IPL 2024: Mitchell Starc’s Dominant Performance Sends Sunrisers Hyderabad Packing, Secures KKR a Spot in the Final

In a stunning turn of events, the Sunrisers Hyderabad found themselves in a precarious position at the end of the powerplay overs, with their batting line-up crumbling to 45/4 against the Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL’s Qualifier 1. The decision to bat first by SRH captain Pat Cummins had backfired, and it was his Australian teammate Mitchell Starc who wreaked havoc on the opposition.

Starc, who had faced criticism for his hefty price tag of ₹24.75 crore, silenced his detractors with a brilliant spell of bowling. In just three overs, he picked up three crucial wickets, including that of his compatriot Travis Head and the dangerous Nitish Kumar Reddy. His precision and pace left the SRH batsmen reeling, and they struggled to put up a competitive total.

Despite a valiant effort from Vaibhav Arora, who dismissed the in-form Abhishek Sharma, SRH’s hopes were dashed as they were reduced to 39/4 within five overs. The KKR fans were jubilant, while the SRH supporters were left stunned by the turn of events.

In the end, KKR chased down the target of 160 with ease, thanks to unbeaten half-centuries from Venkatesh Iyer and Shreyas Iyer. The victory propelled KKR into their first final since 2021, while SRH will now have to face the winner of the Eliminator match between Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore in Qualifier 2.

Starc’s stellar performance and KKR’s dominant display have set the stage for an exciting climax to the IPL season, with fans eagerly awaiting the final showdown.