2-time Indian Premier League (IPL) winners Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) started their IPL 2024 campaign on a winning note as their registered a close 4-run victory against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Match 3 of IPL 2024.
KKR started off on a feeble note despite Phil Salt holding the fort from one end. Sunil Narine, Shreyas Iyer, Venkatesh Iyer and Nitish Rana had departed quite early and it was all doom and glory for Kolkata in the first quarter of the innings.
Then a few partnerships powered KKR to a formidable total. Post that, SRH’s innings had several ebbs and flows and finally, KKR registered a victory at the Mecca of Indian cricket, Eden Gardens.
In this article, we take a look at the top 3 talking points of KKR vs SRH game in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024:
1. Harshit Rana’s steely nerves
With 7 runs needed in 5 balls, it was Sunrisers Hyderabad’s game to lose. But the young pacer from Delhi, Harshit Rana had other plans. He bowled exceptionally well and dismissed Shahbaz Ahmed in the next delivery.
He kept his cool and bowled extremely well to make sure that Heinrich Klaasen too gets dismissed and KKR win the game.
2. Andre Russel’s swashbuckling innings
The big man from West Indies, Andre Russell had a terrific game. Eden Gardens witnessed Russell Mania as he smeared the opposition bowlers, all across the park. Russell scored a whirlwind knock of 64 runs in just 25 balls and remained not-out.
KKR scored 85 runs in the last 5 overs and made sure that they had a commanding total for their bowlers to defend. It was the incredible partnership of Rinku Singh and Andre Russell that powered KKR to a fantastic total in the end.
3. Sunil Narine’s economical bowling
At a time when the Sunrisers Hyderabad batters were cruising towards the total, Sunil Narine, who is also the leading wicket-taker of KKR across all seasons, came in and slowed things down.
Narine was the pick of the bowlers for KKR as he bowled 4 overs and conceded only 19 runs, having taken a solitary wicket. The mystery spinner of KKR bagged the wicket of the former KKR player, Rahul Tripathi.
Also read: IPL 2024: 3 Reasons Why Dinesh Karthik Can Retire Post This Edition
