The Indian Premier League 2024 Qualifier 1 between Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Tuesday faces the possibility of a washout due to rain. However, the league has a Reserve Day in place for all playoff matches, including the final, to ensure the completion of the game in case of inclement weather.
With the IPL 2024 league phase concluded, the highly anticipated playoffs are upon us. Kolkata Knight Riders confront Sunrisers Hyderabad in Qualifier 1, with the winner securing a direct spot in the final. Meanwhile, Royal Challengers Bengaluru face Rajasthan Royals in the Eliminator, and the victor will take on the losing side from Qualifier 1 in Qualifier 2, whose winner will advance to the final. While fans and experts eagerly predict the finalists, legendary Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh has boldly predicted a KKR-RCB final with an intriguing Gautam Gambhir-Virat Kohli clash at its heart.
The final standings of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 league stage have been determined, with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) topping the table and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) finishing in second and third place, respectively. KKR, with 20 points, will face SRH in the first Qualifier on Tuesday, while RR will take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Eliminator. Despite a strong start to the season, RR’s momentum waned in the latter half, losing four consecutive games and missing out on a top-two spot due to an inferior Net Run Rate (NRR) compared to SRH. Conversely, SRH showcased exceptional power-hitting, leveraging the ‘Impact Sub’ rule to great effect and securing their place in the playoffs with an outstanding chase against Punjab Kings.
With the IPL 2024 playoffs just around the corner, the final league games of the season on Sunday will determine the final standings. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Rajasthan Royals (RR), and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are already assured of their berths in the knockout stage and will be seeking to secure the best possible positions.
In a thrilling playoff battle, Rajasthan Royals (RR), the inaugural edition champions, will host Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati. While KKR has already secured the top spot in the league, RR aims to clinch the 2nd spot by winning their final group stage match against the former. Both teams will face the unavailability of their English sensations, with Phil Salt missing for KKR and Jos Buttler for RR. RR has handed the opening duties to Tom-Kohler Cadmore, while KKR is likely to field Afghanistan’s Rahmanullah Gurbaz alongside Sunil Narine.
Following a viral video that hinted at discontent within the Mumbai Indians camp, Rohit Sharma has made a plea to stop recording a conversation during the team’s preparation. The deleted video with Abhishek Nayar raised concerns among MI fans, and Sharma’s request to the cameraman highlights the sensitivity surrounding the team’s internal dynamics.
Harshit Rana, the 22-year-old pacer from Delhi, has emerged as one of the most promising fast bowlers in the Indian Premier League (IPL). With his ability to crank up the speed to the 140s and his impressive skill of reading the pitch well, Rana has quickly become a mainstay of the Kolkata Knight Riders bowling attack. Despite facing some controversy during his IPL debut season, Rana has remained focused on his performances and has played a key role in KKR’s success this year. With his impressive performances, Rana has caught the attention of the Indian cricket team selectors and is likely to be in contention for a place in the national team in the near future.
In just his second season, Harshit Rana has emerged as one of the most promising fast bowlers in the IPL. The 22-year-old has taken 16 wickets in nine innings at an impressive strike rate of 12.81, including the prized scalp of Virat Kohli. Despite a brief controversy surrounding his dismissal of Kohli, Rana has remained focused on his game and has earned the trust of his team management. Rana credits his success to his ability to read the pitch well, adjust his lengths accordingly, and the support of his coaches and teammates.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) faced the scorching heat of Kolkata during their five home games in the Indian Premier League (IPL), including two afternoon matches. Despite temperatures reaching up to 43°C, the team managed to overcome the challenges of dehydration and cramps through a comprehensive hydration strategy and proactive measures. KKR’s strength and conditioning coaches played a crucial role in ensuring players stayed hydrated and energized throughout the intense matches.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) has lost one of their key players, Phil Salt, who has left the team to join the England squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup and a T20 series against Pakistan. Salt was the second-highest scorer for KKR in the ongoing IPL season, with 435 runs in 12 matches.
