The table toppers KKR locked horns with the number 9 Mumbai Indians and eliminated them in the 60th match of the ongoing IPL 2024 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The visiting skipper Hardik Pandya won the toss and asked KKR to bat first in the rain-affected 16-over-a-side match.
Batting first, the hosts KKR managed to get a total of 157 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in the allotted 16 overs. Star batter Venkatesh Iyer scored quick 42 runs off just 21 balls, with 6 fours and 2 sixes at an amazing strike rate of 200.00.
Besides him, Nitish Rana and Andre Russell scored 33 and 24 runs, respectively followed by Rinku Singh’s quick 20 runs off just 12 balls, with 2 sixes and Ramandeep Singh’s 17 off just 8 balls, with 1 four and a six.
Star pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and experienced veteran Piyush Chawla scalped 2 wickets each for MI in the first innings, alongside one wicket each bagged by Nuwan Thushara and Anhsul Kamboj.
Tilak Varma and Ishan Kishan's struggle fell inches short against KKR
While chasing the target, MI got a good start of 65 runs for the first wicket in 6.5 overs by the opening pair of young wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan and former skipper Ishan Kishan. However, Rohit Sharma couldn’t live up to his stature and scored only 19 runs off 24 balls, with a four and a six following Ishan Kishan’s dismissal who scored quick 40 runs off just 22 balls, with 5 fours and 2 sixes. Besides Ishan, most MI batters struggled against the KKR bowling attack.
However, Tilak Varma and Namand Dhir showed a bit of ‘struggle’ and ‘intent’ with 32 and 17 runs off just 17 and 6 balls, respectively. But their knocks went in vain as Mumbai Indians were restricted to the score of 139 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in the entire 20 overs and lost the match by 18 runs.
With this win, Kolkata Knight Riders have become the first team in the ongoing IPL 2024 to qualify for the playoff stage of the tournament officially.
Here’s how fans reacted to KKR’s win over MI:
This was #KKR’s last game in #Kolkata and what a FANTASTIC way to bid adieu to this wonderful crowd — by giving them a MEMORABLE VICTORY! ♥️🔥#KKRvsMI #IPL24
— Aavishkar (@aavishhkar) May 11, 2024
Historic Moment 😁#KKRvsMI pic.twitter.com/nqOwY73gGq
— Ayush Dwivedi (@AyushDw18636185) May 11, 2024
#KKRvsMI
— Kashmir Exclusive (@KashmirExclusi1) May 11, 2024
Kolkata becomes the first to qualify for this year playoffs. No kolkata fan will pass without liking this tweet ..!!#KKRvsMI pic.twitter.com/QXGZgh7Kln
#SuhanaKhan's celebration at Eden garden after @KKRiders win 💜#AnanyaPanday #JuhiChawla #KKRvsMI pic.twitter.com/JqiGoMA6xa
— Suhana Khan (@SuhanaKhanClub) May 11, 2024
Kkr become the first team to qualify thanks to guru gambhir. 💜💜#KKRvsMI pic.twitter.com/Dw06nJcRAj
— ayanokoji (@3_ayanokoji) May 11, 2024
KKR Become The First Team To Qualify For IPL 2024 Playoffs 👍🏻#KKRvsMI pic.twitter.com/UsZsRQd6F1
— Yogesh Negi (@yogeshnegi45) May 11, 2024
KKR qualified for the playoffs 😍❤🔥
— 𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘢 (@samaira__kohli) May 11, 2024
Tum log mar kato bhaii we r the table topper 😼 #KKRvsMI pic.twitter.com/eIDFKzwt1k
Mentality Over Skills 🔥💜@KKRiders deserves this 🥇#KKRvsMI #RohitSharma
— Aniket Singh (@Batmindersingh) May 11, 2024
Finally, Gautam Gambhir smiled #KKRvsMI pic.twitter.com/6vEGVKGNwp
— Vishal (@VishalMalvi_) May 11, 2024
Shreyas Iyer's KKR is dominating!!! #KKRvsMI
— StarcKKR💜💛 (@StarcKKR) May 11, 2024
Things we like to see 💜🥹 "Q"#KKRvsMI #GautamGambhir #AmiKKR pic.twitter.com/wq6K22Q4jy
— @S_A_Y_A_N (@S_A_Y_A_N_10) May 11, 2024