KKR vs SRH Highlights, IPL 2024: Harshit Rana’s brilliant final over helps Kolkata Knight Riders beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by 4 runs

Starc has been taken apart from Klassen and Shabaz. Not long ago this chase looked a bit too far for SRH but what a turnaround this has been. Power mixed with brilliant calculation from Klassen has pulled off this stunning chase. This will be a heartbreaking loss for KKR if the go down. 

Shreyas has turned to Varun and both the batters pummeled him for 21 runs. While it is a big over SRH still has a lot of work to do and it is a calculated gamble which did not pay for KKR but still, they are ahead in this game. Mitchell Starc will bowl one of the two which KKR would bank to be a good one. 

Abdul Samad trying to hit a full toss gets caught at mid-wicket and is another one down for SRH. They have been losing wickets regularly. All the batters so far have got starts but none of them were able to convert into a big score. Shabaz has walked into the middle with 20 runs required per over for the remainder of the game.

Starc has been brought into attack and he delivered a brilliant over. He just gave away five runs in the over however, one thing which was heartening to watch was him bowling a slow bumper which we don't see him do quite often. This is looking grimmer and grimmer for SRH as each over is passing by. 

In a section titled 'Emotional Rollercoaster,' it is not easy to feature someone like Sunil Narine. It's not a name that is readily associated with emotions and such. You just had to watch him trudge back casually, barely attempting to return to the non-striker's end after being sent out to open the batting. Perhaps a dive wouldn't have mattered anyway, but Narine left it up to the fielder's skill. Direct hit, and he was gone. He walked back at his usual crawling space.

But with the ball, he lets it out sometimes. After three tight overs earlier in the innings, Narine came on to finish his spell in the 13th over. Off his penultimate delivery of the night, he had Rahul Tripathi caught at deep square leg. And Narine let out a roar and pumped his fist. Perhaps it was the review that wasn't taken a few overs back that would have given him Tripathi's wicket. Perhaps he realised he didn't show enough emotion then to get the umpire's decision.

This is what KKR have done all of the last season which is choking the batting line-ups in the middle overs with the help of their mystery tweakers once again today after their batters have made runs on the board SRH always needed to be aware of this phase of the game. However, SRH still have Klassen at the crease and he holds the key for them. 

Narine picks Rahul Tripathi. The batter has tried to play slog sweep through the entire evening and once he connected it in the middle he found the fielder. That is another batter who got a start and threw it away for SRH. The visitors need someone to take hold of this innings and stay till the end to win and for the hosts, their spinners just need to chip away with tight overs and wickets. 

Varun Chakravarty brought into attack picks Markram. The batter tried to hit him over the mid-wicket boundary but ended up giving a simple catch to the fielder there. Henrich Klassen has walked into the middle and this is the wicket which KKR needs. Klassen is capable of doing what Russell did for KKR in that final overs. 

Narine has bowled well for KKR without picking a wicket. It is his spell which is putting the pressure on batters which is forcing them to take on the bowler coming from the other end. However, they need to take the opportunities which have come their way which is were they have been sloppy today. 

Tripathi smacked back Syushas's delivery which he tried to take but deflects of his hand and hit the shin area of an umpire who was getting a bit of treatment. Coming back to cricket it was a big over for SRH once again. Though KKR has been able to pick wickets they have been not able to contain the flow of runs. 

Tripathi was dropped by Chakravarthy in the previous over. It has been a good passage of play from KKR which created on opportunity but was not taken. Only time will tell how much it will cost them. Meanwhile,, KKR has played their substitution card as well by bringing in Syuash Sharma. SRH used Abhishek Sharma as their option. 

Russell brought into the attack bowls a short one and picked Abhishek Sharma who was looking in fine touch. Both openers who have got a start for SRH have departed now. Aiden Markram walked in and was greeted with a short one which he sent for a boundary on the leg-side. Meanwhile, Tripathi at the other is struggling with the short one. 

Narine stars after the Powerplay and he has bowled well. He cramped the batters for room and varied his pace nicely in that very first over. This is where SRH need to be cautious as this is what KKR prides itself on which is its spinners. Yes, Varun did not start as well as expected but he still has three overs and left and can deliver some tight overs. 

Rana bowled a short one which Mayank pulled straight to square leg and the bowler did give a bit of send-off to Mayank. Nevertheless, that's the first wicket for KKR and a much-needed one. Rahul Tripathi has walked into the middle for SRH and he has a job on his hands as well. 

Spin has been brought into the attack and Abhishek Sharma climbed onto the leg-spinner Chakravarathy. We have not seen a lot of balls grip in the first innings which might give an advantage to Kolkata. Also, it would have been not a bad choice if Iyer had given another over to Mitchell Starc whose role in the side is to pick one with the new balls. 

Mayank has started to open up here. He is playing sumptuous shots on either side of the wicket. Harshit Rana tried to bounce out the batter but failed. Sunrisers were all over Kolkata with the new ball in the first Powerplay however, it has not been the same case with the hosts. We might see the introduction of spin soon in the game. 

It is a nice solid start for SRH. It is not something KKR would lose their sleep over but the foundation has been solid for the big chase. Abhishek did throw his hands at one of the wide ones against Starc which took the edge and slip and Keeper missed it and the ball ran away for a boundary. That is the closest KKR has got to pick a wicket so far. 

During the course of his blistering 25-ball 64, Andre Russell signalled an early warning sign to the rest of the league. He smashed seven sixes during his knock and in the process became the batter to reach 200 IPL sixes in the least amount of balls faced. The big man got to the landmark off only 1322 balls, miles ahead of Chris Gayle who got there in 1811 balls. A stunning 51.59% of his career IPL runs have come through sixes. 

DreRuss typically favours the leg side when he goes big. Indeed, taking this innings as a sample space, Russell muscled six off his sixes in the midwicket region. But there was one shot that stood out more than most, and it was the solitary six he hit over cover off Bhuvneshwar Kumar. When a batter with such obvious strengths is in form, the logical thing is to keep the ball away from his hitting arc. So the veteran pacer kept it wide outside offstump. But Russell went on his knee and sliced it over cover-point. It was the six that he held the pose for, letting the world capture the moment.

Mitchell Starc took the new ball for KKR but could not find his lines and lengths and sprayed the ball over the place. Chasing a massive total that is a bit of pleasantry over from him. Bhuvneswar did find a swing in that first innings but Starc could not get much. Harshit Rana has taken the ball from the other end. 

Funny how this game works, really happy to be with such an amazing franchise and hope we get our first points tonight. It was slightly sticky with the new ball, and when the ball becomes old it becomes slightly easier. Back (of a length) and top of the stumps is quite tricky, and hope our seamers can do something similar. I am just happy that I am going there and delivering for the team under pressure with such a huge crowd here.

Andre Russell's late surge has taken KKR over 200 which they would be hoping is enough. Though the wicket is good for batting it is a lot of runs KKR has scored in the final overs and the momentum has swung massively in favour of them. SRH did start well with the ball but as the innings went on it got worse and worse as Russell took charge of the innings. We will be right back with the second inning stay with us. 

75 runs have come in the last four overs as Russell has gone past his half-century. An evening which started well for Bhuvneswar Kumar turned into a nightmarish one yet again. However, what can a bowler do when someone like Russell in this kind of mood just balls it and hopes the big man mistimes one? As we update Rinku Singh departs.

This is brutal hitting from KKR the moment bowlers are missing their lengths marginally both Russell and Rinku are finding boundaries. One is muscling the ball into the stands and the other has the surgical precision to find the gaps in the field at this stage of the game. This is a good total for KKR now the pressure is right back on SRH and Cummins. 

Russell and Rinku are now climbing onto the SRH bowling attack. Bhuvneshwar tried to get his yorkers right but missed them marginally which have been slapped for boundaries. Looks like it is going to be Bhuvi who will bowl two and Natrajan from the other end who will bowl the other two. 

Russell almost got himself out when he mistimed a shot of Markende when he tried to pick the fourth six of the over. Markram at the long-off boundary made a brilliant effort however, both on-field umpires were not sure if Markram had taken it cleanly and on replay, there was no conclusive evidence and it seemed like the ball bounced in front of Markram hence Russell survived to inflict further damage on SRH bowlers.

A skilled swing bowler operating with the new ball is a welcome sight in the IPL. CSK's Deepak Chahar, though not at his best during the opener against RCB, is one such bowler who can leave batsmen in two minds. But even an in-form Chahar is not a match for an on song Bhuvneshwar Kumar. The 34-year-old is no longer in Team India's scheme of things but one can never say never. He got the ball to move both ways, bowled a couple of accurate yorkers and was clocked at 137kph! The easy action and release gives away nothing about the lethal swing that is to follow. Two overs for seven runs in the Powerplay pegged KKR back at the start. Attacking opener Phil Salt looked to take him on but in successive deliveries he was squared up because of the line and the bounce. No.3 Venkatesh Iyer was made to look like a Sunday cricket batsman when he swatted at air as he tried to work 'Bhuvi of old' to the leg-side. The swing he generated was lovely to watch, the control almost as good. There are few better sights in the IPL than Bhuvneshwar making the new-ball talk... even in the IPL.

Phil Salt after scoring his half-century tried to pummel a short one on the leg-side and was caught at cow-corner. Though KKR has batted well they have been losing wickets consistently in this game which has not helped their cause. However, with six overs remaining, it is the ideal time for them to have two of their finishers at the crease.

Ramandeep Singh tried to hit the ball on the up Markende at cover took a fraction of a second and then dived to his right to take a brilliant catch. Much-needed breakthrough for SRH. However, Rinku has walked into the middle and started his innings with a boundary and Russell is still to follow. 

Shabaz has been brought into the attack on his home ground and concedes 14 runs in his first over. It hasn't been a good passage of play for SRH in the last five. They need to find and buy a wicket here as the more the partnership is going forward the run rate is rising. As we update Cummins picks Ramandeep. 

Three expensive overs in a row for SRH. Ramandeep has injected pace into this inning. He has not looked flustered since coming in and has played each ball on its merit. Seems like it has rubbed on Salt who has gone off the boil in terms of pace he has scored in the last 20 minutes or so. Cummins has a sixth bowling option too in Shabaz.

Ramandeep is looking to break the shackles here. He is putting anything loose into the stands. One good thing about his innings so far has been he is not taking any half-measures. He is backing himself to clear the boundaries even though there are fielders. KKR need around that 170-run mark to give themselves a chance in this game. 

Pat Cummins bowls an expensive over as Ramandeep has broken the shackles and gave something to cheer for the KKR fans as they have gone quiet for a while now. Cummins seems to be looking to use the short ball tactic and utilize the two bouncer rule to the full extent but the problem is Eden has shorter square boundaries and the ball tends to fly over the rope even mistimed. 

Nitish Rana tried to reverse sweep Markande in that very over of his spell got holed out at fine-leg inside the ring. That is another one down for KKR. Ramandeep has walked into the middle. Salt who has started quickly off the blocks has now gone off the pace and is looking to anchor the innings which is not the role KKR would probably have had in mind when they brought him in. 

Marco Jansen has changed ends and has bowled much better over. Seems like he has turned to short ball tactic as he has bowled a couple of good ones to both batters and they struggled to cope with them. This is a belter of a wicket and it has been a poor start from KKR they need to build a partnership and lay a foundation. 

Powerplay is done and dusted and what a start this is for SRH first up. Both their Indian fast bowlers who have been struggling in the past few seasons have started well. It will be interesting to see how long after Powerplay Cummins will wait to bring in the leg-spinning option Markhende.

Pat Cummins has come into the attack and he is looking to hit back of the length. Nitish Rana has walked into the middle replacing Shreyas Iyer. Rana has been in decent form in domestic cricket and KKR desperately need some of those runs to get converted into tuns today to help them post a good total. 

Natrajan bowls a double-wicket over. First,, it was Venkatesh Iyer who charged down the ground and drove one straight to Jansen who took a lovely low catch and Shreyas Iyer tried to power Natrajan over long-off to get caught by diving Pat Cummins on the edge of the 30-yard circle for a duck. Nightmarish start for the hosts here. 

While things have been going at fifth gear from the other end Bhuvneshwar has been controlling the swing with his masterful accuracy. This is the Bhuvneswar Kumar which SRH has missed in the last few years. And they would be hoping these first two overs are indicative of what might be coming for the rest of the season.

Sunil Narine tried to take a single which was never there and has departed. He ran halfway down the pitch from the non-striker end as Salt guided the ball straight to the point in the circle. Salt did not move and Narine had to turn back meanwhile Shabaz threw a perfect throw to get rid of Narine at the non-striker end. 

Excellent start from Bhuvneshwar Kumar though there was not a lot of swing on offer he bowled tight lines and lengths. One noticeable thing is he has got that yorker spot on right in that very first over. Marco Jansen will share the new ball from the other end we will find out soon if there is any swing on offer from other end. 

Both umpires have walked into the middle both teams are coming out as well. The crowd is buzzing. And surprise already Sunil Narine is opening the innings with Phil Salt. Expect Bhuvneshwar Kumar to take the new ball for SRH.

Sunrisers Hyderabad Impact Subs: Nitish Reddy, Washington Sundar, Umran Malik, Glenn Phillips, Abhishek Sharma.

Kolkata Knight Riders Impact Subs: Suyash Sharma, Manish Pandey, Vaibhav Arora, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz.

"The outfield looks tremendous, weather conditions are absolutely perfect. The dimensions - 67 metres and 62 metres square, 75 metres straight down the ground. It's not a big ground. I see a lot of runs, this surface is an even surface. There's a little tinge of grass on it but brown grass. This is an absolute belter for the batters and I expect to see a lot of runs on this surface. Any hope for the bowlers? Last year, the average first innings score was 193 and wrist spinners had a little bit of say. In both line-ups, I see a lot of experienced bowlers and they have to go to that experience to protect their figures. No team that bats first should feel comfortable with a score of over 200."

Philip Salt(w), Venkatesh Iyer, Shreyas Iyer(c), Nitish Rana, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Ramandeep Singh, Mitchell Starc, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy

Feel fantastic (talking about his recovery from back injury). I have been training well and played a few games as well. The spinners have been bowling tremendously over the past few seasons and all of them are lethal in their own way. I see a bit of dryness on this wicket and hopefully it will help them. Salt, Narine, Russell and Starc are playing today.

We gonna have a bowl, wicket looks pretty good. Jansen, Klaasen and Markram are the other three. This is my first game for Sunrisers, it's been awesome in the camp to the lead-up and the confidence is really high in the group.

SHREYAS Iyer, who had missed out the last two days of Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy finals citing back issues, has been declared fit to play the IPL but with a rider. The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain, who joined the IPL franchise, has been advised that he can’t lunge too much while playing the forward defense as this could aggravate his injury.

The Indian Express understands that Iyer visited a spine specialist in Mumbai after consultation with the National Cricket Academy (NCA) Bangalore and the doctor has declared him fit to play with the precaution that he needs to be cautious while stretching his leg. (Read more from Devendra Pandey)

Kolkata Knight Riders will have their captain Shreyas Iyer fully fit and mentor Gautam Gambhir to impart his wisdom that helped them win 2 IPL titles as they take on Sunrisers Hyderabad at Eden Gardens on Saturday.

It’s also a battle between the two most valuable signings in IPL history as national teammates Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc go up against each other in opposing teams. While Kolkata have a potent spin attack, Hyderabad have the batters to counter it with Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen and Travis Head in their midst.

Having lit up the IPL 2023 season with his belligerent batting, Klaasen will be SRH’s number-one choice for wicketkeeping duties ahead of Phillips, who has transitioned himself more to an all-rounder. Klaasen piled up 448 with a hundred and two fifties at a strike-rate above 177 last season.

Cummins’ compatriot Travis Head, player of the match of the last ODI World Cup final in India, is likely to fix an opening spot. Head also comes in handy with his part-time off-spin. SRH will have a tough time picking between Markram and Phillips for the match in Kolkata.

However, given his tactical nous and solidity at the number four slot, Markram is likely to pip Phillips who plays a floating role in the middle-order.

The Sunrisers Hyderabad have eight overseas options with captain Pat Cummins being an automated choice. That leaves the Orange Army with three more spots likely to fill in the XI with their foreign players. Their options are former captain Aiden Markram, Travis Head, Heinrich Klaasen, Glenn Phillips, Marco Jansen, Fazalhaq Farooqi, and Wanindu Hasaranga.

With SRH lacking quality Indian batters in their arsenal and compensating on the bowling front with plenty of local resources, they will likely shore up their batting with overseas options. Therefore, besides captain Cummins, three of Markram, Head, Klaasen, and Phillips are likely to come into the picture.

Kolkata Knight Riders will be buoyed by he presence of their skipper Shreyas Iyer and their most successful captain and now mentor Gautam Gambhir in their midst as the take on an unpredictable Sunrisers Hyderabad unit on Saturday.

Hyderabad, meanwhile, have a problem of plenty with huge overseas names in their team with the presence of World Cup winners Travis Head and captain Pat Cummins, South Africa’s Aiden Markram and Heinrich Klaasen plus Glenn Phillips, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Marco Jansen. With just 4 overseas slots in the team, picking the right players might turn out to be a headache for SRH.

Strengths: A near-complete squad with arguably the best pool of overseas players and bowlers in the league.

Weaknesses: The team could be heavily reliant on its overseas batters to fire.

Opportunities: A fresh challenge awaits Pat Cummins in his first stint as captain, with his bowling credentials in the league still under a cloud.

Threats: Having named Cummins as the leader, SRH may struggle to attain balance in terms of its overseas quartet in the XI.

Strengths: Fine blend of attacking options with the bat in Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Nitish Rana, and Phil Salt. The spin bowling department promises variety.

Weaknesses: The fitness and form of captain Shreyas Iyer and all-rounder Andre Russell will be lingering concerns for the Knight Riders.

Opportunities: Roped in as a replacement for Jason Roy, Salt has a chance to put KKR’s opening woes to rest.

Threats: A pace bowling unit reliant heavily on the presence of the IPL’s most expensive signing Mitchell Starc, who is returning to the league for the first time in nine seasons.

After Jason Roy opted out of this year’s tournament, the KKT think tank brought in Englishman Phil Salt as his replacement but it looks like the England player might have to wait for his debut. For the first match, the Knights are likely to opt for a tested opening pair in Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Venkatesh Iyer. Gurbaz is an aggressive striker and will be looking to give KKR a good start in the powerplay. Meanwhile, Iyer, who did not start well as an opener last season getting replaced by Roy, slotted in the middle order and became the first player after the great Brendon McCullum to score a ton for the Knights.

South African speedster Marco Jansen who had taken 10 wickets in 8 matches last season and also had a stellar World Cup might miss out on Saturday. Travis Head will likely start with Abhishek Tripathi and Markram and Klaasen will make it to shore up the middle order as well as the latter’s wicketkeeping skills. Cummins will lead the bowling attack and round off the 4 overseas pick which will see Jansen sit this one out due to the aforementioned problem of plenty.