Producer: Peuli Bakshi
The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) reached their fourth-ever IPL finals after their eight wicket Qualifier 1 win against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on May 21 (Tuesday).
After taking over Ahmedabad by easily chasing down the SRH-set target of 160 in 13.4 overs, KKR is headed to Chennai for the finals set to take place on May 26.
It’s their first final since 2021, bringing back memories of 2012 and 2014, when the team endured similar results under the leadership of Gautam Gambhir.
Gambhir’s mentorship sure has changed KKR's rhythm for good. From Mitchell Starc to Varun Chakravarthy, KKR deployed six bowlers, with none returning empty-handed.
Starc shone with 3/34 as KKR restricted the team with the highest-ever recorded total in IPL history to just 159.
After Gurbaz and Narine set the base with a 44-run opening stand, the Iyer duo of Kolkata sealed the deal for KKR.
Shreyas and Venkatesh's unbeaten half centuries proved Rahul Tripathi's 55 off 35, Heinrich Klaasen's 32 off 21, and skipper Pat Cummin's 30 off 24 in vain.
Shreyas finished off KKR's splendid innings in grand style in the 14th over, with a sequence of 6, 4, 6, 6 off Travis Head.
Now SRH will be contesting against RCB or RR in the Eliminator on May 22, to avail a chance of a rematch with KKR in the finals.