In a tournament known for turning tables and nerve-wracking thrillers, this final felt out of place
Some cricketing contests feel like epic gladiatorial duels, while others resemble intriguing chess battles. Then, there are unforgettable finals like the one on May 26, 2024, where everything unfolded so swiftly that you could hardly believe your eyes!
In the grand finale of IPL 2024 at Chepauk, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) charged through Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) with such determination and intensity that it hardly felt like a final at all.
Credit: ESPN
It was free of nail-biting moments, dramatic rescues, or unexpected plot twists. Just a stunning 113 runs achieved in a 57-ball chase, with a title secured in less than 29 overs!
Let's rewind and savour the shortest, sharpest, and most one-sided IPL final the league has ever had the pleasure to witness.
SRH walked into the final with swagger and firepower. But all it took was 1.6 overs to see their dreams get tangled in a mess of orange and black. Travis Head, the man with the X-factor, lasted just one ball. Abhishek Sharma followed him in the very first over. The scoreboard read 6/2, and suddenly, the decibel levels from the Sunrisers' camp went cold.
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As wickets continued to tumble, one could feel the panic seep in. Rahul Tripathi (9) and Aiden Markram (20) tried to hang in, but nothing stuck. Andre Russell, in his familiar final-day menace mode, snapped up 3 wickets in no time. Starc, the ₹24.75 crore man, brought the heat early, dismissing both openers with precision.
By the 11th over, SRH had lost 6 wickets for just 71 runs. It wasn't a collapse; it was a landslide. Even Pat Cummins' 24 off 19 couldn't bring life to the innings, as KKR's bowlers bowled tight lines and shut the doors.
SRH crawled to 113 all out in 18.3 overs — the lowest team total in an IPL final.
Credit: ESPN
When it's your night, it shows. Rahmanullah Gurbaz got things ticking right away, and although Sunil Narine fell in the second over after a quick cameo, the tone was set.
Then came Venkatesh Iyer.
He didn't just play; he dominated the bowlers. 50 off 24 balls, dotted with 4 boundaries and 3 monster sixes. He showed no mercy. The kind of knock where every ball seemed a second too slow and every boundary was a message.
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By the end of the Powerplay, KKR had already plundered 72 runs. The equation looked like a net session, not a final. When Gurbaz fell for 39 in the 9th over, the writing wasn't just on the wall — it was already framed and hung.
114/2 in 10.3 overs. KKR won by 8 wickets with 57 balls to spare and clinched their third IPL title.
Let that sink in! That's the largest margin of balls remaining in any IPL final — ever. The second innings wrapped up quicker than a lunch break. There was no drama, no twist, and no roaring comeback—just a smooth display of domination from the very first ball to the finish.
SRH truly struggled out there. Their key players seemed a bit off, whether it was form or luck. They found themselves chasing shadows instead of wickets with no runs to defend.
Credit: ESPN
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