The seasoned MS Dhoni will lead his troops once again into the final battle against a side that had nothing to lose when they came to UAE for the second leg of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 but still managed to make their way through. Eoin Morgan maybe struggling with bat in hand but similar to Dhoni, he has looked calm and composed in the field executing his plans to perfection. On Dusshera, it will be decided whether Dhoni’s 10th appearance in the final ends with trophy in hands or the IPL final rookie Morgan leads Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to their first title win in seven years. Either way, fireworks are guaranteed on a blockbuster Friday night.
KKR’s spinners have been the difference between the two teams on several occasions. The trio of Varun Chakravarthy, Sunil Narine and Shakib Al Hasan has not only taken wickets but conceded runs at an economy rate of just over six runs per over. If KKR lose the services of the Bangladesh all-rounder, it will be a major blow to their bowling lineup. On the other hand, Andre Russell’s batting will be the boost they needed after faltering in the run chase against Delhi Capitals (DC) in the qualifier. Also, there is still a question mark on Chakravarthy’s fitness. The mystery spinner limped off the field after completing his spell in the previous match. Also, it was reported that he was struggling with his dodgy knees and taking injections to play the games for KKR.
On the other hand, CSK’s spinners have not been in the best of forms. Ravindra Jadeja and Moeen Ali have not got enough breakthroughs in middle overs in the second leg of the season. The bulk of wickets have been taken by in-form bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur and Caribbean veteran Dwayne Bravo.
In the batting department, both the teams rely on their top order too much. In case KKR manage to get the wickets of CSK openers Ruturaj Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis, their middle-order will be exposed. Robin Uthappa has scored only one half-century from the three matches he has played replacing an injured Suresh Raina. It was only in the next game that Dhoni showed glimpses of the finisher he used to be for CSK in his prime.
On the KKR side, their opener Shubman Gill has regained his form in the last few matches whereas new sensation Venkatesh Iyer is in the form of his life. With three half-centuries in just nine games, the left-handed opener has turned heads and KKR’s fortunes in the season. Barring Rahul Tripathi, their middle-order has been inconsistent and skipper Morgan’s poor form has not helped their cause. If Russell is fit to feature in the final, his big-hitting in the death overs will be a welcome change for Morgan’s brigade.
Looking at how the teams have fared in the tournament so far, middle overs will hold the key. It will be interesting to see how both captains lose their fast bowlers, especially overseas bowlers like Lockie Ferguson and Josh Hazlewood who have made a name for themselves this season despite a low price tag.
