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'Nobody Is Taking..' - Shreyas Iyer Speaks After KKR Cruise Past SRH In IPL 2024 Qualifier 1

KKR captain Shreyas Iyer shared a match-winning 97*-run stand with Venkatesh Iyer (AP)KKR captain Shreyas Iyer shared a match-winning 97*-run stand with Venkatesh Iyer (AP)

The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) catered themselves to an easy eight-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the first qualifier of the IPL 2024 season in Ahmedabad. The outcome helped KKR seal a spot in the finals, set to be played later this week in Chennai.

Captain Shreyas Iyer and Venkatesh Iyer played starring roles with the bat for KKR after fast bowler Mitchell Starc tore through SRH’s top-order while Varun Chakravarthy demolished the tail.

After the match, the KKR skipper hailed his team for putting up a comprehensive all-round performance, and acknowledged Rahmanullah Gurbaz for making instant impact in his first match of the season.

Shreyas Iyer hails teammates after comprehensive win

While speaking during the post-match presentation ceremony, KKR skipper Shreyas Iyer hailed his teammates for putting up a complete all-round performance and addressed the challenges of making hectic travels from one state to another in the past few weeks. He said:

“Elated by the performance. Everyone chipped in and extremely happy with the performances. Everyone took the responsibility. We kept on traveling from one state to other. It's not easy traveling from Kolkata to Guwahati. We were not thinking about what happened in the past. We just thought we had to maximize tonight.”

Shreyas Iyer employed six bowlers during the SRH innings upfront, where every single bowler chipped in with at least a wicket from their ends. The 29-year-old praised their collective bowling brilliance and for sticking true to their techniques. He added:

“Brilliant. I think the way each and every bowler stood up to the occasion. Once we went at nine runs per over but the way we came back was brilliant. The attitude from each bowler was to come back and pick wickets which was important. When you have varieties in the bowling line-up. They have been bowling throughout. They have been true in terms of their techniques. Nobody is taking their place for granted and hopefully, we will continue with the winning momentum.”

Shreyas Iyer further praised Afghanistan-import Rahmanullah Gurbaz for making instant impact with the bat (23 off 14 balls) in his first match of the season. The cricketer was roped into the playing XI as a replacement for in-form opener Phil Salt. Iyer said that Gurbaz’s fiery opening partnership with Sunil Narine eased up the run-chase for the middle-order.

The KKR captain also jokingly addressed the difficulties he had while communicating with teammate Venkatesh Iyer during their match-winning 97*-run partnership. Shreyas Iyer concluded:

“The way Gurbaz came in. This was his first game. He gave an impactful start for us. Sunil also took on from there. We just had to come in and make sure that we carried forward it. The communication was a bit difficult with Venkatesh. He used to speak in Tamil and I can understand it but I can't speak. I used to reply in Hindi (laughs).”

KKR will now travel to Chennai for the upcoming IPL 2024 final, set to be played on May 26.