Match overview
Kolkata Knight Riders beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by 8 wickets in the IPL 2024 final at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, on 21 May 2024. SRH won the toss and chose to bat, but lost 4 wickets inside the powerplay for 45 runs and never recovered, finishing on 159 all out. KKR's reply was barely a contest. They reached 63 for 1 inside the powerplay and cruised home at 164 for 2, finishing with 8 balls to spare. Mitchell Starc was named Player of the Match.
The margin tells the full story. Sunrisers have been one of the IPL's most explosive batting sides in 2024, yet here their powerplay collapse stripped away any chance of posting a competitive total. A score of 159 at a venue that averages 206 in the first innings across 95 matches is, simply, not enough to defend. KKR's bowlers, led by Starc, set the tone from over one.
Venue and conditions
Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad is one of the largest cricket grounds in the world and tends to produce high-scoring T20 matches. Its average first-innings score of 206 and average second-innings score of 196, compiled across 95 T20 matches, confirm this is generally a batter's ground. The powerplay average of 43 runs and death-overs average of 38 runs reflect the pace of scoring that teams expect when they come here.
The toss picture is instructive. Sixty per cent of toss winners at this venue have chosen to field, suggesting the conditions in the second innings, dew being the primary factor in evening games, offer a modest but consistent advantage to the chasing side. The venue's chase success rate of 53 per cent backs that up. SRH's decision to bat first went against the grain, and their powerplay implosion made it even harder to overcome that structural disadvantage.
For KKR, the middle overs proved the decisive phase of the chase. They posted 101 runs for 1 wicket between overs 7 and 16, turning what was already a comfortable position into an unassailable one. The death overs were simply not needed; KKR finished the job before they arrived.
How to watch
IPL matches are broadcast in the UK on Sky Sports Cricket, with live streaming available through Sky Go and NOW TV. Coverage typically begins around 15 minutes before the scheduled start time. Given the time difference, matches from India usually begin at around 14:30 to 15:30 UK time for afternoon fixtures, or 19:00 to 20:00 UK time for evening games. Check the Sky Sports schedule for exact broadcast times for upcoming IPL fixtures.
Recent form
Heading into this final, KKR had been in strong form. They won four of their last five matches, defeating Mumbai Indians twice, Lucknow Super Giants and Delhi Capitals, before suffering a narrow loss to Punjab Kings. That run of results reflected a settled squad and a consistent approach across all three phases.
Sunrisers Hyderabad had a more mixed run in. They won three of their last five, beating Punjab Kings, Lucknow Super Giants and Rajasthan Royals, but dropped games against Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings. Their form was enough to reach the final, but the inconsistency in big moments was always a concern. The powerplay collapse in Ahmedabad was not entirely out of character. KKR's 19 wins from 31 head-to-head meetings with SRH now extends into the record books, with their biggest win coming on the grandest stage of the 2024 IPL season.
