The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) secured an easy eight-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the first qualifier of IPL 2024. The victory sealed KKR’s spot in the finals, set to be played in Chennai.
Shreyas Iyer Praises Team Performance
After the match, KKR captain Shreyas Iyer lauded his team for their comprehensive performance. He acknowledged the challenges of frequent travel but emphasized the team’s focus on maximizing their performance each game.
“Elated by the performance. Everyone chipped in and extremely happy with the performances. Everyone took the responsibility. We kept on traveling from one state to another. It’s not easy traveling from Kolkata to Guwahati. We were not thinking about what happened in the past. We just thought we had to maximize tonight.”
On Bowling Strategy
Iyer praised his bowlers for their collective effort and sticking to their techniques, which was crucial in their victory.
“Brilliant. I think the way each and every bowler stood up to the occasion. Once we went at nine runs per over but the way we came back was brilliant. The attitude from each bowler was to come back and pick wickets which was important. When you have varieties in the bowling line-up. They have been bowling throughout. They have been true in terms of their techniques. Nobody is taking their place for granted and hopefully, we will continue with the winning momentum.”
Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s Impact
Iyer also highlighted the contribution of Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who made an impactful start in his first match of the season, replacing Phil Salt.
“The way Gurbaz came in. This was his first game. He gave an impactful start for us. Sunil also took on from there. We just had to come in and make sure that we carried forward it.”
Communication on Field
Iyer jokingly mentioned the communication difficulties he faced with Venkatesh Iyer during their partnership due to language differences.
“The communication was a bit difficult with Venkatesh. He used to speak in Tamil and I can understand it but I can’t speak. I used to reply in Hindi (laughs).”
Upcoming Final
KKR will now travel to Chennai for the IPL 2024 final, scheduled for May 26.
Regarding the finals, Shreyas Iyer said “We are happy but not yet satisfied because there is one more game to go”.
This victory was marked by significant contributions from the KKR squad, especially from the bowlers and top-order batsmen, ensuring a dominant performance against SRH.
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