IPL Final 2024, KKR vs SRH Highlights: Kolkata cruise to third IPL title, beat Sunrisers by eight wickets

IPL Final 2024, KKR vs SRH Live Score: Iyer takes the trophy from BCCI president Roger Binny and secretary Jay Shah and then goes and celebrates with the rest of the team. Among the active players in that squad, it is only Sunil Narine who has experienced this twice before in a KKR shirt. Andre Russell was there with the team in 2014 and guess what, so was SRH captain Pat Cummins that season. He played one match for KKR that season, picked one wicket for 29 runs in four overs. The captain at the time, and in 2012, was Gautam Gambhir and he is there of course, lifting the trophy as part of the backroom staff. KKR's first title in 10 years comes in Gambhir's first season back with the team. And this could very well be one of the strongest performances ever by a title winning team thus far - KKR lost just three matches the entire season and had finished the league stage with a net run rate of 1.428, far ahead of any other side on the table. SRH can hold their heads high though, they have pretty much been in the wilderness the last few years. They held the wooden spoon last year. But this season, they have done far more than just finishing runners-up. In fact, this team might just go down as one of the most influential ones in the history of T20 cricket. But KKR's win also shows that despite this format being so vastly different to Tests and ODIs, the age-old adage of solidity being more dependable than explosiveness in the long run still holds true. That's it from us for this final and for this IPL season. We hope you had as much fun following as we had covering it. There will be more stuff to come from this anti-climactic and yet remarkable final though and so stay glued to CrickIt! Ciao!

IPL Final 2024, KKR vs SRH Live Score: A cool ₹20 crore there and after collecting the cheque, he walks over and has a chat with Ravi Shastri.

Shreyas Iyer: “Absolutely comprehensive. This is what we demanded from the team and every individual. They stood up to the right occasion and the feeling is hard to express. It (wait) was so long, longer than the match. We played like invincibles throughout the season. There's so much to cherish right now.It is pleasing, the performance has been flawless throughout. I am running out of words right now. We have been tremendous from game one, we stepped up today. All we demanded from ourselves was to back each other whatever the situation is. The game could have either way. They have been playing phenomenal cricket - SRH - throughout the season. We were lucky to bowl first and every situation went in our favour. Thanks to SRH the way they played. Looking forward to play more competitive cricket. (On Starc) That's when all the big players stand up, right! It was a high-pressure game and he's been so good off the field. He's never shown any complacency in his work ethics. He stepped up to the right occasion. He's got that magic wand (on Russell), he's looking forward to pick wickets. When I look at him, I know he can look at him. All the guys stepped up at the right time. Made it easier. It has been a flawless season.”

IPL Final 2024, KKR vs SRH Live Score: His team will probably be remembered as the one that defines the high-scoring ethos of this season and as the one that probably redefined what a safe score is in T20 cricket. In the end though, the wait for a second title continues.

Cummins: "They bowled fantastically. Old mate Starcy turned up again! Not enough tonight, totally outplayed. You hope you get some boundaries away but they bowled fantastically well, didn't give us anything. Similar to how they bowled in Ahmedabad. It was a tricky wicket. If we got 160, we felt we would have been in the game. So many (positives), the style with which the guys played especially with the bat. Lot of skills to get to 250 three times. I loved how brave the guys were. It was a lot of fun, great season."

IPL Final 2024, KKR vs SRH Live Score: “Coming into the ground today, it felt like 2012. The feeling is overwhelming and I couldn't have asked for a better birthday gift. I am enjoying my cricket at the moment - batting, bowling and fielding. What helps is when the team is winning. (Batting) Getting the role to just go out there and express myself, getting team off to a flyer, the support from GG - that was very good. Salty played an incredible season. We missed him but Gurbaz came in and filled the role. Once you have an opening partner with the same intent, it's good for the team. We always pick early wickets, when we come to bowl, we bowl with less pressure. As a total bowling unit, picking up wickets is key and it helped us win the title.”

IPL Final 2024, KKR vs SRH Live Score: He gets the MVP award. He turned 36 yesterday, back when this match actually got over considering fact that we are well past 12am now. An extraordinary birthday gift. He didn't have much to do with the bat or ball today but his performances with both those cricketing equipment has been a huge factor in KKR going all the way this season. Narine scored 488 runs in 14 innings this season at a strike rate of 180.74 with three half-centuries and one century. He also took 17 wickets in 14 innings at an economy of just 6.69.

IPL Final 2024, KKR vs SRH Live Score: Harshal Patel wins the Purple Cap, having taken 24 wickets this season. And then big cheers even before Harsha Bhogle completes his announcement as the Orange Cap goes to Virat Kohli. The RCB great had scored 741 runs this year. Nitish Kumar Reddy wins the Emerging Player of the Year award.

IPL Final 2024, KKR vs SRH Live Score: "Great night for KKR. What a game, what a season. Probably the two most exciting teams in the final, it was a great final. We have had a fantastic squad of bowlers and batters, our staff have been fantastic to get everyone peaking. We've been such a consistent side, contributions from everyone. We lost the toss and got to use the ball first. Having watched the match a few nights ago here, not really what the wicket was going to do. It was about adapting. Shreyas was fantastic with the way he used the bowlers and fields. Credits to him. The bowling unit showed all the skills. There's been jokes about the money. It's been a long time since I have played the IPL. I am experienced, that's helped with all the expectations. Glad that I am experienced and older. It's been a lot of fun. Full credit to the whole players and staff."

IPL Final 2024, KKR vs SRH Live Score: His first IPL season in over a year, he came in as the most expensive buy in the history of the auctions, he had a very difficult first half of the season but when the time came, he stepped up. Starc blowing out the SRH top order laid the foundations for this extraordinary win. He returned figures of 2/14 in three overs.

IPL Final 2024, KKR vs SRH Live Score: Over one and a half hours after Venkatesh Iyer hit the winning runs for KKR, Harsha Bhogle gets the presentation ceremony underway. Is this the longest gap between the end of the match and the presentation of the trophy for any serious professional sporting tournament? Some records are best left alone isn't it. Anyhow, the players are now being given some much deserved awards. The KKR players can finally get their hands on the trophy, the SRH players can finally get off that pitch which hasn't given them any good memories today.

IPL Final 2024, KKR vs SRH Live Score: That is what is set to happen today. The match itself got over around 10.20pm, it is now past 11.40pm and the presentation ceremony is still not underway. It means it will be March 27 by the time KKR actually lift the trophy. The IPL is all about waiting. Robin Uthappa cannot stop himself from saying in the Jio Cinema studios that this wait "sucks the joy out of winning".

IPL Final 2024, KKR vs SRH Live Score: This match was over more than an hour ago and yet we are yet to go ahead with the presentation ceremony. The IPL has never been too interested in time keeping but this is extraordinary even by those standards. Shahrukh Khan has completed a lap of honour and has huged ever KKR player down there at least once.

IPL Final 2024, KKR vs SRH Live Score: KKR have won this mathc with 57 balls to spare which is the most in any match in the IPL playoffs/knockouts. It is the biggest ever defeat for SRH by balls remaining and the second biggest win ever for KKR in that regard.

IPL Final 2024, KKR vs SRH Live Score: Venkatesh Iyer's innings today is just a continuation of the extraordinary record he boasts in IPL playoffs.

26(30) vs RCB in 2021

55(41) vs DC in 2021

50(32) vs CSK in 2021

51*(28) vs SRH in 2024

52*(26) vs SRH in 2024.

IPL Final 2024, KKR vs SRH Live Score: Bowling coach Bharat Arun confirms in his interaction with Matthew Hayden that it was indeed Gautam Gambhir who pushed for Sunil Narine to be sent back to the top of the order. "It has paid great dividends," he says. Well, you can say that again.

IPL Final 2024, KKR vs SRH Live Score: The KKR players are jumping and hugging each other. Andre Russell seems to be close to tears, so is Gautam Gambhir and the pair share a long embrace in the middle. On the other hand, hardly any smiles in the SRH camp. This is probably the most one-sided IPL final of all time. The broadcasters are starting to air a plethora of player interviews and we will try to get as many of it as possible. The big takeaway from it so far has been Varun Chakravarthy and Venkatesh Iyer making sure that Abhishek Nayar gets some well-deserved credit for the way he has handled the Indian players in the squad.

IPL Final 2024, KKR vs SRH Live Score: A single off the third ball of the 11th over does the job. The KKR players have been waiting at the dug out, they celebrated when the scores were levelled with a single off the previous ball and now they stream onto the pitch and engulf the two Iyers. Sunrisers may have been the most explosive, dangerous team in this tournament, but KKR have been the consistent ones. Their batting and bowling have worked in tandem throughout this season and it all came to a crescendo in the final. All six of their bowlers were among the wickets and then Venkates Iyer led the no-nonsense chase.

IPL Final 2024, KKR vs SRH Live Score: The first of many celebrations that is come tonight for KKR. He takes a single off the last ball of the 10th over bowled by Markram. Venkatesh's fifty has come in 24 balls. SRH need three to win from a whopping 60 balls.

IPL Final 2024, KKR vs SRH Live Score: But KKR need just eight runs to win. Shahbaz appeals for LBW, the umpires gives it and Gurbaz reviews. He came down the track and smashed the previous ball down the ground. This one he tried to sweep fine, the ball seemed to be set to go past leg stump. UltraEdge is down and the umpire says he has checked ball tracking, it is umpire's call and Gurbaz walks off shaking his head. Captain Shreyas Iyer comes in to take his side home.

Gurbaz lbw b Shahbaz Ahmed 39 (32)

KKR vs SRH IPL Live SCore: KKR 102/2 in 8.5 overs

IPL Final 2024, KKR vs SRH Live Score: Gurbaz ends the eighth over with a four through deep midwicket. SRH now need five fours and a single, our three sixes and two singles, to win their third IPL title. This has been an extraordinary season, with a league stage with no dead rubbers and some unbelievable run chases. However, it is ending in an anti-climax.

KKR vs SRH IPL Live Score: KKR 93/1 in 8 overs

IPL Final 2024, KKR vs SRH Live Score: He has raced to 40 in 12 balls and KKR need 42 to win from 84 balls. This could be done in just over two overs from now. Natarajan bowling the sixth over, Venkatesh slaps the first ball past point for a four. Then he pulls the second into deep midwicket for another four. The third is smocked over deep backward square leg for a six. Venkatesh looks to smash the fourth over deep midwicket, gets a thick outside edge and it flies past short third for a four. Two singles to end that over.

IPL Final 2024, KKR vs SRH Live Score: Venkatesh is on 22 off eight, Gurbhaz in 19 off 20. Well, the body language of the SRH fielders shows that they seem to have almost accepted their fate.

KKR vs SRH IPL Live Score: KKR 52/1 in 5 overs

IPL Final 2024, KKR vs SRH Live Score: Bhuvneshwar has been taken to the cleaners by Venkatesh and already, KKR need just 77 to win off 102 balls. Any kind of momentum that SRH felt they pulled back with that wicket of Narine seems to have evaporated. Venkatesh flicks the first ball fine for a four. Then he pumps the second for a six over the bowler's head. The third is sent into the first tier of the stands down the ground. Two singles and a two off the next three balls, Venkates on 19 off five, Gurbaz on nine off 11.

KKR vs SRH IPL Live Score: KKR 37/1 in 3 overs

IPL Final 2024, KKR vs SRH Live Score: Cummins gets the big wicket off his second ball. Narine pulls the first ball he faces over deep midwicket for a huge six. Then Cummins cramps Narine for room second ball, gets a big top edge and holes out at deep midwicket.

Narine c Shahbaz Ahmed b Cummins 6 (2)

KKR vs SRH IPL Live Score: KKR 11/1 in 1.2 overs

IPL Final 2024, KKR vs SRH Live Score: Gurbaz cuts the second ball hard past deep third man for a four. Then the next run comes from Bhuvneshwar bowling the fourth ball wide.

KKR vs SRH IPL Live: KKR 5/0 in 1 over

IPL Final 2024, KKR vs SRH Live Score: Allright then, Sunil Narine is opening the batting with Rahmanullah Gurbaz. The latter is facing up to Bhuvneshwar Kumar. 114 to win the title.