$5 Million Showdown: Starc vs Cummins – The 45 Crore Clash in Qualifier 1
Overview:
The Qualifier 1 of IPL 2024, witnessed the most anticipated over of the entire edition with the two most expensive players in the league’s history stacked against each other. The Aussie premier pacers- Pat Cummins and Mitch Starc were signed by their respective IPL franchises at staggering valuations of 20.50 Crores and 24.75 Crores respectively, leading them to become the most expensive buys in the history of the IPL.
Batting first, SRH posted a meager 159 runs on a surface renowned for being conducive to high-scoring matches. SRH were at least 50 runs short of what could have been a challenging target for the Knight Riders to chase down.
Eventually the KKR batters emphatically vanquished SRH by chasing down the modest target within 14 overs thereby, paving their way to the Finals for the 4th time in the coveted league.
Overall the match turned out to be a bland encounter, with the high point of Qualifier 1 being the showdown between the most expensive players in IPL.
With Pat Cummins on strike and Mitchell Starc vying for his maiden hattrick in the league, the stadium was charged with an electrifying ambience when the KKR skipper Shreyas Iyer handed the ball to Mitch for the penultimate over.
$5 Million Showdown: Starc vs Cummins – The 45 Crore Clash in Qualifier 1:
Here is the descriptive commentary on the momentous over that unfolded in front of the fans at Ahmedabad:
18.1: Starc, on the quest for his maiden hattrick in the league, pitched the perfect yorker right into the blockhole. However, Cummins survived the brutal delivery backing away at the right moment.
18.2: A back-of-length delivery saw Cummins mistime a pull towards wide long-on, managing only a single.
18.3: The striker took a single, returning the strike to Cummins.
18.4: Starc, clocking in at over 140 km/h, bowled full and outside off. Cummins, attempting a big shot, nearly played it onto his stumps, surviving yet again by a fine margin.
18.5: In a dramatic turn, Cummins hit a top-edged pull that soared for a six, taking SRH past the 150-run mark.
18.6: Cummins smashed a classic boundary on the last ball of Starc’s spell showcasing his exquisite ability to find the gaps between fielders.
Starc concluded his decisive spell, with an impressive 3 wickets for 34 runs in his 4 overs. Despite the onslaught in his final over, Starc’s performance played a pivotal role in KKR’s triumph over the Sunrisers.
Owing to his resounding performance, Starc was awarded the Player of the Match trophy, rendering him the undisputed champion in the ultimate showdown against Cummins.
As of now, Pat Cummins and the entire SRH dugout will be eyeing their shot at redemption in the Qualifier 2 match, where they will face the winner of the knock out Eliminator game between the Rajasthan Royals and the Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will have ample time to rejuvenate and address their weak areas ahead of the crucial IPL Finals on June 26th at the iconic Chepauk Stadium. This marks their fourth appearance in an IPL Final and the second time the Knights will play a final at Chepauk. Following a stellar campaign in this year’s edition, the two-time champions are aiming for their third title as they face the winners of Qualifier 2.
Here is the link to highlights from KKR’s maiden IPL triumph over CSK at Chepauk in 2012:
https://youtu.be/6MlWdQoQN7s?si=1npirZvGbsDAY9lg
With all their prominent players back in astounding form days before the final, the Knights will be deemed the undisputed favorites going into the field on the 26th of June.
India Vs Pakistan: T20 World Cup, 2024:
With the 17th edition of the IPL on the cusp of yet another exhilarating conclusion, cricket fans across the globe have started gearing up for the mega showdown between the arch rivals- India and Pakistan that will be held at the newly constructed Nassau Country Cricket Stadium in New York.
Here is the link to a Cricwallah Classic that delves deeper into the historical rivalry between the two arch-rivals at the World T20 stage:
https://cricwallah.com/indo-pak-player-with-the-most-man-of-the-matches/