Heinrich Klaasen’s record hundred and a disciplined performance from the bowlers helped Sunrisers Hyderabad take revenge for their IPL 2024 final loss to Kolkata Knight Riders and beat them by 110 runs in Delhi. Posting a mammoth total of 278 runs, the third-highest total in IPL history, Hyderabad ended a five-game losing streak against Kolkata in the IPL. Klaasen was the star of the show with the bat as he remained unbeaten on 105 off 39 balls, with seven boundaries and nine sixes to his name.

Harsh Dubey, Eshan Malinga and Jaydev Unadkat picked up three wickets each as KKR were bundled out for 168 runs in the end. The Sunrisers won the toss and opted to bat first on a track that looked suitable for batting. The first over from Vaibhav went for just two runs as many felt that we maybe in for a tight game between bat and ball. But that is where those thoughts ended. Travishek, who have silent for most of the season, tore into Anrich Nortje, who conceded 20 runs off the second over to start the onslaught.

Vaibhav’s second over went for 19 runs as the Sunrisers were back into their old habit and took apart the Kolkata bowling. A total of 79 runs were scored in the powerplay overs as Rahane was left searching for answers and went to Narine. The spinner wasn’t spared as Abhishek hit him for two sixes before being dismissed for 32 off 16 balls. This made Hyderabad make a change and bring in Heinrich Klaasen and it proved to be a masterstroke.

SRH vs KKR: Highlights | Scorecard

Head continued the onslaught against Varun Chakravarthy and had a lucky break right after a six as an underedge wasn’t caught by De Kock. Klaasen started his knock with a six off Varun and this kickstarted a brilliant period for SRH.

Narine went for 10 and Varun for 20 as Hyderabad went to 139 runs in just 10 overs. By the end of the 12th over, SRH went to 174 as Head looked menacing and Klaasen looking ominous at that point. Narine brought some calmness to proceedings with just one run and a wicket. But Klaasen went into overdrive at this point as he got to his fifty in just 17 balls.

After a few deliveries of calmness, the onslaught continued against the helpless KKR bowlers as the South African just showed no mercy, with 200 coming in just 15 overs. Varun’s attempt to bowl short balls didn’t work against Klaasen as he raced to 87 off 32 balls. Ishan Kishan contributed with a 20-ball 28 to provide ample assist for Klaasen.

He went into the 90s with a six and a boundary off Russell in the 18th over. He brought up his hundred in the next one, his second century in the IPL. Aniket Verma played a handy cameo in the end as SRH put on the third-highest total in IPL history.

The KKR chase was off to a flyer thanks to Sunil Narine, who got a couple of sixes off the first over from Cummins. But De Kock genuinely struggled at the other end with the asking rate touching 15 from the get-go.

Narine waged a lone battle of 31 from 16 balls before castled by a slower delivery from Unadkat. That sort of ended the chase for KKR as none of the other batters got going in the chase. The wickets kept falling as Rahane went for 15 while De Kock returned after 9 from 13 balls.

Rinku Singh’s poor campaign was ended by Harsh Dubey, who would trap Russell in front of the stumps for a duck. The wickets kept falling at regular intervals and a few big hits from Ramandeep Singh and Harshit Rana ensured that KKR’s blushes were saved.

Rana probably showed what was needed by the top order with his cameo of 34 off 21 balls, but it wasn’t enough in the end as Kolkata’s campaign ended with a whimper.

SRH right to retain their core

For SRH, their first game was a run fest, and so was the last one. In between that, a lot was talked about their approach and if the other teams have caught up with them. In their last two games, Hyderabad proved that the method still holds a lot of value.

While there were a few hints of a change coming in, which we saw in the CSK win, SRH has remained true to their approach. And going into the next season, SRH should retain their core, which they will. One bad season doesn’t define players like Abhishek, Head and Klaasen. Probably, Ishan Kishan has found his way into this team’s nucleus with his past few performances.

Probably one area that they will need to strengthen the bowling a bit, especially the spin department. But Harsh has been a revelation and will surely be a regular for them next season.

KKR needs to find new impetus

For a team that came in as champions, it was a very disappointing campaign for KKR. There were good performances in patches, but inconsistency has been the main trait for the team this season. Losing the likes of Phil Salt and Mitchell Starc hurt Kolkata badly, while the Rs. 23.75 Crore buy of Venkatesh Iyer, who didn’t play the final game, proved to be a disaster.

Last season, Narine and Salt were incredible at the top. This season, none of KKR’s opening pairs got a 50-run partnership. The batting lineup, which had three good finishers in Rinku, Russell and Ramandeep, failed to deliver, as seen in the close defeat to LSG and the record loss to PBKS in Mullanpur.

Most importantly, KKR players seemed to just frown and drop their shoulders the moment something went wrong in a match. Kolkata will need some big calls to be made ahead of the auction and many of the players will be wary that they may have to look for a new home in the IPL.

Finishing 8th after winning the title the previous year isn’t something the management will like and expect some changes to be made.

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