Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) secured their third Indian Premier League (IPL) title by defeating Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by 8 wickets in the final showdown at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The victory marked a remarkable achievement for the Shreyas Iyer-led side, which delivered a commanding performance to clinch the coveted title.

KKR’s Commanding Performance

Chasing a modest target of 114 runs, KKR showcased their prowess with the bat, achieving the target in just 10.3 overs. This impressive display of batting prowess highlighted KKR’s dominance throughout the match.

The early stages of SRH’s innings saw the formidable bowling duo of Mitchell Starc and Vaibhav Arora wreak havoc on their batting lineup. Starc’s crucial breakthroughs in the powerplay, including the dismissals of Abhishek Sharma and Rahul Tripathi, set the tone for KKR’s bowling attack. Arora further compounded SRH’s woes with his pivotal wicket of Travis Head, laying the groundwork for KKR’s victory.

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Starc’s Impactful Bowling

Mitchell Starc’s journey in IPL 2024 was marked by initial skepticism following his high-priced acquisition by KKR. However, Starc silenced his critics with stellar performances, particularly in the latter half of the tournament. His standout display in Qualifier 1 and the final match showcased his ability to deliver under pressure, solidifying his place as a key player for KKR.

Mitchell Starc’s Redemption

In the final showdown against SRH, Starc once again rose to the occasion, delivering a clinical bowling performance that stifled SRH’s batting lineup. His economical spell in the initial overs played a pivotal role in KKR’s dominant start, setting the stage for their eventual triumph.

Pat Cummins’ Acknowledgment

Following the match, SRH captain Pat Cummins commended KKR for their exceptional performance, acknowledging the impact of Starc’s bowling prowess. Cummins highlighted KKR’s bowling strength and expressed admiration for their strategic approach to the game.

Pat Cummins | SRH captain: They bowled fantastically. Old mate Starcy turned up again! Not enough tonight, totally outplayed. You hope you get some boundaries away but they bowled fantastically well, didn’t give us anything. Similar to how they bowled in Ahmedabad. It was a tricky wicket. If we got 160, we felt we would have been in the game. So many (positives), the style with which the guys played especially with the bat. Lot of skills to get to 250 three times. I loved how brave the guys were. It was a lot of fun, great season.