Mitchell Starc leads KKR to fourth IPL final

In a one-sided Qualifier 1 match at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by eight wickets to secure a spot in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 final. Mitchell Starc's exceptional bowling performance dismantled SRH, setting the tone for KKR's convincing victory. This win marks the fourth time KKR has reached the IPL final.

KKR, the table-toppers, dominated the match from the start. Starc's powerplay brilliance left SRH reeling after which they never recovered. Chasing a target of 160 runs, KKR's Venkatesh Iyer and Shreyas Iyer both scored fifties, helping their team achieve the target in just 13.4 overs. SRH now has another chance to reach the final and will face the winner of the Eliminator between Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in Qualifier 2.

Last season, KKR finished 7th in the points table. However, the return of Gautam Gambhir as a mentor revitalized the team, leading them to finish as table-toppers this year with 20 points from 14 matches.

The IPL 2024 final will be held on 26th May at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium. Fans eagerly await to see who will join KKR in the final. RCB, riding high on six consecutive victories and eager to end their 16-year wait for the IPL title, are the favorites in their upcoming match against Rajasthan Royals at the Narendra Modi Stadium.