Down memory lane: KKR vs SRH

Kolkata and Hyderabad have been at daggers drawn for generations over something that is an inseparable part of both cities and their cultures — the exquisite biryani. But the contest between the spicy Hyderabadi version and Kolkata’s more succulent adaptation, enriched with aloo, has competition in recent years from the fierce battles between the two city franchises in the IPL. While not quite the headline rivalry like a KKR vs MI, showdowns between the Knights and the Sunrisers invariably make for compelling viewing.

A quick glance at the head-to-head record spells hope for KKR, as they have got the better of SRH 14 times in 21 meetings, including victories in the last four fixtures. Ever since SRH replaced the Deccan Chargers (whose clashes with KKR are not considered here) in the IPL, they have not managed to string more than two consecutive triumphs against the men in purple and gold.

Former Knight Manish Pandey has the best record of any KKR batter against SRH

BCCI

As far as individual numbers go, it is SRH’s former captain and run machine, David Warner, who has been the most prolific in this fixture, accumulating 619 runs against KKR. The next best with the bat are Manish Pandey (438) and present SRH skipper, Kane Williamson (426). For once, Sunil Narine is not the most successful bowler for KKR, with Umesh Yadav and Shakib Al Hasan’s 11 wickets topping the charts for SRK’s team, well behind SRH’s Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who has 20 wickets to his name.

Before the two franchises take the field on Friday, My Kolkata refreshes your memories by revisiting three key moments from the KKR-SRH encounters over the years.

Lockie Ferguson’s super turn in the super over

Lockie Ferguson produced one of the finest super overs in IPL history for KKR against SRH in 2020

BCCI

The tightest game between KKR and SRH ensued when the two came face-to-face in Abu Dhabi in October 2020. Batting first, KKR put 163 on the board, with healthy contributions from Eoin Morgan and Dinesh Karthik coming in handy at the death. In reply, SRH never hit full steam, but batted around David Warner’s 47 to tie the scores after 20 overs. Entrusted with bowling the super over, Lockie Ferguson knocked over the stumps of Warner and Abdul Samad inside three balls to make the chase a mere formality. While the wily Rashid Khan made KKR wait for their win, Karthik saw his team over the line in a match that will be remembered for the super over by Ferguson.

Clinical SRH eliminate KKR from IPL 2016

Yuvraj Singh hit top gear to dump KKR out of the IPL in 2016

BCCI

In what has to be the most painful defeat inflicted by SRH on KKR, the former defended a solid total of 162 on an indifferent Delhi track en route to becoming champions in 2016. A vintage performance by Yuvraj Singh, who made a stylish 44, sent SRH on their way, with Moises Henriques chipping in with 31. In response, KKR struggled to get going and ended at 140 with Bhuvneshwar picking up three wickets. Manish Pandey’s fiery 36 proved to be the only silver lining for a KKR team that had looked like going all the way but had to bow out two steps before their dream destination.

Carnage, courtesy Yusuf Pathan

Yusuf Pathan’s finest hour in a KKR shirt came against SRH at the Eden in 2014

TT Archives

Nobody who watched the KKR-SRH game at the Eden Gardens in 2014 will be able to forget what they witnessed. After SRH had posted 160 on the board — thanks largely to some late hitting by the Caribbean duo of Darren Sammy and Jason Holder — KKR got off to a solid start with Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa looking in fine touch. But once Gambhir was castled by Holder, KKR’s middle order seemed to collapse like a pack of cards. The team was reduced to 78 for 4 inside 10 overs. But Yusuf Pathan, who was due for some fireworks, was still there and soon enough the carnage was underway. Pathan’s 35 minutes at the crease yielded a no-holds-barred 72 runs off just 22 balls (in what was the fastest IPL fifty at the time), featuring five fours and seven sixes. Pathan’s knock not only gave KKR a decisive victory, but injected crucial momentum into their campaign that ended with Gambhir and Co. winning their second championship in three years.