Cricket

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) emerged victorious in the IPL final, securing their third title with an emphatic eight-wicket triumph over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). The match unfolded as a one-sided affair, with KKR's bowling attack proving too formidable for SRH.Mitchell Starc, the tournament's leading wicket-taker, set the tone with a stunning opening over. His pinpoint yorker dismissed SRH's talismanic opener, Travis Head, for a golden duck. The rest of the KKR bowlers followed suit, with Vaibhav Arora, Andre Russell, and Pat Cummins all claiming wickets in their first overs.SRH's batting lineup struggled to cope with the relentless pressure. They were bowled out for a paltry 113, the lowest total in an IPL final. Only Pat Cummins (24) offered any resistance, while Russell and Starc picked up three and two wickets respectively.In response, KKR's openers, Venkatesh Iyer and Ajinkya Rahane, made light work of the chase. Iyer, in particular, was in blistering form, smashing 52 off just 26 deliveries. His innings included six fours and three sixes.Rahane provided solid support with an unbeaten 39, as KKR reached their target with 57 balls to spare. The victory marked a remarkable turnaround for KKR, who had finished seventh in the previous season.

Bollywood superstar and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) owner Shah Rukh Khan made a triumphant return to the public eye at the IPL Final against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday, just days after being hospitalized for a heat stroke. Accompanied by his wife Gauri Khan and children Suhana and Aryan, SRK witnessed KKR's remarkable bowling performance that ultimately led to their victory.SRK's appearance at the match was a testament to his unwavering support for his team, despite his recent health scare. The actor was seen wearing a mask throughout the game, but his enthusiasm and excitement were evident as he celebrated KKR's success alongside his family.Meanwhile, on the field, Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bat first. However, KKR's bowlers put on a dominant display, restricting SRH to a modest total of 168 runs. Mitchell Starc, Vaibhav Arora, and Harshit Rana were the standout performers for KKR, taking three wickets each.In response, KKR's batters chased down the target with relative ease, thanks to a solid opening partnership between Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Sunil Narine. Venkatesh Iyer and Shreyas Iyer also made significant contributions, ensuring KKR's fourth IPL title.SRK's presence at the final was a fitting end to a memorable IPL season for KKR. The team's victory was a testament to their resilience and determination, and SRK's unwavering support played a significant role in their success.

In an unprecedented display of flair, Kolkata Knight Riders captain Shreyas Iyer introduced a novel twist to the coin toss ritual during the IPL Final against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Chennai on Sunday. As Iyer prepared to flip the coin, he executed an unexpected pirouette, completing a full circular motion before the coin descended to the ground.The bizarre incident drew amused reactions from commentators and viewers alike, with Iyer himself sporting a wry smile. However, the unconventional toss did not favor the Knight Riders, as Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Pat Cummins emerged victorious and elected to bat first.The match marked the culmination of a thrilling IPL season, with both teams seeking to add to their trophy cabinets. Kolkata Knight Riders have previously won the title twice, while Sunrisers Hyderabad are aiming for their second IPL triumph.Sunrisers Hyderabad made a single change to their lineup, bringing in Shahbaz Ahmed in place of Abdul Samad. Kolkata Knight Riders, on the other hand, retained the same eleven that had secured their victory in Qualifier 1.The playing XIs for the Final were as follows:Sunrisers Hyderabad:* Pat Cummins (c)* Travis Head* Abhishek Sharma* Rahul Tripathi* Aiden Markram* Nitish Reddy* Heinrich Klaasen (w)* Shahbaz Ahmed* Bhuvneshwar Kumar* Jaydev Unadkat* T NatarajanKolkata Knight Riders:* Shreyas Iyer (c)* Rahmanullah Gurbaz (w)* Sunil Narine* Venkatesh Iyer* Rinku Singh* Andre Russell* Ramandeep Singh* Mitchell Starc* Vaibhav Arora* Harshit Rana* Varun ChakaravarthyThe match promised to be a thrilling encounter between two evenly matched teams. With the unique coin toss adding an element of intrigue, the IPL Final was set to provide a memorable conclusion to the tournament.

Shah Rukh Khan Recovers from Heat Stroke, Departs for IPL Final in ChennaiBollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has made a swift recovery from a heat stroke and was spotted at the Mumbai airport on Sunday, departing for Chennai with his family. The actor, who is a co-owner of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) cricket team, is set to attend the IPL final between KKR and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at Chepauk Stadium.Khan, who has been a regular presence at cricket grounds this season, has been passionately supporting his team. His energetic presence, whether cheering from the stands or engaging with players from both teams, has made him a standout co-owner. His support during KKR's Qualifier 1 match against SRH significantly boosted the morale of the "men in purple."Earlier, Khan had to be hospitalized due to a heat stroke caused by the severe heatwave in Ahmedabad. Fortunately, he was discharged a few hours later. Although Khan has not publicly addressed the incident, his manager Pooja Dadlani provided an update on Instagram, expressing gratitude on his behalf."To all of Mr Khan's fans and well-wishers - he is doing well. Thank you for your love, prayers, and concern," Dadlani captioned her post.Khan's KKR business partners Juhi Chawla and her husband Jay Mehta visited him at the Ahmedabad hospital, ensuring that he received the best care and support.As the Khan family arrives in Chennai, their presence is expected to further invigorate the KKR team ahead of the highly anticipated IPL final. The match promises to be a thrilling encounter between two evenly matched teams, and Khan's support will undoubtedly be a major boost for KKR.

Shreyas Iyer, the captain of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), has led his team to the IPL final twice in the past four years. Despite his success, Iyer remains unfazed by the lack of recognition he receives as a leader, acknowledging the significant contributions of his mentor, Gautam Gambhir.Iyer's leadership qualities were evident in 2020 when he guided the Delhi Capitals to the IPL title clash. Now, he has steered KKR to the summit match of this edition, where they will face the Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday.When asked about the perceived lack of recognition for his leadership achievements, Iyer responded assertively, "The hype is definitely created by you guys (media). Where I stand (as a skipper) is definitely on you (to decide)."Iyer praised Gambhir's invaluable contributions as a mentor, describing him as one of the finest readers of the game in the T20 format. "About Gautam bhai, I feel he has got immense knowledge about how the game is played. He has won two titles previously with KKR, and his strategies have been spot-on in terms of what execution we have to make against the opposition."Iyer expressed confidence in KKR's victory over SRH, attributing it to Gambhir's astute guidance from the dugout. "Hopefully, we keep continuing with the same momentum with his knowledge."The past six months have been a rollercoaster for Iyer. His initial reluctance to play red-ball domestic cricket resulted in the loss of his BCCI central contract. However, he returned to play the Ranji Trophy final against Vidarbha, scoring a crucial 95 in the second innings.Despite a middling IPL season and being overlooked for the T20 World Cup squad, Iyer has remained focused on his performance. He admitted to struggling with a back injury after the World Cup, but emphasized that he has put those concerns behind him."When IPL was approaching, all I wanted was to put my best foot forward. Whatever planning and strategizing we did before it and executing it to the best of our abilities, and that's where we are right now," he said.Iyer acknowledged the challenges of transitioning from red-ball to white-ball cricket, but stressed the importance of staying focused on the task at hand. "All I did was stay in the present and not think about what was going to happen to me or was worried about the selection process. I just wanted to come and participate and play to the best of my abilities."

MS Dhoni, renowned for his composed demeanor on the field, displayed a rare outburst of emotion during last year's IPL final. The incident occurred after Ravindra Jadeja's heroic performance guided Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to their fifth IPL title.In the rain-affected match, CSK faced a daunting task in the final over, needing 10 runs off the last two balls. Jadeja stepped up to the plate, smashing medium-pacer Mohit Sharma for a six and a four, turning the tide in CSK's favor.Dhoni's reaction to Jadeja's heroics was uncharacteristic. He embraced and lifted Jadeja, a gesture that left an indelible mark on fans. Recalling the moment during a promotional event, Jadeja joked that he might be the only person besides Dhoni's wife, Sakshi, to receive such a lift.Dhoni praised Jadeja's batting, expressing his confidence in his ability to achieve the target. "I was quite confident about you know Jaddu has the talent and mindset to achieve the target," Dhoni said. "It was a very memorable innings."Dhoni acknowledged the difficulty of Jadeja's task, particularly the sixes he hit before the final ball. "Looking at the TV, it looks easy but now that I bat down the order, I know how difficult it is to get that kind of elevation and win it for six," Dhoni said.The emotions ran high after CSK's victory, with Dhoni expressing his gratitude for Jadeja's contribution. "The emotions were very high. So a big round of applause for Jaddu for the way he batted," Dhoni said.Jadeja's performance in the final showcased his talent and determination, while Dhoni's emotional outburst highlighted the close bond between the two players and the significance of the victory for CSK.