Following the conclusion of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Jay Shah expressed gratitude to the ground staff for their hard work.
On Monday, Shah took to social media to acknowledge the dedication and effort of the ground staff who ensured top-quality pitches throughout the tournament.
In his post on X, Shah wrote, "The unsung heroes of our successful T20 season are the incredible ground staff who worked tirelessly to provide brilliant pitches, even in difficult weather conditions. As a token of our appreciation, the groundsmen and curators at the 10 regular IPL venues will receive INR 25 lakhs each, and those at the 3 additional venues will get INR 10 lakhs each. Thank you for your dedication and hard work!”
This gesture highlighted the crucial role played by the ground staff in making the IPL a success, ensuring the matches were held seamlessly despite challenging conditions.
The IPL 2024 final, held on Sunday, saw the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) clinch their third title and their first in a decade by defeating the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by eight wickets at Chennai’s Chepauk Stadium. KKR's all-round performance, spearheaded by Mitchell Starc and Andre Russell with the ball and Venkatesh Iyer with the bat, was key to their victory.
SRH, known for their aggressive batting, struggled against KKR's disciplined bowling attack. After winning the toss and opting to bat first, SRH was rocked by continuous wickets. Starc, justifying his Rs 24.75 crore price tag, delivered a stellar performance, taking 2 for 14.
Only SRH skipper Pat Cummins, who scored 24 off 19 balls, and Aiden Markram, who managed 20 off 23 balls, reached the 20-run mark. SRH was bundled out for 113 in 18.3 overs.
Andre Russell was the standout bowler for KKR, taking 3 for 19. Harshit Rana also chipped in with 2 for 24, while Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy, and Vaibhav Arora each took a wicket.
KKR made light work of the run-chase, reaching the target of 114 runs in just 10.3 overs with eight wickets to spare. Venkatesh Iyer was the star with the bat, scoring an unbeaten 52 off 26 balls, including four boundaries and three sixes. Rahmanullah Gurbaz also contributed significantly with 39 off 32 balls, hitting five fours and two sixes.
This victory marked a significant achievement for KKR, ending a decade-long wait for their third IPL title. The team's comprehensive performance in the final was a testament to their preparation and execution throughout the tournament.
Jay Shah’s announcement of the monetary rewards for the ground staff underscores the importance of their behind-the-scenes work, ensuring the IPL matches were played on high-quality pitches. This recognition from the BCCI is a well-deserved acknowledgement of their tireless efforts throughout the season.
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