‘Korbo, Lorbo, Jeetbo re’ done right

An unheralded domestic player and an international superstar. This was the original vision when IPL was conceived. Fast forward to Sunday, and this fusion of local brilliance and star power culminated in the overthrowing of Sunrisers Hyderabad and saw Kolkata Knight Riders being crowned champions for the third time.

IPL 2024's most expensive Mitchell Starc delivered a breathtaking opening spell, propelling the Knights to an emphatic eight-wicket win on Sunday with nearly ten overs to spare. Kolkata's bowlers dismantled Hyderabad for the lowest IPL final total of 113 runs, with Australia's left-arm paceman Starc leading the charge with figures of 2-14, confirming his status as one of the premier performers in the world's most lucrative T20 tournament.

If Starc's heroics were not enough, there goes the tale of two unsung pacers, Harshit Rana and Vaibhav Arora, exemplifying the essence of courage and resilience on the grandest of stages and promising to endure with a rosy hue.

Starc, who fetched a record $2.98 million in the December auction, showcased his prowess with two exceptional performances in the IPL 2024 playoffs, including a pivotal 3-34 in the first encounter against the same opponents. Despite an early setback with the dismissal of Sunil Narine, Kolkata's batsmen cruised to victory.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz's brisk 39 and Venkatesh Iyer's unbeaten 52 guided the team home with a commanding 9.3 overs to spare, spurred by their formidable partnership of 91 runs. Iyer, exhibiting his prowess as a left-handed batsman, reached his half-century in just 24 deliveries and sealed the triumph with decisive strokes, igniting jubilant celebrations among the Kolkata faithful.

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Meanwhile, Hyderabad, led by skipper Pat Cummins, opted to bat first after winning the toss, banking on their prowess for setting imposing totals, having amassed IPL record scores of 277 and 287 earlier in the tournament. Despite Cummins' leadership credentials, it was Starc who stole the spotlight with a clinical display in the opening over, removing the dangerous Abhishek Sharma for a mere two runs. The top-order collapse continued as Travis Head followed suit, departing for a duck off Vaibhav Arora's bowling.

Starc struck again, leaving Hyderabad reeling at 47-4 within seven overs. Aiden Markram and Heinrich Klaasen offered brief resistance, but Andre Russell's strikes further dented their hopes. Cummins, reprieved by Starc earlier, led a rearguard action, but his valiant effort of 24 runs came to an end, leaving Hyderabad short of a competitive total. Russell, with figures of 3-19, ensured Kolkata's dominance with the ball, setting the stage for their comprehensive victory.

The victory marked Kolkata's second title conquest at the venue, echoing their inaugural triumph in 2012, amid resounding cheers from the near-capacity crowd at the 36,000-seater stadium. In addition to the marquee signing of Starc, the team benefited from the mentorship of Gautam Gambhir, the former India batsman who led them to two titles, including the 2014 championship.

Back in Kolkata, the atmosphere was akin to a festival in the busy Park Street area, where ardent followers of Shah Rukh Khan rejoiced into the late hours, their prayers over the preceding days answered with KKR's triumph in a thrilling chase. Before the match, the bustling streets of Kolkata wore a deserted look as fans across the city were glued to their television screens. "It looked like a fairy tale ending just like one of SRK's movies. We have been praying for the team's success since yesterday and now it's celebration time," said a fan.

The euphoria wasn't confined to Park Street alone, various corners of the city pulsated with midnight revelry following KKR's enthralling victory. Enthusiastic supporters waved KKR flags and echoed the team's rallying cry: 'Korbo, Lorbo, Jeetbo Re'. Such was the fervour that sports-fanatic Kolkata is all set to witness another 2014-like euphoric celebration when the Shah Rukh Khan co-owned franchise lands here.