IPL 2024: Venkatesh rescues KKR before Starc fireworks ends Wankhede Stadium hoodoo for Kolkata

Mumbai Indians (MI) on Friday suffered a 24-run defeat to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in an IPL 2024 match at the Wankhede Stadium. Not only did KKR get the better of MI at the Wankhede Stadium for the first time in 12 years, but the Shreyas Iyer-led outfit also managed to diminish whatever slim chances MI had as far as qualifying for the IPL playoffs were concerned.

It wasn’t the usual suspects for KKR though who orchestrated their victory over MI. Kolkata were made to sweat hard and earn this victory because, after all in a tournament like IPL, there’s no easy way.

In Photos | Iyer, Starc shine as spirited KKR dismantle MI at Wankhede Stadium

So, how did they do it? How did KKR defend 169?

Venkatesh Iyer sizzles, Manish Pandey makes it count

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It wasn’t the perfect of starts for KKR after they were put into bat by MI. Phil Salt (5) and Sunil Narine (8) had rare off days, and the major reason for that was Sri Lankan pacer Nuwan Thushara.

The 29-year-old struck thrice in the powerplay, removing Salt, Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Shreyas Iyer. In the powerplay, KKR found themselves in a spot of bother at 57/4. And in the very first ball after powerplay, Rinku Singh, who was overlooked from India’s T20 World Cup squad recently, perished to Piyush Chawla.

Enter Venkatesh Iyer, who continued his love story with Mumbai Indians on Friday. Remember last IPL season, when the southpaw scored a 49-ball century against MI at this very ground? Who would have thought life would come full circle for Iyer at Wankhede Stadium?

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Iyer joined Sunil Narine as early as in the third over, but soon lost the West Indian and then Rinku Singh, who followed suit. By the time Rinku got out at the start of the seventh over, the all-rounder had somewhat built some self-confidence by hitting Gerald Coetzee for a couple of boundaries and slog-sweeping Naman Dhir for another. He was already in his groove but one could sense that he was just getting started.

Manish Pandey joined Iyer in the seventh over and played the supporting role. This was Pandey’s first IPL match of the current season so he knew he had to make these rare opportunities count. Boundaries were scarce from Pandey but the veteran still had his moments. Just like that ramp shot over third man fence for a six off Jasprit Bumrah’s short ball in the 14th over. That was an over when the 34-year-old collected 12 runs off Bumrah. Pandey was named as an Impact Player in place of Angkrish Raghuvanshi, who had gotten out.

Wankhede me Pandeyji on duty 😎#TATAIPL #MIvKKR #IPLonJioCinema #IPLinBangla pic.twitter.com/kFcMUrem6G

— JioHotstar Reality (@HotstarReality) May 3, 2024

What’s more, this wasn’t the first time Pandey had been padded up to come out and bat this season, but the Karnataka batter finally got his chance. It’s also fair to note that a one-match suspension for seamer Harshit Rana meant there was a vacancy for a fellow seamer in the playing XI. While there was an option for young seamer Chetan Sakariya, KKR decided to use the Impact Player sub on Pandey who scored 42.

While Pandey impressed, Venkatesh took on the MI pacers with ease. In the 12th over, Iyer lofted one over extra cover for a six off Gerald Coetzee’s ball. That would take him to 43 off 29 deliveries, and while it took 36 balls to get to his fifty, one cannot complain of the fact that it was a slow knock by any means because Iyer batted under immense pressure, and had it not been for him and Pandey, KKR would have found themselves in trouble a long time ago.

In the penultimate ball of the KKR innings, the Indore-born cricketer tried to play the scoop but that backfired as Bumrah knocked over the middle stump, with Iyer losing his balance.

Mitchell Starc’s notable contribution

He may have endured a difficult start to the IPL 2024 season with KKR, but Mitchell Starc got what he deserved on Friday. The Australia pacer was the reason behind KKR’s remarkable bowling display against MI, collecting figures of 4/33.

It wasn’t the easiest of starts for Starc, who was hit by Ishan Kishan for a six and a four in the second over. However, revenge can be sweet sometimes and the Aussie cleaned up Kishan the very next ball with a full length, angling into leg delivery.

Varun Chakaravarthy, Sunil Narine and Andre Russell dictated terms for the majority of the first and the middle overs, and it wasn’t until the death overs that the 34-year-old haunted MI once again.

It's 4:33 AM and we're still here 💜pic.twitter.com/ZjsV8MzA8W

— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) May 3, 2024

Suryakumar Yadav (56) was MI’s lone fighter and even his seventh wicket 49-run stand with Tim David wasn’t enough for MI to cross the finish line.

All of Starc’s remaining three wickets came in the 19th over. This was a time when MI were in all sorts of trouble at 144/7 and KKR were looking to wrap this up.

In the second ball of the 19th, a full toss from Starc meant David had no option but to go for it. David, however, did not get much elevation on the shot and holed it straight towards Shreyas Iyer at long-off.

The next ball to Piyush Chawla was a low full toss. Chawla looked to chip it over cover, but eventually caught the toe-end of the bat towards Narine at extra cover.

Although the New South Wales speedster did not get a hat-trick on Friday, he still delivered a photo finish for KKR, cleaning up Coetzee with a yorker in the fifth ball of the 19th to rattle out MI for 145.

For someone who is the most expensive player in IPL history with a price tag of Rs 24.75 crore, Starc has not been all that consistent this season but Friday was a sign that the senior cricketer is getting back to his best.

While KKR might be a win or two from marching into the playoffs, the defeat means MI now will have to heavily rely on other results to go in their favour. And, of course, win their remaining three matches because a loss in any of these three will officially bring down the curtains on their campaign.