In a nail-biting encounter, Kolkata Knight Riders emerged victorious against Mumbai Indians by 24 runs in a tense, low-scoring encounter in the 51st match of Indian Premier League 2024.

KKR’s Batting Performance

Batting first after winning the toss, Kolkata Knight Riders faced early setbacks as Mumbai Indians’ bowlers made early breakthroughs. Salt’s early dismissal for just 5 runs, courtesy of a breakthrough by Thushara, set the tone for KKR’s batting woes. Thushara continued his dominance, claiming the wickets of Angkrish Raghuvanshi (13) and Shreyas Iyer (6) in quick succession during the third over.

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Hardik Pandya’s fifth over further compounded Knight Riders’ troubles, as he dismissed Sunil Narine for a mere 8 runs. Rinku Singh (9) fell to a catch and bowl by Piyush Chawla. However, amidst the chaos, Manish Pandey and Venkatesh Iyer steadied the ship with a resilient 50-run partnership off 39 balls, pulling KKR out of the dire situation after losing five wickets.

Venkatesh Iyer valiantly fought against the MI bowling attack, crafting a brilliant innings of 70 runs off 52 balls. Knight Riders concluded their innings at 169 runs, all out, with just one ball remaining in their innings.

MI’s Battle in Chase

In pursuit of 170 runs, Mumbai Indians faced early setbacks as openers Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan departed early. Suryakumar Yadav kept the chase alive with his steady batting. SKY brought up his 50 in just 30 balls at a time when MI were struggling to make runs. Surya got out on 56 as Russell gets the breakthrough for KKR. Tim David was the only batsman who looked a bit dangerous in the chase once SKY got out, but MI were bundled out at 145 by the KKR.

Pace vs spin in MI’s run-chase
Spin: 4/44 in 8 overs (ER: 5.5)
Pace: 6/98 in 10.5 overs (ER: 9.04)

Instances of both teams getting all-out in an IPL match
DC vs RR, Nagpur, 2010
KKR vs RCB, Kolkata, 2017
MI vs SRH, Mumbai WS, 2018
MI vs KKR, Mumbai WS, 2024

4-fers for KKR vs MI
5/15 – Andre Russell, Chennai, 2021
4/15 – Sunil Narine, Mumbai WS, 2012
4/20 – Sunil Narine, Abu Dhabi, 2014
4/33 – Mitchell Starc, Mumbai WS, 2024

This was just the fourth instance of MI getting bowled out in 33 head-to-head contests against KKR.

KKR vs MI at Wankhede
Matches: 11
Wins: 2
Defeats: 9

KKR’s only previous win over MI at Wankhede came back in 2012, with Sunil Narine returning 4/15 from 3.1 overs in a 32-run win.

MI in run-chases in IPL 2024
Matches: 6
Won: 1 (vs RCB)
Lost: 5

Key Moments in the Match

KKR’s bowlers, led by Mitchell Starc and Sunil Narine, wreaked havoc on MI’s batting lineup, claiming crucial wickets at regular intervals. Despite a commendable effort from MI’s batters, particularly Suryakumar Yadav, KKR’s bowling attack proved too strong.

KKR’s Resilience in Match

Earlier in the match, KKR faced a collapse in their top order. Still, Venkatesh Iyer’s half-century and valuable contributions from Manish Pandey and Andre Russell helped them recover and post a competitive total.

In a game of twists and turns, Kolkata Knight Riders displayed resilience and composure to emerge victorious against Mumbai Indians. With this win, KKR strengthens their position in the tournament, while Mumbai Indians will look to bounce back in their upcoming matches.