A Recorded Season of Domination, Nostalgia, and Records
In a lopsided final, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) defeated the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) to win the Indian Premier League. Three things stood out about this season: dominance, nostalgia, and performances that broke records.
The prospect of having Gautam Gambhir, the captain of KKR’s winning teams in 2012 and 2014, back as a mentor revived memories of the team’s heyday. It was wise for him to elevate Sunil Narine, who was highly effective at hitting in the early overs. Viewers were exposed to flashbacks as Narine introduced his distinctive, hard-hitting style. During the group stage, Manish Pandey, another hero from KKR’s 2014 title run, made a special appearance.
The combo was unbeatable, with Gambhir leading the way, Narine regaining control, and Andre Russell’s all-around skill. Following a few uneven seasons, Russell returned to form, making significant runs and taking wickets when it mattered most. His Caribbean counterpart Narine was equally dominant at the top of the order, scoring 488 runs with three hundred and a century. The nucleus of a formidable team consisted of these three experienced players and a mix of talented young players like Phil Salt, Rinku Singh, and Venkatesh Iyer.
The season for KKR was a masterpiece in breaking records. With a league-high net run rate of +1.43 and a record-breaking nine wins, they won the group stage. With Phil Salt and Narine leading the way, their batting unit posted the highest run rate (10.7 per over) in IPL history. In addition, the team recorded the most fours (238) and placed fourth in sixes (135).
KKR’s bowling attack was also very strong. The group was well-rounded with Mitchell Starc’s knowledge, Varun Chakaravarthy and Narine’s deft spin, and Harshit Rana and Vaibhav Arora’s youthful energy. With a strike rate of 14.3, they had the highest bowling percentage in an IPL season. KKR’s bowlers had taken the most wickets (47) in a run of five matches coming into the final, further establishing their supremacy.
With a decisive win in the championship game, KKR completed an incredible season. To win their third IPL championship, they dismissed SRH for just 113 runs, the lowest total ever in an IPL final. They had the fewest losses of any team in IPL history, with 13 wins and only three losses during the season.
The combination of nostalgia, distinct player roles, aggressive intent, and a winning attitude that characterised KKR’s IPL victory will live on. This season demonstrates the value of mixing youthful talent with experience, providing a model for teams to follow. The trophy represents a return to greatness and a reminder of the rich, cricketing history of the KKR franchise for the team’s supporters.