IPL 2024, KKR vs MI, Key Takeaways: Venkatesh Iyer, bowlers take Kolkata home against Mumbai and seal a play-off berth. Top takeaways from the match for Kolkata and Mumbai.
Brief Scores: KKR 157/7 (Venkatesh Iyer 42, Piyush Chawla 2/28) beat MI 139/8 (Ishan Kishan 40, Varun Chakravarthy 2/17) by 18 runs.
Player Of The Match: Varun Chakravarthy (2/17)
Kolkata Knight Riders became the first team to qualify for the IPL 2024 play-offs when they defeated Mumbai Indians by 18 runs in Match 60 at Eden Gardens on Saturday. Kolkata posted a double as they had beaten Mumbai in their away game at Wankhede Stadium.
Key Takeaways from KKR vs MI, Match 60, IPL 2024 - Winning team (KKR)
Venkatesh Iyer chips in again
Venkatesh Iyer has been an unsung hero for Kolkata this IPL season. He has been moved up and down the order, but it has not deterred Iyer from chipping in when it matters most. Once again, during the Mumbai clash at home, he made a vital cameo of 21-ball 42 at No 3 when Kolkata was reduced to 2/10, and he emerged as the top-scorer for his team. Iyer ensured that the early setbacks of losing the openers cheaply and then captain Shreyas Iyer for 7 didn’t hamper his natural game, and he kept attacking the Mumbai bowling attack. His 42-run knock included 6 fours and 2 sixes.
Earlier, in the away game against Mumbai at Wankhede, Iyer was Kolkata's batting hero. He came to bat at 28/3 and made a match-winning knock of 70 off 52 balls with 6 fours and 3 sixes. KKR was reduced to 5 for 57 in the powerplay, and Iyer anchored the innings to a match-winning total of 169 before being the last batsman out.
Spinners derail Mumbai after a good start
Mumbai started the chase well, scoring 65 in 6.5 overs before the Kolkata spinners choked the opponents' famous batting line-up. Sunil Narine gave the team the breakthrough, dismissing Ishan Kishan for 40 and breaking the opening stand of 65 runs. Varun Chakravarthy then came to the party, dismissing Rohit Sharma for 19 and then Hardik Pandya for 2. Narine and Chakravarthy bowled 7 overs to take 3 wickets for 38 runs at an economy rate of less than 6 runs per over.
Read More: IPL 2024, LSG vs KKR, Key Takeaways: Flawless KKR rise to the top; clueless LSG slip to no. 5
Key Takeaways from KKR vs MI, Match 60, IPL 2024 - Losing team (MI)
Piyush Chawla controls the game in middle overs and gets the big fishes
Mumbai introduced Piyush Chawla late, but the veteran spinner made the biggest impact among the bowlers. He restricted the Kolkata batters with his tight line and length, not letting them score freely. He first dismissed Venkatesh Iyer, who looked dangerous for his well-made 42. He also took the wicket of the big hitter Andre Russell to stop Kolkata from batting them out of the match.
Read More: IPL 2024, MI vs SRH, Key Takeaways: SKY blasts SRH bowlers after Chawla, Pandya outfox their batters
Statistical Highlights from KKR vs MI, IPL 2024
With his 2/39 against Kolkata, Jasprit Bumrah is the joint-highest wicket-taker in IPL 2024 with 20 wickets and Harshal Patel of Punjab Kings.
Sunil Narine was out for a golden duck against Mumbai. It was his 16th duck in 174 IPL games, the joint second–most.
This was also Narine’s 44 ducks in T20 cricket, the most by any player in this format, beating the previous record of 43 by Alex Hales.
Points Table Scenario & What's Next
With this win, Kolkata strengthened their top position with 18 points from 12 games, winning 9. They have qualified for the playoffs. Mumbai are last with 8 points, having won 4 games out of 12. Kolkata next faces Gujarat on May 13, while Mumbai takes on Lucknow on May 17. Kolkata will look to win their next two games to seal a top-two spot, while Mumbai will play for pride in their last game.
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