KKR vs MI highlights, IPL 2024: Table-toppers Kolkata Knight Riders beat Mumbai Indians by 18 runs, become first team to qualify for knockouts

Right then, that wraps up this rain-curtailed game, with Kolkata securing two vital points and becoming the first team to qualify for the playoffs, while Mumbai face their 9th loss of the season. Looking ahead, brace yourselves for an exciting doubleheader Sunday on the 12th of May in the Indian T20 League. The action kicks off with Chennai hosting Rajasthan in the first game at 3.30 pm IST (10 am GMT), followed by Bengaluru taking on Delhi in the second game at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT). Do join us back early for all the pre-match buildup. Until then, it's cheers and goodbye!

Varun Chakaravarthy is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his game-changing spell. He says that the plan against Rohit Sharma was to make him hit across the line. Shares that he and Sunil Narine are tactically similar but technically different. Feels that the wickets were too flat initially but he has not changed his bowling much from the first game and he is now reaping the rewards.

Shreyas Iyer, the skipper of Kolkata says that there were nerves and they have been playing well and the boys have put up their hands and this game is a testament to the character of this side. Adds that after losing the toss they had the mindset of winning the game from anywhere and after the strong Powerplay it was great to pull things back in this fashion. Talks about giving the extra over to Varun Chakaravarthy and backing Harshit Rana for the final over and says that he sticks to his instincts and both were tremendous which is why he backed them to get the job done for the side.

It's time for the Presentation Ceremony...

Andre Russell is in for a chat. He says that they batted first and therefore they knew that the ball was sticking in the surface. Mentions that it was a good enough total and it was about utilising the boundary dimensions. Feels that the bowlers won them the game. Shares that he enjoyed the challenge of bowling to Suryakumar Yadav. Adds that it was about keeping things as simple as he could against Suryakumar. States that the more cricket you play, it becomes easier. Further says that he has been working extremely hard on his fitness and he is happy to perform the role given by the team management. Tells that he likes doing as much talking as he can and the youngsters have been eager to learn.

Mumbai's skipper, Hardik Pandya says that it is a tough defeat. Says that the foundation was there but not capitalising on it cost them the game. Shares that the wicket was up and down and it was important to keep the momentum up. Feels that the score was par and the bowlers did a pretty good job. When asked about the approach to the remaining games, he replies that they need to go and enjoy themselves and play good cricket, which they have not done enough this season.

Earlier in the innings, the Mumbai pacers utilized every bit of assistance from the moist deck, dismissing the destructive openers upfront and putting Kolkata on the back foot. Despite the early setbacks, Venkatesh Iyer stood firm against the pace assault and forged a solid partnership with Nitish Rana, who couldn't quite shift into top gear before both were eventually dismissed. Andre Russell provided some respite with a flurry of aggressive strokes, but Kolkata struggled to maintain momentum, losing wickets at regular intervals. Jasprit Bumrah and Piyush Chawla emerged as the standout bowlers for Mumbai, claiming two scalps each, while Anshul Kamboj also made valuable contributions with the ball to restrict Kolkata to 157 runs at the end of 16 overs which turned out to be too much for Mumbai.

With their backs against the wall, Kolkata didn't start the way they intended to with the ball in hand. The pacers leaked runs in the Powerplay, and options for taking wickets seemed out of reach. It was Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy who stemmed the flow of runs and provided the much-needed breakthrough. Subsequently, the pacers tightened their lines and secured a couple more crucial wickets, opening the door for Kolkata to make a comeback. The extended spell of Varun Chakaravarthy proved to be a masterstroke for skipper Shreyas Iyer, as he dismissed the Mumbai skipper, after which it was all about maintaining the momentum, a task the pacers executed exceptionally well. Harshit Rana held his nerve well in the last over and claimed two wickets. Although, it was Varun Chakaravarthy's spell of 2 for 17 off 4 overs which stood out for Kolkata. 

It's been a remarkable turnaround for Kolkata as they claw their way back into this nail-biter of a game, securing two vital points and becoming the first team to qualify for the playoffs. This match epitomizes Mumbai's season as they suffer their 9th loss. After a promising end with the ball, Mumbai's openers immediately seized control, effortlessly finding boundaries at will. The chase seemed well within reach, highlighted by a formidable 65-run partnership between Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan. However, their momentum faltered when spin entered the fray, leading to the quick dismissals of both openers and momentarily stalling the chase. Despite efforts from Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma to stabilize, Mumbai's fortunes plummeted with Suryakumar's departure, followed swiftly by skipper Hardik Pandya's dismissal, leaving their hopes shattered as wickets continued to fall. Although Tilak Varma and Naman Dhir made valiant attempts to revive the innings, the target proved insurmountable following the loss of crucial wickets in the middle overs.

Harshit Rana to Anshul Kamboj, KOLKATA ARE THROUGH TO THE PLAYOFFS! Harshit Rana serves it on a good length, on off, Anshul Kamboj stays rooted in his crease and knocks it down to long on without much timing for a single. Harshit Rana has his arms aloft in delight and what a final over it was from him. Kolkata win by 18 runs and become the first time to have 'Q' next to their name.

Harshit Rana to Piyush Chawla, Rolls his fingers over the ball and serves it on a length, on off, Piyush Chawla dabs it in front of point for one.

Harshit Rana to Piyush Chawla, Digs it into the deck, over off, Piyush Chawla backs away and slashes hard at the delivery and misses out on the connection.

Piyush Chawla walks out to bat at number 10 for Mumbai. 

Harshit Rana to Tilak Varma, OUT! EDGED AND GONE! Harshit Rana has put the final nail in the coffin! Hits the deck hard but does offer width on off, Tilak Varma goes after it but gets undone by the extra bounce there. Gets an outside edge that flies straight to Phil Salt who does the rest.

Harshit Rana to Anshul Kamboj, Angling in, on a back of a length, on off, Anshul Kamboj stabs it down in front of point and brings Tilak Varma on strike.

Anshul Kamboj walks out to bat next for Mumbai. 

Harshit Rana to Naman Dhir, OUT! TAKEN! Harshit Rana starts the over in the best possible fashion! More than the wicket it is the dot that will help Kolkata and Tilak Varma will remain off strike. Back of a length, over middle, Naman Dhir goes deep in his crease to heave it away. Gets a top edge that goes high in the air and only as far as deep mid-wicket where Rinku Singh settles under it and does the rest.

With Mumbai needing 22 off the last over, who will Shreyas Iyer go to? The skipper throws the ball to Harshit Rana! Can he defend this?

Andre Russell to Naman Dhir, Uh no! Unfortunate for Phil Salt! Goes into the wicket and around off, Naman Dhir gets into two minds to pull it away. Gets a top edge that lobs to the right of the keeper. Phil Salt takes a few steps to his right but trips over an fails to get there in time. 22 needed off the last over for Mumbai.

Andre Russell to Naman Dhir, FOUR! Up and over! In the slot, on off, Naman Dhir gets underneath it and goes inside out over extra cover for four more runs. Can Naman clear the fence again and make it less than 20 runs to get in the final over?

Andre Russell to Naman Dhir, SIX! Naman Dhir gets the distance again! The game is far from over. Errs in length does Russell, low full toss, on middle, Naman Dhir stays put and hits it in front of square this time. Swipes it over deep mid-wicket for six more runs.

Andre Russell to Naman Dhir, Gets the yorker right this time, on off, Naman Dhir gets his bat down and digs it out beside the pitch on the off side. Tilak sets off but gets sent back by Dhir and Russell does well not to have a shy at the bowling end.

Andre Russell to Naman Dhir, SIX! Andre Russell misses his mark and Naman Dhir makes him pay! Goes searching for the yorker but it comes out as a low full toss, on middle, Naman Dhir holds his shape and whips it over deep backward square leg for a six.

Andre Russell to Tilak Varma, Bowls it on a fullish length, around off, Tilak Varma is not allowed to get underneath it and toe-ends the shot to deep cover for one.

Andre Russell to Tilak Varma, WIDE! Bangs it in short, slower as well, over middle, Tilak Varma shapes up to fetch the pull from over his head but misses. Wide given.

With 41 runs needed off 12 balls, Naman Dhir walks out to bat at number 8 for Mumbai. 

Harshit Rana to Nehal Wadhera, OUT! RUN OUT! A suicidal second run and Nehal Wadhera pays the ultimate price! Tilak Varma wanted to be on strike at the start of the next over but the second run was not on there. On a hard length, on off, Nehal Wadhera hangs back and slaps it down to long off. Tilak forces Nehal to come back for the second run but he is never going to make it as he had played the shot off the back foot. Mitchell Starc collects it and releases it on the bounce near the stumps at the batting end. Phil Salt comes up to the stumps and does the rest.

Harshit Rana to Tilak Varma, This is on a back of a length, on off, Tilak Varma loses his shape in trying to go big on the leg side. Miscues the shot to deep mid-wicket for one.

Harshit Rana to Tilak Varma, FOUR! Smart batting and this is turning out to be a good over for Mumbai. 14 runs off it with two balls to go. At pace, angling across, outside off, Tilak Varma pulls out the reverse paddle and executes it to perfection. Hits it to the right of short third for a a boundary.

Harshit Rana to Tilak Varma, Angling away and keeps it slow, on a length, on off, Tilak Varma is made to reach out and mistimes the hack back to the bowler.

Harshit Rana to Tilak Varma, SIX! Not off the middle of the bat but still gets the distance! Takes pace off and bowls it on a back of a length, over middle, Tilak Varma is a bit early into the pull shot. Gets it off the bottom part of the bat but gets enough bat on it to clear the deep square leg fence for a maximum.

Harshit Rana to Tilak Varma, FOUR! Clever, very clever! Comes from around the wicket and serves it on a fullish length, Tilak Varma reaches out in front, takes it on the full and glides it over backward square leg for a boundary.

Andre Russell to Tilak Varma, Goes full and outside off, Tilak Varma gets closer to the line and jams it to left of point for a single to end the over. Mumbai now need 57 off the last 3 overs.

Andre Russell to Nehal Wadhera, Takes pace off and digs it just short outside off, Nehal Wadhera with an extended arm cuts it uppishly in the gap between point and cover for a single.. 

Andre Russell to Tilak Varma, On a good length and outside the off stump line, Tilak Varma cuts it to deep cover for a single.

Andre Russell to Tilak Varma, FOUR! A valiant effort in the deep by Ramandeep Singh but in vain! Shortish length, over middle, Tilak Varma attempts the pull but does not get hold of it. It goes high in the air towards deep mid-wicket where Ramandeep Singh dives full-length to his left but the ball bursts through his hands and trickles away for a boundary.

Andre Russell to Nehal Wadhera, In the air....but it just about evades Phil Salt! So close! Continues to bang it into the surface, over, Nehal Wadhera gets into a tangle as he goes for the pull. The ball gets big on him and it lobs behind the wicket where Phil Salt moves to his right and leaps but the ball evades him and the batters cross for one.

Andre Russell to Nehal Wadhera, WIDE! Digs in another bumper, over middle, Nehal Wadhera lets it go as the ball sails over his head for a wide.

Nehal Wadhera walks out to bat next for Mumbai.  

Andre Russell to Tim David, OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! Another one bites the dust! Mumbai are falling apart here. Russell takes pace off and goes into the deck, around off, Tim David shuffles across a bit and shapes up to drag the pull towards deep mid-wicket. Fails to get the distance and it goes only as far as deep mid-wicket where Shreyas Iyer standing way inside the fence, completes an easy catch.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Tim David, Turning away off the deck, short and around off, Tim David goes on the back foot and gets squared up as he looks to play at it. Gets it off the back pad and it rolls to backward point for a leg bye.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Tim David, Sliding on, flat and short, on off, Tim David goes on the back foot and pushes it to cover.

Tim David walks out to bat at number 6 for Mumbai. 

Varun Chakaravarthy to Hardik Pandya, OUT! TAKEN! Varun Chakaravarthy does not disappoint his skipper one bit! Shreyas Iyer gives Varun the 4th over ahead of Narine and the magician delivers. Loops it on a nagging length, on off, Hardik Pandya goes for a swipe across the line but the ball is not that full to go for the shot. Gets a bit of extra bounce and it lobs off a thickish outside edge towards backward point where Vaibhav Arora back pedals and does the rest.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Tilak Varma, Drags his length back and bowls it much straighter, on middle, Tilak Varma punches it with a straight bat to long on for one.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Tilak Varma, WIDE! Slower through the air and fuller, near the tramline on off, Tilak Varma gets down to drag the sweep but gets beaten in the flight. Salt takes the bails off but Tilak has his back leg grounded inside the crease.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Hardik Pandya, Slower and shorter, over middle, Hardik Pandya hacks the pull to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Hardik Pandya, Turning in a touch, on a nagging length, on off, Hardik Pandya stabs it down in front of cover.

Strategic break! Just when Mumbai seemed to be cruising along, the team lost three quick wickets, creating an opportunity for Kolkata to stage a comeback. The spin duo of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy played a pivotal role in this turnaround, with Andre Russell providing valuable support to further tighten the screws on Mumbai. With 70 more runs needed of 5 overs, this game is nicely in the balance. An exciting finish to this game is on the cards. 

Andre Russell to Hardik Pandya, Serves it fuller in length, outside off, Hardik Pandya drives it to deep cover and gets off the mark with  a single.