Kolkata Knight Riders clinched the Indian Premier League title with an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final.
Mitchell Starc set the tone by dismissing Sunrisers opener Abhishek Sharma with a brilliant delivery in the first over.Sunrisers crumbled and were all out for 113, the lowest total in an IPL final.Every KKR bowler took wickets, with Andre Russell grabbing 3-19 and Starc and Harshit Rana securing two each.
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Venkatesh Iyer then blasted an unbeaten 52 off 26 balls, partnering with Rahmanullah Gurbaz for a 91-run stand, as KKR chased down the target in just 10.3 overs.
This victory, after topping the group stage, secures KKR’s third IPL title and their first since 2014.Sunrisers, captained by Australia’s Pat Cummins, will have to wait another year to try to add to their lone 2016 IPL title.
“It was comprehensive today. This is what we demanded from the team and every individual stood up,” said KKR captain Shreyas Iyer.
“It’s hard to describe what we are feeling right now. We’ve played like invincibles throughout the season and there is so much to cherish right now.”
Unexpected final teams
At the start of the IPL, few predicted KKR and Sunrisers would be in the final.
Sunrisers had named Cummins as captain, his first time in T20 cricket, while KKR’s hefty investment in Starc faced skepticism.
Starc, not having played in the IPL since 2015, had shaky initial performances but eventually proved his worth.Starc’s stunning delivery to dismiss Abhishek set the tone for the final.KKR’s bowling unit dismantled Sunrisers, leaving them at 21-3 early on.
Sunrisers struggled to counter-attack and were outplayed.
Despite Sunil Narine’s early dismissal, Venkatesh’s aggressive batting ensured a swift victory for KKR.
‘It means so much’ – reactions
KKR captain Shreyas Iyer: “Flawless performances throughout. Running out of words – we’ve been tremendous from game one. It’s been a cumulative effort.”
Sunrisers captain Pat Cummins: “They bowled fantastically and Starc turned it on again. We were outplayed. Loved how brave our guys were this season.”
Player of the match, KKR’s Mitchell Starc: “Great night for KKR. What a game, series, season. We’ve had contributions from everyone.”
KKR all-rounder Andre Russell: “Means so much with all the fan support. This franchise has done so much for me. So happy.”
