The Eden Gardens in Kolkata witnessed a pulsating display of cricket on Saturday, May 11th, as the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) edged out the Mumbai Indians (MI) by a narrow margin of 18 runs in the 60th match of the IPL 2024. This rain-affected encounter, significantly reduced to 16 overs per side, had all the ingredients of a classic IPL contest – explosive batting displays, moments of exceptional bowling, and a tense finish that kept the crowd on the edge of their seats.
KKR Opt to Bat First, Post Competitive Total
After losing the toss and being invited to bat first, KKR got off to a cautious start. Shubman Gill (17) and Aaron Finch (12) found it difficult to score freely against the disciplined bowling attack of MI, particularly Jasprit Bumrah, who conceded only 4 runs in his first two overs. The breakthrough came in the fourth over when Bumrah, with his trademark yorker, rattled Gill’s stumps.
However, the dismissal brought together the in-form Venkatesh Iyer and the experienced Nitish Rana. The duo quickly shifted gears, taking advantage of the fielding restrictions in the powerplay overs. Iyer, known for his aggressive strokeplay, unleashed a flurry of boundaries, peppering the off-side with some exquisite drives. He smashed six fours and two sixes in his knock of 42 off just 21 deliveries, before being caught at deep square leg by Suryakumar Yadav off the bowling of Riley Meredith.
Rana, at the other end, played a more composed innings, anchoring the innings with his calculated stroke selection. He found the gaps with ease, rotating the strike and accumulating boundaries at regular intervals. His knock of 33 (25 balls) provided much-needed stability after Iyer’s departure.
Following the departures of Iyer and Rana, Andre Russell, the big-hitting Jamaican, walked out to the crease with the intent of accelerating the scoring rate. He did manage a couple of lusty blows, including a towering six over long-on, but was dismissed for 24 (15 balls) by the experienced Piyush Chawla, who deceived him with a well-flighted googly.
The remaining KKR batsmen, Sunil Narine (12), Sheldon Jackson (8), and Pat Cummins (7*), chipped in with valuable contributions in the slog overs, taking the team’s total to a competitive 157/7 at the end of their allotted 16 overs. Jasprit Bumrah (2/23) and Piyush Chawla (2/28) were the most successful bowlers for MI, keeping the KKR batsmen in check with their variations and experience.
MI Chase Falters Despite Kishan’s Early Blitz
Chasing a tricky target of 158 in a rain-shortened match, MI openers Ishan Kishan and Rohit Sharma started with positive intent. Kishan, in particular, looked in sublime touch, taking the KKR bowlers to the cleaners from the outset. He dispatched anything loose over the ropes, finding the boundary with disdain. His innings of 40 (23 balls), comprising five fours and two sixes, provided MI with a flying start.
However, the dismissal of Rohit Sharma (19), who was caught at deep mid-wicket by Pat Cummins off Umesh Yadav’s bowling, triggered a mini-collapse for MI. Suryakumar Yadav (11), often the mainstay of the MI batting lineup, failed to capitalize, becoming another victim of Umesh Yadav’s pace. Tilak Varma (32), the young talent, showed glimpses of brilliance with some well-timed boundaries, but lacked support from the other end.
The introduction of spin into the KKR attack proved to be a masterstroke. Varun Chakaravarthy, the wily wrist-spinner, foxed the MI batsmen with his variations, picking up two crucial wickets in the middle overs. He dismissed Kieron Pollard (14) and Dewald Brevis (5) in quick succession, derailing the MI chase.
The experienced Hardik Pandya (18) tried to revive the MI innings with a couple of lusty blows, but was undone by a sharp googly from Sunil Narine. With wickets falling at regular intervals, the pressure mounted on the remaining MI batsmen. Tim David, known for his big-hitting prowess, provided a late flurry of sixes in his knock of 22 (14 balls), but it proved to be a case of too little, too late.
KKR Spinners Shine as MI Fall Short
In the final over, needing 19 runs for victory, KKR handed the ball to the young leg-spinner, Harshit Rana. The tension in the stadium was palpable as Tim David, the last recognized batsman for MI, took guard. The first ball was a flighted delivery that David managed to work for a single. The pressure shifted to the new batsman, Rahul Chahar, known more for his bowling skills.
Rana followed it up with a quicker delivery outside off-stump, which Chahar could only nudge away for a dot ball. The equation became even more daunting – 17 runs needed off 4 balls. The third ball was a well-tossed googly, which Chahar completely missed, resulting in a wide. The crowd erupted in a cheer, momentarily relieving the tension for the KKR supporters.
Now, 16 runs were required off 3 balls. Rana, displaying remarkable composure under pressure, bowled a yorker length delivery that David could only manage to squeeze out for a single. The equation remained challenging – 15 runs needed off 2 balls.
The fifth ball of the over was a full toss on the leg-side, which David attempted to flick for a six. However, he mistimed it completely, skying the ball high in the air. Sunil Narine, stationed at deep square leg, judged the trajectory perfectly and sprinted backwards, taking a sensational catch to seal the victory for KKR.
The Eden Gardens erupted in a roar as the KKR players celebrated their hard-fought victory. Harshit Rana, the young hero of the match, was mobbed by his teammates, his figures of 2/20 proving to be decisive in the context of the game.
Post-Match Reactions
KKR skipper Shreyas Iyer, visibly elated, praised his team’s performance in the post-match presentation. He lauded Venkatesh Iyer’s aggressive knock at the top and highlighted the crucial contributions of the spinners, Varun Chakaravarthy and Harshit Rana. “It was a complete team effort, and I’m happy that we secured our place in the playoffs,” he said.
Hardik Pandya, the MI captain, admitted that his team lost control of the chase after a promising start. “We got off to a good start with the bat, but couldn’t capitalize in the middle overs. Credit to KKR for their excellent bowling, especially the spinners,” he conceded.
