The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) celebrated their triumphant IPL 2024 campaign with a flying kiss while posing with the trophy, sparking a wave of hilarious memes online. KKR clinched their third IPL title on Sunday (May 26), dominating Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in a one-sided final at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
SRH faltered badly in the final, posting just 113 runs in 18.3 overs after choosing to bat first. Captain Pat Cummins was their top scorer with a mere 24 runs.
KKR’s bowlers were on fire with Andre Russell (3/19), Harshit Rana (2/24), and Mitchell Starc (2/14) dismantling the SRH batting lineup. Venkatesh Iyer (52*) and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (39) comfortably chased down the target in just 10.3 overs.
In a grand presentation ceremony, Shreyas Iyer received the IPL 2024 trophy from BCCI dignitaries. The entire KKR team, management, and owners expressed their joy with a unique celebration—a collective flying kiss. This gesture was especially amusing given that KKR pacer Harshit Rana had been fined and banned earlier in the season for the same celebration.
Fans quickly picked up on this quirky celebration, flooding social media with hilarious memes. Here are some of the best:
“Hopefully it is purple and gold next year once again” – Mitchell Starc on returning to IPL next season with KKR
Mitchell Starc returned to the IPL after nine long years, signed by KKR for a record-breaking INR 24.75 Crores at the mini-auction last December. Despite a rocky start, the Australian pacer came through in the crucial matches, delivering Player of the Match performances in Qualifier 1 and the final.
Reflecting on his season and future plans, Starc said: “Next year, I don’t know the schedule exactly, but as I said, I enjoyed it and I look forward to being back next and hopefully it is purple and gold next year once again.
“For the last nine years, I have prioritized Australian cricket, using the IPL break to rest and spend time with my wife. Moving forward, since I’m closer to the end of my career, one format might drop off, which could open doors for more franchise cricket. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this season, and it fits well with the lead-up to the World Cup.”
Starc’s thoughtful approach to managing his career highlights his dedication to balancing international duties with franchise opportunities, ensuring he remains at his peak for as long as possible.
With these exciting developments and humorous moments, the IPL 2024 season has been a rollercoaster of emotions, ending on a high note for KKR fans and providing plenty of fodder for meme creators.