Cricket

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) assistant coach Simon Helmot expressed optimism for the team's future despite their 8-wicket defeat to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 final.Helmot acknowledged the team's shortcomings in the middle order, which failed to contribute significant runs. He also praised KKR for their aggressive approach throughout the tournament."We had a lot of good games when Abhishek and Head scored runs, but we didn't get as much from the middle order as we would have liked," Helmot said. "Credit to KKR, they had a great season and played an aggressive brand of cricket."Helmot emphasized that SRH would not alter their approach or brand of cricket. "We played in a really positive way," he said. "The two wickets at the start put us on the back foot, we just lacked those partnerships."He commended the opponents for their aggressive style and expressed pride in his players. "They are a very aggressive team," Helmot said. "We could have played a little bit better, but I am tremendously proud of the players."Helmot highlighted the support provided by captain Pat Cummins and head coach Daniel Vettori. "Pat and Daniel are really supportive of the players," he said. "They want to give people the encouragement to go out and express themselves. Tonight will be a big learning curve for the individuals."KKR's victory marked their third IPL title, with their first coming in 2012 under Gautam Gambhir. Their bowlers restricted SRH to a mere 113 runs, while their batsmen chased down the target in just 10.3 overs with eight wickets in hand.

Kolkata Knight Riders Triumph in IPL 2024, Shah Rukh Khan Celebrates with TeamAfter a decade-long wait, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and his Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) team emerged victorious in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 final. The Knights crushed Sunrisers Hyderabad by eight wickets in Chennai on Sunday, claiming their second IPL title.Mitchell Starc, the Australian left-arm quick, played a pivotal role in KKR's triumph. He bowled a sensational opening spell, dismissing Sunrisers Hyderabad for a mere 113 runs, the lowest total in an IPL final. Starc's figures of 2-14 justified his status as one of the world's top T20 bowlers.KKR's victory was a testament to their resilience and determination. Despite Shah Rukh Khan's health issues, which forced him to be hospitalized before the final, the team rallied together and delivered a dominant performance.After the match, Khan celebrated with his team, hugging each member and lifting the trophy with them on the podium. His celebrations were tempered by his recent health concerns, but he still managed to share his joy with the fans.KKR's victory was a special moment for the franchise and its supporters. It marked their second IPL title triumph at the Chepauk stadium, where they had won their first trophy in 2012. The near-capacity crowd cheered on the Knights, creating an electric atmosphere.

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.

Mitchell Starc's Early Strike Sets Tone for Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2024 FinalIn a pulsating IPL 2024 final at the iconic Chepauk Stadium, Kolkata Knight Riders' star pacer Mitchell Starc showcased his big-match temperament with a crucial early breakthrough against Sunrisers Hyderabad. The left-arm seamer struck in the very first over of the match, dismissing the in-form opener Abhishek Sharma, dealing a significant blow to Hyderabad's hopes of a strong start.Starc, the IPL's most expensive player, left the Chennai crowd in awe with a peach of a delivery that breached Sharma's defenses and clipped the outside of his off-stump. The length ball, pitched on middle stump, deviated away at the last moment, leaving Sharma helpless.The early strike set the tone for the match, as Kolkata Knight Riders tightened their grip on the proceedings. Sunrisers Hyderabad skipper Pat Cummins had won the toss and elected to bat first, hoping to capitalize on the momentum gained from their virtual semi-final victory over Rajasthan Royals two days prior.However, Starc's early breakthrough put Hyderabad on the back foot, and they struggled to recover. The Knight Riders bowlers maintained a disciplined line and length, restricting Hyderabad's scoring rate and forcing them to take unnecessary risks.Kolkata Knight Riders, under the guidance of former India batsman Gautam Gambhir, are seeking their third IPL title after victories in 2012 and 2014. Sunrisers Hyderabad, on the other hand, are aiming for their second title, having won their maiden crown in 2016 under Australian David Warner.As the match progressed, the Knight Riders continued to dominate, with their bowlers keeping the Hyderabad batsmen in check. The Sunrisers were unable to build any substantial partnerships, and their innings eventually folded for a below-par total.Kolkata Knight Riders, in response, chased down the target with relative ease, thanks to a solid batting performance led by their skipper, Shreyas Iyer. The victory marked a memorable triumph for the Knight Riders, who had endured a challenging season but rose to the occasion when it mattered most.

Pat Cummins, the Australian captain and a renowned leader in the cricketing world, is on the cusp of adding another significant achievement to his illustrious career by potentially securing the IPL title with Sunrisers Hyderabad.Cummins' remarkable success as a leader has been evident in his recent triumphs, guiding Australia to victories in the World Test Championship and the ODI World Cup. Now, he aims to lead SRH to their second IPL title in the tournament's history.Ahead of the IPL 2024 final against Kolkata Knight Riders, Cummins' meticulous preparation has been evident. A video of him intently studying highlights of MS Dhoni's batting performance went viral on social media, showcasing his respect for the legendary Indian captain's enduring influence on the sport.Cummins attributes SRH's success this season to the blend of experience and youthful exuberance within the team. "It's been huge," he said. "We have quite an experienced bowling line-up, including (Jaydev) Unadkat and Bhuvi (Bhuvneshwar Kumar). Also, so many youngsters have come through and have won us games by themselves, like Nitish (Reddy) and Abhishek (Sharma)."Despite finishing second on the points table, SRH lost to KKR in Qualifier 1. However, Cummins remains confident in his team's ability to bounce back and secure the title.

Multiple Grammy-winning rapper Drake has made a significant bet on the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to emerge victorious in the IPL 2024 final against the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). The Canadian musician, known for his frequent bets on sporting events, shared a picture of the receipt on Instagram, revealing a massive wager of USD 250,000 (approximately Rs 2.07 Crore). This marks Drake's first bet on a cricket match.Drake's betting history has been a mixed bag. He has lost substantial sums, including a USD 2 million bet on the UFC fight between Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira in 2022. However, he accurately predicted the outcome of Super Bowl 2024, with the Kansas City Chiefs triumphing over the San Francisco 49ers.KKR topped the league stages with 19 points and secured a spot in the final after defeating SRH in Qualifier 1. SRH, on the other hand, finished third in the points table but fought their way to the final through the Eliminator and Qualifier 2.After the match, KKR captain Pat Cummins expressed his delight at the team's performance. "The boys have been fantastic all season," he said. "We knew our strength was our batting and we wouldn't underestimate the experience we have in this squad."SRH captain Kane Williamson acknowledged the challenge of facing KKR in the final. "170 was a tough chase and had we got a couple of wickets we knew we had a chance," he said. "It is for the whole franchise, probably 60 or 70 of them who put their heart and soul into this and hopefully one more left."Drake's bet has garnered significant attention on social media, with users commenting on his betting record and the potential impact of his wager on the match. The outcome of the IPL 2024 final remains uncertain, but Drake's bet has undoubtedly added an extra layer of excitement to the highly anticipated clash.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) stands as a testament to the unparalleled competitiveness of T20 cricket, with the margin between the top and bottom teams being remarkably narrow. This is what sets the IPL apart as the toughest league in the world, according to Kolkata Knight Riders mentor Gautam Gambhir.Under Gambhir's guidance, KKR emerged as the table-toppers despite Rajasthan Royals holding the lead for much of the season. However, a string of four defeats and a washout relegated RR to third place, while five-time champions Mumbai Indians languished at the bottom.Gambhir emphasized the exceptional strength of all IPL teams, highlighting that any team can triumph over another on any given day. "The difference between the team that finished first and the team that finished tenth is not significant," he said. "If you played a five-match series between these teams, I wouldn't be surprised if the bottom team defeated the top team."This unpredictability is what makes the IPL so captivating, according to Gambhir. "That's why we say that the IPL is the toughest league in the world," he stated. "It's as big as any T20 World Cup because the margin between teams is so small. It's impossible to predict who will win."Gambhir, who previously mentored the Lucknow Super Giants for two years, returned to KKR ahead of IPL 2024. The 42-year-old led KKR to two IPL titles in 2012 and 2014.While expressing his admiration for the IPL's quality of cricket, Gambhir expressed concern about the potential impact on young players' aspirations to play Test cricket for India. "I hope the IPL doesn't become a shortcut to playing for India," he said.Gambhir believes that the IPL's competitiveness has surpassed that of international T20 cricket. "Apart from a few teams, I don't see enough competition when it comes to playing for India," he said. "Not many teams can match the quality that India has."He attributed this to the exceptional quality of domestic players and their focus on T20 cricket. "Most of their focus is on playing T20 cricket," he said.

Wasim Akram Warns Sunrisers Hyderabad of Kolkata Knight Riders' Formidable Bowling AttackLegendary Pakistan pacer Wasim Akram has issued a stern warning to Sunrisers Hyderabad ahead of their highly anticipated IPL 2024 Qualifier 1 clash against Kolkata Knight Riders. Akram, who has previously coached KKR, highlighted the team's exceptional bowling attack as a major threat to SRH's title aspirations.KKR finished the league stage at the summit of the standings with an impressive net run rate of 1.428, showcasing their dominance in both batting and bowling. In their league encounter this season, KKR emerged victorious over SRH with a tense 4-run win at Eden Gardens.Akram praised KKR's bowling attack for its collective effort throughout the season, emphasizing their ability to consistently take wickets. "This [bowling] is one of the main factors [behind KKR finishing on top of the points table]. There are wicket-taking bowlers. The teams that will take wickets will win the matches," Akram told Sportskeeda.He highlighted the contributions of Varun Chakaravarthy (18 wickets), Harshit Rana (16 wickets), and all-rounders Andre Russell and Sunil Narine (15 wickets each), along with Mitchell Starc, who has 12 wickets. "Starc single-handedly won them a game as well. They are going in the final as a calm, confident, and very dangerous side for sure," Akram added.Akram also noted the team's controlled aggression as a key factor. "Almost everyone performed; they played Manish Pandey in one game and he also delivered. So, that shows that everybody is happy and confident. They have aggression, but they have controlled aggression. They are not cocky or overconfident," he added.However, Akram did highlight a potential challenge for KKR with the absence of Phil Salt, who has returned home for national team commitments. Rahmanullah Gurbaz is expected to replace him in the playoffs. "No doubt, Phil Salt's absence will affect them," Akram remarked.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season's final match between Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Guwahati was marred by rain, leading to a delayed toss. RR, needing a victory to secure a top-two finish and two chances to reach the final, faced a setback due to the weather conditions.SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) had earlier defeated Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the first game on Sunday, provisionally occupying the second spot in the points table. SRH holds 17 points from 14 matches, while RR has 16 points from 13 outings. In the event of a washout, both RR and KKR would receive a point each.While KKR has already secured the top spot, a draw would not suffice for RR's aspirations of finishing second. RR has also endured a four-game losing streak. SRH's 17 points and a net run rate (NRR) of +0.41 put them ahead of RR's 16 points and +0.27 NRR. A washout would result in RR settling for the third spot.In such a scenario, RR would face Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Eliminator on Wednesday, while KKR and SRH would battle for a place in the final in Qualifier 1 on Tuesday. In the reverse fixture between RR and KKR, RR emerged victorious by two wickets. The two teams have faced each other 29 times in the IPL, with each team winning 14 matches and one game being abandoned.The top two teams in the points table will compete in Qualifier 1, with the winner advancing directly to the final in Chennai on Sunday. The teams placed third and fourth will play the Eliminator, with the winner facing the losing team of Qualifier 1 in Qualifier 2 in Chennai on Friday. The final will take place at Chepauk on Sunday.