KKR bowlers dominate the proceedings in IPL 2024: Key stats
Kolkata Knight Riders won the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 title after defeating Sunrisers Hyderabad in the finale on Sunday at Chepauk. KKR dominated the scenes throughout the tourney. They finished first in the league stage and then thrashed SRH in Qualifier 1 before mauling them again in the summit clash. Credit should go to KKR's bowlers. We decode the key stats.
Why does this story matter?
The Knights shined in their armor in IPL 2024 and their bowlers played a key role. As many as five KKR bowlers claimed 15-plus wickets. KKR spinners Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine shared 38 wickets between them Among pacers, emerging talent Harshit Rana excelled. The likes of Andre Russell and Mitchell Starc were solid as well. Vaibhav Arora did a reasonable job as well.
Chakravarthy and Narine spin a web
Chakravarthy finished with 21 scalps (second-highest) this season. He was the most successful spinner. Chakravarthy averaged 19.14 from 15 matches and his economy rate was 8.04. For the second successive season, Chakravarthy claimed 20-plus wickets. Legend Narine took 17 scalps at 21.64. The veteran T20 legend boasted an economy rate of 6.69. His best spell was 2/22.
Harshit, Russell and Starc deliver for KKR
As mentioned, Harshit picked 19 scalps from 13 games in IPL 2024. He averaged 20.15 and his economy rate was 9.08. All-rounder Russell had an excellent season with the ball. He picked 19 scalps at 15.52 (ER: 10.05). Starc, who was bought for a record Rs. 24.75 crore at the IPL 2024 auction, grew as the tournament progressed. He claimed 17 scalps at 26.11.
Vaibhav Arora did a decent job
Vaibhav is another upcoming pacer in the ranks. The right-arm pacer claimed 11 wickets from 10 games at 25.09 (ER: 9.20). He was the sixth KKR bowler with 10-plus scalps in IPL 2024.
Starc did well in the first six overs
Starc picked wickets in the powerplay overs for KKR. He impressed with 11 scalps from 13 innings at an average of 26.54. His economy rate was 10.06. Only Rajasthan Royals pacer Trent Boult had more wickets in PP overs (12).
Chakravarthy and Narine bossed the show (overs 7-16)
As per ESPNcricinfo, in overs 7-16, Chakravarthy enjoyed himself. He was the tournament's highest wicket-taker in this phase. The mystery spinner collected 19 wickets at 16.94. His economy rate was an impressive 7.66. Meanwhile, Narine collected 14 wickets in overs 7-16. He averaged 20.21 and his economy rate was 6.15. He conceded 283 runs from 276 balls. He bowled 103 dot balls.
Harshit and Russell did an able job (last 4 overs)
KKR duo Harshit and Russell did a decent job in the last four overs (17-20). Harshit picked six scalps at 18.33 (ER: 9.85). Meanwhile, Russell also managed six scalps at just 11.33 (ER: 9.27).
Unique bowling numbers for the KKR bowlers
Starc claimed the best figures in IPL 2024 season for KKR (4/33 vs MI). He claimed two three-wicket hauls as well. Chakravarthy claimed three three-wicket hauls. Meanwhile, Russell and Harshit claimed multiple three-fers (2). In three matches, Narine conceded less than 20 runs from his four overs and picked one wicket each. Narine bowled 127 dot balls with Chakravarthy following suit (125).
40 wickets in PP overs for KKR
KKR finished with 40 wickets at 31.92 in the powerplay overs. Only Delhi Capitals (43) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (41) managed more. RR also took 40 scalps in the PP overs this season.
