KKR vs SRH. (Photo Source: Twitter)
As the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) playoffs approach, the stage is set for an exciting Qualifier 1 between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH). The match will take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Tuesday, May 21.
KKR secured their playoff spot by finishing at the top of the points table, becoming the first team to qualify. SRH, initially third after 13 games, jumped to the second spot after a crucial win against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in their last league match.
This marks KKR’s first playoff appearance since 2021 when they were the runners-up. SRH last made it to the playoffs in 2020, winning the Eliminator against Royal Challengers Bangalore before losing to Delhi Capitals in Qualifier 2.
The last playoff clash between KKR and SRH was in 2018’s Qualifier 2. In that match, SRH triumphed by 14 runs and reached the final, where they were defeated by Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
In their 2018 encounter, KKR won the toss and chose to bowl at Eden Gardens. SRH’s openers, Wriddhiman Saha and Shikhar Dhawan, put on a solid 56-run partnership before Kuldeep Yadav dismissed Dhawan. Despite a middle-order slump, contributions from Shakib al Hasan, Deepak Hooda, and a late blitz by Rashid Khan helped SRH post 174 runs.
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KKR’s chase started strong with Chris Lynn and Sunil Narine. However, after Narine’s dismissal, and despite Nitish Rana’s support, a crucial run-out of Rana shifted momentum. Contributions from Robin Uthappa and Dinesh Karthik were minimal, and Andre Russell also struggled to score. Shubman Gill’s 30 off 20 balls kept KKR’s hopes alive, but Rashid Khan’s exceptional bowling restricted KKR to 160/9, giving SRH a 14-run victory and a spot in the final. Rashid Khan’s all-round performance was pivotal in SRH’s win, with Carlos Brathwaite and Shakib al Hasan also playing key roles with the ball.
As KKR and SRH prepare for their crucial face-off, fans are eagerly anticipating another thrilling contest. The winner of this match will advance directly to the final, while the loser gets another chance in Qualifier 2. This playoff promises to be a memorable clash, full of excitement and high stakes.