Mitchell Starc’s bowling heroics helped table-toppers KKR defeat in-form SRH by eight wickets in Qualifier 1 at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Tuesday, securing their place in the final of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024.

SRH will get another chance to reach the title clash when they take on the winner of the Eliminator between RR and RCB in Qualifier 2 on Friday. This is the fourth time the Knight Riders have reached an IPL final.

Match Overview

The stakes were high in Qualifier 1, with KKR aiming to continue their dominant run and SRH looking to capitalize on their form. KKR’s journey this season has been remarkable. They finished as table-toppers with 20 points from 14 matches, largely thanks to their all-around performances and strategic brilliance.

See Also: Netizens applaud Captain Cummins for stellar cameo in Qualifier 1 against KKR

Starc’s Early Impact

Mitchell Starc, IPL’s most expensive buy, justified his hefty price tag with a sensational three-wicket burst. He delivered an early blow by dismissing Travis Head on the second ball of the game, uprooting his stumps. This early setback left SRH in disarray. Starc continued his onslaught by removing Nitish Reddy and Shahbaz Ahmed during the powerplay, reducing SRH to 44/3.

Middle Order Resistance

Rahul Tripathi provided some resistance by fighting 55 off 35 balls. He formed a crucial 62-run partnership with Heinrich Klaasen, who contributed 32 off 21 balls. Their efforts were vital in pushing SRH past the 100-run mark, but wickets continued falling regularly.

KKR’s Tight Bowling

KKR’s bowlers maintained pressure throughout the innings. Varun Chakravarthy’s dismissal of Klaasen was pivotal, and Sunil Narine chipped in with key wickets, further derailing SRH’s innings.

SRH’s Lower Order Fightback

Despite the top order’s collapse, Pat Cummins played a crucial knock of 30 off 24 balls, forming a vital 33-run stand for the last wicket with Vijayakanth Viyaskanth. This late surge helped SRH reach a respectable total of 159.

KKR’s Dominant Chase

The impressive fifties led KKR’s chase from Venkatesh Iyer (51* off 35) and Shreyas Iyer (58* off 36). They effortlessly gunned down the target in just 13.4 overs, showcasing their batting prowess and ensuring a comprehensive victory.

This victory marks KKR’s fourth entry into an IPL final, a testament to their consistent performance and strategic insight. Gautam Gambhir’s return as a mentor has been instrumental in their resurgence this season.

Mitchell Starc’s early breakthroughs set the tone for the match, while the Iyer duo’s fifties sealed the deal for KKR. Other notable performances included Varun Chakravarthy’s economical bowling and Pat Cummins’ crucial late innings.

DYK: Since 2018, the team that won Qualifier 1 went onto win the IPL trophy every single time.

Most 50-plus scores as a captain in playoffs
2 – MS Dhoni
2 – Rohit Sharma
2 – David Warner
2 – Shreyas Iyer*

Most appearances in the IPL final
10 – CSK
6 – MI
4 – KKR*
3 – RCB

Highest partnership for KKR in playoffs
136 – M Bisla & J Kallis vs CSK, Chennai, 2012
97* – Shreyas Iyer & V Iyer vs SRH, Ahmedabad, 2024*
96 – Shubman Gill & V Iyer vs DC, Sharjah, 2021

Venkatesh Iyer’s scores in playoffs
26 (30) vs RCB, Sharjah, 2021
55 (41) vs DC, Sharjah, 2021
50 (32) vs CSK, Dubai, 2021
51* (28) vs SRH, Ahmedabad, 2024*

Winning with the most balls to spare in IPL (160+ targets)
62 – SRH vs LSG, Hyderabad, 2024 (Target: 166)
38 – KKR vs SRH, Ahmedabad, 2024 (Target: 160)
34 – KKR vs SRH, Kolkata, 2014 (Target: 161)
32 – MI vs RR, Wankhede, 2014 (Target: 190)