After a commanding victory over SunRisers Hyderabad in Qualifier 1 of IPL 2024, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are set to face the winner of Qualifier 2 in the highly anticipated final at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chepauk, Chennai on Sunday, May 26. KKR has been a formidable force this season, finishing the league phase at the top of the standings.
This dominant performance secured their place in Qualifier 1, where they triumphed over SRH, another strong team.
A lot has been said about KKR’s near-indestructibility in IPL 2024, with much of the credit going to the return of their former captain Gautam Gambhir as a mentor.
Gambhir is known for his winning mentality and has instilled this competitive mindset throughout the team. Despite being a sitting Member of Parliament, Gambhir chose not to contest in the general elections this year to focus on KKR.
KKR has visibly benefited from Gambhir’s presence in their dugout, and while he may not deserve all the credit, his positive influence has been significant.
As noted by my colleague Rudransh Khurana, KKR appears to be a side filled with players whose mentality sets them apart from their competitors.
Is this the best KKR side ever? The question is genuinely up for debate. Yes, they have strategically filled almost every position with high-utility players, but Gambhir led them to titles in the 2012 and 2014 seasons with similarly strong teams.
This season, the solution to KKR’s long-standing opening conundrum has come from an unlikely pair – Phil Salt and Sunil Narine. While Salt had to leave for national duty before Qualifier 1, his replacement, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, also performed admirably.
KKR seems to have all bases covered in IPL 2024. The acquisition of Mitchell Starc has been a game-changer. Although he had a slow start, his performance in Qualifier 1 was spellbinding.
Starc’s prowess in playoff scenarios sets him apart, and KKR’s investment in him has paid off. Vaibhav Arora and Harshit Rana have provided strong support with the ball, while KKR stalwarts like Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy, and Andre Russell have been pivotal.
In the batting department, skipper Shreyas Iyer has led from the front. Venkatesh Iyer and Rinku Singh have shown immense maturity and confidence in their game.
Young players like Ramandeep Singh and Angkrish Raghuvanshi have risen to the occasion, taking on challenges with grit and determination. This team appears to be on top in every department.
Comparing this team to the 2012 and 2014 title-winning squads, the 2012 team had key players like Brendon McCullum and Brett Lee, with all-rounder Jacques Kallis playing a crucial role. The 2014 squad was loaded with talent, featuring Robin Uthappa, Manish Pandey, Suryakumar Yadav, Morne Morkel, Umesh Yadav, Piyush Chawla, and Chris Lynn.
So, is the 2024 KKR the best ever? While the 2014 side was undoubtedly strong, this year’s team isn’t far behind. The current squad’s depth and versatility make a compelling case for them being one of KKR’s best sides ever.
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