Watch: Mitchell Starc gets better of Abhishek Sharma with absolute ripper, netizens call it ball of the tournament

Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders are facing off in the IPL 2024 finale at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. After winning the toss, SRH captain Pat Cummins chose to bat first.

Opening batters Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma took to the crease, but it was Mitchell Starc who stole the spotlight in the very first over with an outstanding delivery that dismissed Abhishek Sharma. It was an absolute peach of a delivery, leaving Abhishek with no answers.

Starc, once again proving his mettle in big games, showcased his skill with a delivery that angled in, enticed Abhishek forward, and then nipped away wickedly, disturbing the left-hander's off-stump. Abhishek could only put his head down and walk away.

As of now, KKR has firmly established their dominance in the game by claiming four wickets in the first seven overs, with SRH managing to score only 47 runs. Moving forward, it will be intriguing to see how SRH's batters handle KKR's fiery bowling attack and whether they can put up a defendable total on the board.

KKR clinch their third IPL trophy 

Coming to the match’s result, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) triumphed in the IPL 2024 final, defeating Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by eight wickets. Chasing a modest target of 114, KKR reached 114/2 in just 10.3 overs, with 57 balls remaining, showcasing their dominance.

SRH, batting first, struggled against KKR’s disciplined bowling. Early wickets of Abhishek Sharma (2), Travis Head (0), and Rahul Tripathi (9) left SRH reeling at 21/3. Aiden Markram (20) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (13) offered brief resistance, but their efforts were insufficient as SRH were bowled out for 113 in 18.3 overs. Andre Russell was the standout bowler with three wickets for 19 runs, while Mitchell Starc and Harshit Rana each took two wickets.

KKR's chase was spearheaded by Venkatesh Iyer, who scored a quickfire 52 off 26 balls. Despite losing Sunil Narine (6) early, Iyer and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (39 off 32) formed a crucial partnership. Gurbaz fell just before the target was reached, but Iyer, along with Shreyas Iyer (6), ensured a smooth finish.

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After the game, Abhishek Nayar, Head of KKR Academy and Assistant Coach, expressed immense joy and relief after becoming an IPL champion for the first time in 16 his years career. He highlighted the significance of this victory for himself and for Andre Russell, referring to him as "the big man."

“It means everything. It has taken a very long time. I have been with the IPL for 16 years and it has taken me so many years to be a champion. The big man is here, this means a lot for him (on Russell),” he said as quoted by Cricbuzz.