious in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 final, claiming their third title with a resounding eight-wicket triumph over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). The match, held in Chennai on Sunday, witnessed a one-sided affair from the outset.
Abysmal Start for SRH
Opting to bat first, SRH's hopes were quickly dashed as they lost their top batsmen, Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head, with only six runs on the board. Head was dismissed for a first-ball duck by an exquisite outswinger. SRH's woes continued as they crumbled to an abysmal all-out score of just 113.
Clinical Performance by KKR
KKR, on the other hand, chased down the paltry target in a mere 10.3 overs, losing only two wickets in the process. The victory marked the lowest total ever recorded in an IPL final.
Historic Significance
This match also holds several historical significance. SRH's total broke the previous record held by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for the lowest score in an IPL final. Remarkably, it was the first time in 33 IPL final innings that no player for any team managed to score 30 runs.
KKR's Dynasty
This victory marked the third IPL trophy for KKR, adding to their previous titles in 2012 and 2014. KKR's dominance continued with their highest powerplay total in any IPL final, surpassing Gujarat Titan's previous record.
SRH's Dismal Performance
SRH's performance was particularly disappointing, as it marked one of their lowest totals ever in the IPL. Their previous low scores in the tournament include 96 against Mumbai Indians (MI) in 2019 and 113 against KKR in 2015.
Head's Final Woes
Travis Head's struggles in the final continued, as he failed to score once again. His recent performance in the playoffs has been dismal, with scores of 0(1), 0(2), 34(28), and 0(1).
SRH's Powerplay Struggle
SRH also registered one of their lowest powerplay scores in the IPL during the final. Their previous four lowest powerplay scores in the tournament are 37/2 against Rajasthan Royals (RR), 40/3 against Punjab Kings (PBKS), 40/3 against KKR, and 45/4 against KKR.
