Kolkata Knight Riders ended Mumbai Indians’ impressive 12-year unbeaten streak at the Wankhede Stadium, securing a thrilling 24-run victory on Friday. Despite Mumbai’s dominant 9-1 head-to-head record at the venue, KKR entered the match as the favorites due to their impressive form this season.
The match witnessed dramatic swings in momentum, with KKR struggling at 57/5 before recovering through Manish Pandey and Venkatesh Iyer’s partnership. Pandey’s impactful innings of 42 and Iyer’s 70 propelled KKR to a competitive total of 169. MI’s batting lineup faltered in response, crumbling to 145 all out in 18.5 overs. Mitchell Starc’s exceptional performance of 4-33 proved crucial for KKR, along with valuable contributions from Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine.
The win has propelled KKR to second place in the IPL 2024 standings with 14 points, while Mumbai remains ninth with 6 points. Former cricketer Shane Watson criticized MI’s baffling tactical decisions, which handed KKR the advantage in a closely contested match. The victory will undoubtedly boost KKR’s confidence as they prepare to face Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Sunday.
