Shah Rukh Khan’s Return to the Public Eye
Bollywood superstar and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) owner Shah Rukh Khan made his first public appearance since suffering a heat stroke. He attended the IPL2024 final against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) with his wife, Gauri Khan, on Sunday. SRK was previously hospitalized in Ahmedabad after experiencing a heat stroke following KKR’s Qualifier 1 match against SRH. After a few days of rest, he was discharged and made a triumphant return to support his team in the final.
Family Support
Shah Rukh Khan was not alone in his return; he was accompanied by his wife, Gauri Khan, and their children, Suhana Khan and Aryan Khan. The entire family was seen celebrating enthusiastically as KKR put on a spectacular bowling display. SRK wore a mask during the match, presumably as a precautionary measure following his recent health scare in IPL2024.
The Toss
SRH captain Pat Cummins won the toss and opted to bat first. Cummins expressed confidence in his team’s ability to defend a score, citing their successful strategy in previous matches.
“We will bat first. Looks like a good wicket, played on a different wicket the other night. There was no dew on the other night’s game, we have a style which doesn’t work always, but when it does, it’s very damaging. I want to crack with the bat first. We have done well defending scores. Pretty much the same, Shahbaz comes in for Samad,” Cummins said at the toss.
KKR’s Game Plan
KKR captain Shreyas Iyer admitted he would have preferred to bowl first but remained optimistic about their chances.
“We would have bowled, we’ll get a fair idea about how the pitch will play. It’s a red soil and we played our last game on a similar surface. We need to stay with the present, stick to the basics and execute all our plans. Every individual is taking responsibility, this is a big game, we’ve plenty of people who’re playing in a final for the first time, nervous, but this is also a good chance. We’re going with the same team.”
Team Lineups
Kolkata Knight Riders (Playing XI):
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wicketkeeper)
- Sunil Narine
- Venkatesh Iyer
- Shreyas Iyer (captain)
- Rinku Singh
- Andre Russell
- Ramandeep Singh
- Mitchell Starc
- Vaibhav Arora
- Harshit Rana
- Varun Chakaravarthy
Sunrisers Hyderabad (Playing XI):
- Travis Head
- Abhishek Sharma
- Rahul Tripathi
- Aiden Markram
- Nitish Reddy
- Heinrich Klaasen (wicketkeeper)
- Shahbaz Ahmed
- Pat Cummins (captain)
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar
- Jaydev Unadkat
- T Natarajan
Match Summary
KKR’s bowlers put on a stellar performance, with Andre Russell, Vaibhav Arora, and Mitchell Starc dismantling the SRH batting lineup. Russell took three wickets, while Arora and Starc picked up two each, limiting SRH to a meager 113 runs. In response, KKR’s batsmen, led by Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Venkatesh Iyer, ensured a smooth chase in IPL2024.
KKR’s Bowling Dominance
Andre Russell was the standout performer with the ball, taking 3/19 in his 2.3 overs. His lethal spell broke the backbone of SRH’s batting. Mitchell Starc and Vaibhav Arora also contributed significantly, taking 2/14 and 2/24, respectively. Their disciplined bowling ensured that SRH never got going.
KKR’s Efficient Chase
Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Venkatesh Iyer spearheaded KKR’s chase. Gurbaz scored a quickfire 39, setting a strong foundation. Iyer’s unbeaten 52 off 26 balls, featuring 4 fours and 3 sixes, guided KKR to an eight-wicket victory in just 10.3 overs. This dominant performance highlighted KKR’s superiority in the final.
Celebrations and Reactions
Post-match, celebrations erupted in the KKR camp. Players and staff praised each other’s efforts and the significant contributions from the entire squad throughout the season.
Venkatesh Iyer’s Praise
“Really happy, credit goes to Abhishek Nayar, all the credit in the world, the way he’s worked for the franchise. Some contributions go unnoticed, I want to make sure they don’t. He was the one who built this Indian core. We waited for 10 years, credit to the management and the coaching staff,” said Venkatesh Iyer, acknowledging the behind-the-scenes work that contributed to their success in IPL2024.
Nitish Rana on Gambhir’s Impact
“When GG bhai was appointed as the mentor I had messaged him and said I am very happy he’s coming back to KKR, but he said that he would be happy if we are on that podium lifting the trophy. Today is that day and I will never forget that message,” Nitish Rana said, reflecting on Gautam Gambhir’s mentorship.
Rinku Singh’s Joy
“Outstanding feeling right now. Dream has come true – I have been here for 7 years and we are so happy. Credit to GG sir. I will finally lift the IPL trophy. It was God’s plan,” expressed Rinku Singh, sharing his elation at winning the IPL title.
Kolkata Knight Riders’ comprehensive victory in the IPL2024 final was a testament to their dominance and team spirit. With key performances from both their bowlers and batsmen, KKR clinched their third IPL title. Shah Rukh Khan’s return to the public eye added an emotional touch to the victory, highlighting the passion and dedication of everyone involved.
