Downpour drama and Duckworth-Lewis: How KKR survived a slippery Eliminator against SRH
It was meant to be just another knockout game: Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium, the night of 17 May 2017. Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad were set to face off in the IPL Eliminator. The pressure was intense. The loser would pack their bags. The winner would remain in the race. However, what transpired that night was not merely about cricket. It evolved into a tale of waiting, worry, and a sprint through puddles — all for a chance to survive.
Kolkata opted to bowl first — a wise decision, it seemed. The pitch was not forgiving to batters. It had cracks, dark patches, and the ball gripped awkwardly. Sunrisers struggled from the outset. David Warner attempted to muscle runs. Kane Williamson played steadily. Together, they added 50 runs off 46 balls. However, KKR's bowlers were relentless. Coulter-Nile bowled with fire and control. Umesh Yadav mixed pace with accuracy. Soon, Hyderabad faltered. From 75 for 1, they crumbled to 128 for 7.
Just when Kolkata appeared in control, the skies opened up. Rain. Not merely a drizzle. A full-blown interruption. Players rushed indoors. Fans took cover. Groundsmen dashed with covers. But the wait lengthened. One hour. Then two. Then three.
Every passing minute left KKR's dugout feeling uneasy. If the match was abandoned, they would be out. Hyderabad had finished higher in the table. Kolkata's late-season slump had cost them a top-two position. Their fate now hung in the clouds — literally.
Then, at 12:26 AM — deep into the night — word came through. A five-over shootout would take place. DLS had revised the target to 48. Just 48 runs in six overs. Sounds easy? Not really. KKR altered their opening pair. Chris Lynn walked out with Robin Uthappa. But pressure does strange things. Lynn hit a boundary, then got caught. Uthappa skied one to midwicket. Yusuf Pathan ran himself out. From 0 to panic in just over a minute. Suddenly, Kolkata were 12 for 3.
Just when things seemed shaky, Gautam Gambhir stepped up. He didn't panic. He didn't slog. He calculated. First, he dispatched Chris Jordan for a six. Then, he took on Siddarth Kaul — six and four off back-to-back deliveries. The chase transformed from jitters to calm. Gambhir anchored the innings with 32 not out off 19 balls. The rest, as they say, was straightforward. Kolkata won with four balls to spare. They remained alive in the tournament, drenched but determined.
Long before Gambhir's finishing touch, it was the bowlers who set the tone for the night. Coulter-Nile's 3 for 20 was a masterclass in short-ball bowling. Umesh Yadav took out two big guns — Dhawan and Yuvraj, both vital wickets. Sunil Narine was nearly unplayable on a surface where the ball gripped and spat. Kolkata's strategy was straightforward — bowl short, vary the pace, and prevent batters from settling. It worked. Hyderabad's final 49 balls yielded only 53 runs.
The 2017 Eliminator remains unique — the only IPL playoff match ever decided by the Duckworth-Lewis method. Most fans remember the finals and dramatic super overs. However, this quiet, rain-interrupted eliminator showcased its own kind of drama. It served as a reminder that in T20s, plans must shift, minds must adapt, and patience sometimes wins the day. Kolkata did just that — not perfectly, not easily — but with just enough determination to advance. In a tournament full of thrills, this one stood out for weathering the storm, both literally and figuratively.
