Delhi: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) became the first team to qualify for the playoffs in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 by defeating Mumbai Indians (MI) in an important match played at Eden Gardens on Saturday. In the rain-interrupted match, KKR defeated MI by 18 runs thanks to the brilliant bowling of Varun Chakraborty. Chakraborty took 2 wickets for 17 runs in four overs, for which he was adjudged Player of the Match. Also, KKR were able to restrict MI to just 139/8 while chasing the target of 158 runs.

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Speaking after the match, MI's star leg spinner Piyush Chawla made a big statement and said that KKR can win the IPL title this season. Chawla said in the post-match press conference, “KKR's spinners, the way they are bowling and the way they are batting, they can win the tournament, but in the playoffs what matters is how you perform on that particular day. Let's perform. You need just four overs to change the game in IPL. They have pace, all their players are performing well.”

On the other hand, MI is currently at 9th position in the points table. Chawla talked about MI's form. Chawla said, “T20 cricket is about pace, but (sadly) we could not get that pace from the beginning.”

He further said, “Sometimes we bowl well and then we are not able to bat that well. Similarly, sometimes we bat well but not bowl well, so it is not that we are lacking in just one department. As a unit we have failed in some matches and we have to accept that fact as a team, because after all, it is a team game. These things happen.”

What did Piyush Chawla say about Mumbai Indians?

The left-arm spinner said, “Obviously we have a great lineup, but sometimes things don't go our way and as I always say in big games, there are little moments like that where you need a team. As it happens to win. But today it is sad that we lost in those small moments.”

It is noteworthy that MI is currently at 9th position with 8 points from 13 matches. They will play their final group stage match against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Wankhede Stadium.

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