Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) skipper Shreyas Iyer led his team to a historic victory against Mumbai Indians (MI) on Saturday, becoming the first side to qualify for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 playoffs. The Kolkata-based franchise secured an 18-run win over Hardik Pandya’s MI, showcasing their dominance in the ongoing season.
“I manifested this before the game. Nerves were there, boys have been raising their hands and there have been many game-changers and kudos to each and every one of them,” Iyer expressed after the match, highlighting the team’s collective effort.
Despite a strong start by MI in the first six overs of the second inning, KKR managed to bounce back and secure the crucial victory. Iyer credited the bowlers for their performance and strategic decisions that ultimately led to their success.
The game, which was reduced to a 16-over-per-side due to rain interruptions, saw valuable contributions from Venkatesh Iyer, Nitish Rana, Andre Russell, and Rinku Singh for KKR. In the run-chase, MI’s Ishan Kishan and Rohit Sharma provided a solid start, but KKR’s bowlers, led by Varun Chakravarthy, contained the opposition and secured the win.
With this victory, KKR now sits at the top of the points table with nine wins and three losses, accumulating 18 points. On the other hand, MI finds themselves at the bottom with four wins and nine losses, totaling eight points.
The remarkable performance by KKR has set the tone for an exciting playoff race in the IPL 2024 season, showcasing their determination and skill on the field.