Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) delivered an electrifying performance at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Tuesday, securing their place in the final after a dominant eight-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Finishing top of the league stage points table, KKR reached their fourth final with this comprehensive win. The bowlers set the tone, restricting SRH to a modest 159, which was then comfortably chased down by Venkatesh Iyer and Shreyas Iyer, who shared an unbeaten 97-run partnership, achieving the target in just 13.4 overs.
Opting to bat first in Ahmedabad, where Pat Cummins had previously dazzled the crowd during the ODI World Cup, SRH had a dismal start. Mitchell Starc wreaked havoc with the new ball, claiming three crucial wickets early on, including the dismissal of Travis Head for a duck on the second ball of the match. Despite a spirited 35-ball 55 from Rahul Tripathi, who stitched a 62-run partnership with Heinrich Klaasen, SRH’s innings crumbled spectacularly. They lost five wickets for just 25 runs in a span of 30 balls, with Cummins also contributing vital runs to push their total beyond 150.
In response, KKR encountered early setbacks, losing their openers within the first seven overs. However, Venkatesh Iyer and captain Shreyas Iyer steadied the ship with their respective fifties. Their combined effort saw KKR chase down the target of 160 with 38 balls to spare, showcasing the team’s batting depth and resilience.
Post-match celebrations saw KKR co-owner Shah Rukh Khan, accompanied by his daughter Suhana and son AbRam, engaging with the fans through a lap around the stadium. This heartwarming gesture, however, led to an inadvertent interruption of JioCinema’s IPL 2024 Hindi broadcast, which was being filmed live on the ground.
Upon realizing the disruption, Shah Rukh quickly apologized to former India cricketers Aakash Chopra, Parthiv Patel, and Suresh Raina, who were hosting the show. He embraced each of them and also extended his apologies to the viewers watching the broadcast before continuing his lap around the venue. Suhana was seen carefully navigating around the cameras, holding her brother’s hand.
Aakash Chopra, smiling, remarked on Shah Rukh’s unintentional cameo, saying, “Oh, what a man! Legend! He didn’t even realize he walked into the show. He was very apologetic, but I said, ‘You made our day. You are the showstopper.’”
This match not only highlighted KKR’s formidable form but also showcased the sportsmanship and humility of its high-profile co-owner, adding a memorable moment to their journey in IPL 2024.
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